Garry Stuart | Swindon's Rockabilly/Psychobilly Scene, 1982.

Photographer Garry Stuart captured images of the Rockabilly revival and Psychobilly scenes in Swindon during the early 1980s.

Garry “My Rockabilly photographs came about when I took my camera to a gig at a run-down Swindon pub called The Greyhound. The band playing that night was The Polecats, who had just had a record hit the charts, and there were many rockabilly fans crammed into a dilapidated backroom. Every Saturday morning and afternoon, the Swindon Rockabilly kids hung out at a 50s-style Milk Bar called The Tartan Cafe. I photographed them in and around the cafe and took prints to show and sell to them.”

Red Ted at The Tartan Cafe, Swindon, 1982.
Red the Ted at The Tartan Cafe, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

Red Ted at The Tartan Cafe, Swindon, 1982.
Red the Ted at The Tartan Cafe, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

Little Steve, Tartan Cafe, Swindon, 1982.
Little Steve, Tartan Cafe, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

The Tartan Cafe, Swindon, 1982.
The Tartan Cafe, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

The Tartan Cafe, Swindon, 1982.
The Tartan Cafe, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

Swindon Rockabilly Scene, 1982.
Curtis Street, outside Flashback Records and The Tartan Cafe, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.
Ivan's Birthday Party/ The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

Ivan's Birthday Party/The Meteors gig. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.
Ivan's Birthday Party/ The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

Ivan's Birthday Party/The Meteors gig. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.
Ivan's Birthday Party/ The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

Ivan's Birthday Party/The Meteors Gig, Swindon, 1982.
Ivan's Birthday Party/The Meteors Gig, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

MOSKOW Play the British Rail Athletic Club Swindon supporting The Meteors. Ivan's 21st Birthday party, 1982.
MOSKOW play the British Rail Athletic Club Swindon supporting The Meteors, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

The Polecats, 1982.
The Polecats, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

“One gig I photographed is now legendary amongst rockabilly fans. It was billed as Ivan’s Birthday Party at a Swindon Sports Club. The headline band was the infamous Meteors, who invented the extreme brand known as Psychobilly. They had a hardcore of avid fans known as ‘The Wrecking Crew’, whose specialty was to form a violent moshing and hammer the hell out of each other.” – Garry Stuart.

Ivan's Birthday Party/The Meteors gig. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.
Ivan's Birthday Party/ The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

Ivan's Birthday Party/The Meteors gig. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.
Ivan's Birthday Party/ The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

Russell Jones of The Meteors. British Rail Social Club, Swindon, 1982.
Russell Jones of The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.
Russell Jones of The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.
The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.
Ivan's Birthday Party/ The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

MOSKOW Play the British Rail Athletic Club Swindon supporting The Meteors. Ivan's 21st Birthday party, 1982.
Ivan's Birthday Party/ The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

Ivan's Birthday Party/The Meteors gig. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.
Ivan's Birthday Party/ The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

Ivan's Birthday Party/The Meteors gig. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.
Ivan's Birthday Party/ The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

Ivan's Birthday Party/The Meteors gig. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.
Ivan's Birthday Party/ The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

Ivan's Birthday Party/The Meteors gig. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.
Ivan's Birthday Party/ The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

Ivan's Birthday Party/The Meteors gig. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.
Ivan's Birthday Party/ The Meteors. British Rail Staff Association Club, Swindon, 1982.

Photo © Garry Stuart.

Gallery first published 28th June, 2022. © Garry Stuart / British Culture Archive. All rights reserved. 

READ THE FULL FEATURE ON GARRY’S SWINDON SERIES HERE

All images © Garry Stuart, all rights reserved. No usage or reproduction of any kind without prior permission of the copyright holder.

 

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