The day Malcolm Garrett walked into Virgin Records in 1977 and bought Anarchy in the UK was a revelation. The Sex Pistols, and punk, were a modern manifestation of his Dadaist dream, and seeing them playing on TV that day changed his life. 

From that moment on he knew he was destined to bring his artistic vision to the masses and went on to create some of the most daring and original work for multiple punk, post-punk, new wave, and new romantic bands in history: Magazine, Duran Duran, Simple Minds, and Culture Club, amongst many others. His cover for the Buzzcocks notorious single “Orgasm Addict”, is considered one of the most important record covers of that time. 

Unafraid to mix high art with pop culture, his work also helped define the aesthetic of an era, creating unique visual identities that elevated the public image of each band he worked with. And, as the 80s saw the birth of MTV, his unique vision also helped them conquer the second “British invasion” of America, enabling them to cement a place in the hearts and minds of anyone who had just turned 16. 

“In 1977, the rebellious ‘Dada’ movement that I was looking for suddenly walked through the door, and it was a band called the Sex Pistols. It was like a light switch. Click. That’s it. Today. I’m a punk from here on in.” (Malcolm Garrett)

Born and raised in Cheshire, on the outskirts of Manchester, England, his contrarian point of view and passion for design earned him an MBE in 2020. He is currently the creative director of Images & Co and continues to work with long-term business partner and Design Manchester co-director, Kasper de Graaf.

Follow us on Instagram @destroypunkpodcast for the latest updates. Or visit us online: https://destroypunkpodcast.com for transcripts, show notes, and more.