In this project, I wanted to explore a piece of local history that is often overlooked and not widely known. The focus of the project was the period when punk music was effectively “banned” from Glasgow following a riot at a concert by The Stranglers at the City Hall in 1977. During the performance, audience members reportedly stormed the stage, causing disruption and forcing the band to retreat backstage.

After the incident, Glasgow City Council warned venues that their licences could be at risk if similar events happened again.
As a result, many venues stopped hosting punk gigs altogether. However, rather than disappearing, the punk scene moved to Paisley, where the subculture continued to grow and develop.

Through this project, I aimed to highlight how music and youth culture can adapt and survive despite restrictions, while also bringing attention to an interesting part of Scotland’s cultural history.