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1976

1976 in British Music

The summer of punk: The Sex Pistols, The Clash, and a cultural earthquake.

Key Events

  • The Sex Pistols play Manchester's Lesser Free Trade Hall — everyone who was there started a band
  • The Clash and The Damned debut live — punk has its holy trinity
  • BBC's Bill Grundy interview with the Sex Pistols causes national outrage

Dominant Genres

PunkDiscoRockReggae

Notable Trends

  • DIY ethos takes root: anyone can form a band, fanzines flourish
  • Punk's anti-establishment fury dominates headlines and moral panics
  • Reggae's influence on British punk creates lasting cross-cultural bridge

Key Artists of 1976

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