Graham is one of dozens of over 50s photographed by David Collyer for his study of style tribes who refused to grow up.
Graham is one of dozens of over 50s photographed by David Collyer for his study of style tribes who refused to grow up.

‘Punk Is Not Dead, It’s Just Taking Statins’

David Collyer, The Royal Photographic Society's current Documentary Photographer of the Year for his work chronicling hospital staff on the Covid frontline, shares his latest pictorial study — exploring the style tribes who never grew up.

Portraits and Words
by David Collyer

I’m 55. I sometimes think that I’m part of the first generation of men who haven’t had to grow up, or at least not from an aesthetic perspective.

When I was taking my first penny loafer-shod footsteps into exploring fashion in the late 1970s, in my early teens, things were a lot more tribal than they are today. I was a second generation mod. Sharp clothes, Italian styling with a British twist, a US Army gas cape parka, and a playlist that comprised of British rhythm and blues and American soul ringing in my ears.

I wasn’t a punk, I wasn’t a skinhead, or a new romantic, and I certainly wasn’t a rocker. I was a mod, and I belonged.

All of that seems very trivial now, but it was fun, and it’s fascinating how the clothes and music choices we made as teenagers still stay with us. Walk down any high street in any city or small town, and you can see men of my age or a few years older, still influenced by the tribe they belonged to 40 to 50 years previously.

From the perspective of a documentary photographer it makes for a fascinating study, and I have spent the last few years capturing images of these characters across Wales and the south west of England. My eldest son is now 21, and wears clothes that would easily fit in my wardrobe. That’s certainly not something that I could have said of my father when I was his age. What I think will be interesting in the future is how today’s youth street fashions, which to my eyes seem far more homogenous, translate into middle-aged style statements.

For now though, punk’s not dead, it’s just taking statins and walking with a stick.


Andrew: "It’s all about the ska and 2-tone" // 📸 : David Collyer
Andrew: “It’s all about the ska and 2-tone” // 📸 : David Collyer
Howard: "My style? I call it curated decline" // 📸 : David Collyer
Howard: “My style? I call it curated decline” // 📸 : David Collyer
Iestyn: "I’m a pikey rudeboy!" // 📸 : David Collyer
Iestyn: “I’m a pikey rudeboy!” // 📸 : David Collyer
Jimmy: Maverick genius, neo-classical composer, pianist, and painter // 📸 : David Collyer
Jimmy: Maverick genius, neo-classical composer, pianist, and painter // 📸 : David Collyer
Anthony: "I’m a doctor, but I don’t want to dress like one" // 📸 : David Collyer
Anthony: “I’m a doctor, but I don’t want to dress like one” // 📸 : David Collyer
Ollie: A Left Bank beatnik in a beret and cuban heels // 📸 : David Collyer
Ollie: A Left Bank beatnik in a beret and cuban heels // 📸 : David Collyer
Rob: Pagan tattoos with a punk attitude // 📸 : David Collyer
Rob: Pagan tattoos with a punk attitude // 📸 : David Collyer
Andy: Pink Floyd tee and matching nose ring // 📸 : David Collyer
Andy: Pink Floyd tee and matching nose ring // 📸 : David Collyer
Ted: "Show them my Keith Haring jumper. My generation fought for this freedom" // 📸 : David Collyer
Ted: “Show them my Keith Haring jumper. My generation fought for this freedom” // 📸 : David Collyer
Simon: "A post-punk and mod, a thrift store Billy Bragg" // 📸 : David Collyer
Simon: “A thrift store Billy Bragg” // 📸 : David Collyer
Graham: Playfully blurring the boundaries // 📸 : David Collyer
Graham: Playfully blurring the boundaries // 📸 : David Collyer
Julian: A melting pot of anarcho-punk iconoclasm // 📸 : David Collyer
Julian: A melting pot of anarcho-punk iconoclasm // 📸 : David Collyer
Simon: A peaceful, soulful, modernist with a twist // 📸 : David Collyer
Simon: A peaceful, soulful, modernist with a twist // 📸 : David Collyer
Scott: "Clothes are an extension of my personality. Life’s short so wear them well" // 📸 : David Collyer
Scott: “Clothes are an extension of my personality. Life’s short so wear them well” // 📸 : David Collyer
Roy: A melting pot of post-punk and mod // 📸 : David Collyer
Roy: A melting pot of post-punk and mod // 📸 : David Collyer

Learn more about David Collyer and this project on his website and Instagram

10 Comments

  1. As a privileged friend of one of your portraits and a 40 something lady who continues stoutly to refuse to grow up, I just want to express my joy in the reading of this article.
    Let’s not grow up.
    Ever xx

  2. Thrilled to be featured. And it’s a fascinating topic. For the record, I’ve neither a stick nor statins…..yet!

  3. Very proud to be included in this magnificent bunch of dudes , flying the flag for old farts who’ve still got some wind left in their sails …

  4. Completely cool. I’m a Christchurch [NZ] mod never go anywhere without something Fred top button always done up and Italian shoes. I’m bourgeoise mod I suppose.

  5. I know your work well David, but there’s an ‘extra spark’ in this project! It’s full of playfulness but has a sincerity to it too. Beautifully captured characters. Can’t wait to see the book.

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