Murray Bowles was the most influential and beloved photographer of the Bay Area punk scene. For more than four decades he captured the excitement, energy, creativity, and tenderness of a thriving community. Collected here for the first time are Bowles' classic images shot in basements, warehouses, and nightclubs where people of all ages gathered to celebrate community. Featuring hundreds of images of bands such as Green Day, Operation Ivy, Neurosis, Crimpshrine, the Dead Kennedys, MDC, Special Forces, Social Unrest, Spit Boy, Melvins, Gwar, Soundgarden, NOFX, The Offspring and many, many more. Epic crowd shots from live shows at venues such as Mabuhay Gardens, On Broadway, 924 Gilman, Tool & Die, Ruthie's Inn, as well as warehouses, parks, backyards, and basements throughout the Bay Area. This collection of photographs documents and celebrates the punk music scene from the early 1980s through the mid-1990s.
"Murray had a vision and he shared it with the world. He showed us ourselves in ways we might never have seen on our own. A chronicler and a maker of history. The East Bay as we know and remember it would not have existed without him." - Larry Livermore, Lookout Records
"Murray was a great observer, a great fan, and a great friend to everybody who met him. He loved the bands, but I think above all he loved outsiders in general." - Jesse Michaels, Operation Ivy
"Murray was a one-of-a-kind talent. He was king of what we photographers call the Hail Mary. He would raise his camera above his head and bam! his flash would go off and godDAMMIT he would get such amazing shots of whatever flailing, high-decibel hubbub surrounded him. All without even looking through the viewfinder. What a legend." - Cammie Toloui, Yeastie Girlz, photographer
"When I was younger, I always thought, how is it that a photo can make me dream of transporting to another place and time, wishing I was at that show, seeing what Murray Bowles was seeing?" - Martin Sorrondeguy, Los Crudos, Limp Wrist, photographer
Murray Bowles was the most influential and beloved photographer of the Bay Area punk scene. For more than four decades he captured the excitement, energy, creativity, and tenderness of a thriving community. Anna Brown was born and raised in Berkeley, California where she came of age in the East Bay punk scene. She is a teacher and artist living in Oakland.
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