Design & content ©Simon Smalley 2024

home about my memoir reviews evening post interview punk: rage & revolution guest appearances my writing haven backpages Beginnings my literary loves jukebox jive order my book contact me


Photographs: Joshua V Jones for Backlit Gallery

previous page of photos

“Will he ever shut up?”

“Just smile and pretend that you’re interested.”

With Rosa Davies (Marketing Coordinator at Backlit Gallery).

For literary appearances I always wear what I call ‘my authorial drag’, complete with a fresh green carnation in honour of Oscar Wilde. In keeping with the vibe of the occasion, for the advanced viewing and appearance at Punk: Rage & Revolution, as tribute to both Oscar, and X-Ray Spex singer and lyricist Poly Styrene, I wore a plastic variant attached to my lapel by a trio of sparkling new safety pins.

top of page

On the opening night I had the pleasure of meeting Phil Castello
and his lovely mother, Julia, with whom I had a fabulous chinwag about
St. Ann’s and Nottingham of years gone by.
Phil very generously loaned Backlit Gallery many items from his personal archive of Westwood/McLaren originals
as well as flyers, record sleeves and artwork.

Viewing an original of the contentious McLaren & Westwood
‘Two Cowboys’ shirt that Phil loaned to the exhibition.