No Time To Be 21

At the height of the punk scene, Gerry Ryan explores the music, lifestyle and clothes of punk rockers in Ireland.

Inspired by bands like the Sex Pistols and the Boomtown Rats, punk fans spiked their hair, ripped their clothes and wore leather, denim and studs. The punk subculture of anarchy and extreme attitudes inspired fear among parents, but in this programme, fans defend the movement that reflected a generation and explain the attraction to the cult of punk.

Presenter Gerry Ryan and producer Ed Mulhall look at the movement throught the eyes of the young Irish peole who lived through it.

Gerry speaks to members of a new generation of Irish punk rock groups like The Threat, The Peridots, the Nun Atax, Microdisney, the Virgin Prunes, the Vipers, Revolver and Berlin, and talks to people about why they became punks. He looks at how bands like U2, The Radiators and The Boomtown Rats who were products of this era were successful while others faded into the background.

Compiled and presented by Gerry Ryan.

Produced by Edward Mulhall.

With contributions from Dave Fanning and Bob Geldoff.

First broadcast 31st Janurary 1981

An Irish radio documentary from RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland - Documentary on One - the home of Irish radio documentaries.