The Slits - Cut

Toby Mott on the punk poster that caused a car crash

The Oh So Pretty Punk In Print 1976-80 compiler on the distraction a risqué Slits poster caused one London driver

Punk rock threatened many British institutions, from the monarchy to prog rock. However, a few unlucky motorists may have also felt that the youth movement’s irreverent imagery also impacted on their ability to control an automobile.

 

Toby Mott at the John Varvatos store in London for the launch of Oh So Pretty Punk in Print 1976-80
Toby Mott at the John Varvatos store in London for the launch of Oh So Pretty Punk in Print 1976-80

As Toby Mott, the punk collector and compiler of Oh So Pretty Punk In Print 1976-80, our new collection of punk graphics, explains in this short video, the cover image for The Slits’ debut album, Cut (shot by the British rock photographer Pennie Smith) was shocking 37 years ago. It depicted the band’s singer guitarist and bassist Ari Up, Viv Albertine and Tessa Pollitt, topless and covered in mud.

 

Toby Mott The Slits

However, the fold out poster given away with the first 1,000 copies of the record was nothing like as distracting as the full-sized billboard version – also in Mott’s collection – which, as he explains in this video, apparently led to a car crash on London’s Euston Rd. Watch the video to find out more.

And for the next week you can check out a small portion of Toby Mott's punk poster collection at John Varvatos in Conduit Street, London. Meanwhile, you can also buy Oh So Pretty Punk In Print 1976-80 here.