Blitz: the club that shaped the 80s
A major exhibition on the legendary Blitz club night that transformed 1980s London style, and generated a creative scene that had an enormous impact on popular culture in the decade that followed – from fashion and music, to film, art and design.
What to expect
Behind a door in a Covent Garden side street, the Blitz club was the place where 1980s style began. Inspired by everything from David Bowie, the punk and soul scenes, to continental cinema and cabaret culture, the brightest young talents of their generation came together to revolutionise fashion, music and design, turning a niche club night into a launchpad for global superstardom.
The scene launched the careers of many stars, including chart-topping performers Spandau Ballet, Visage, Boy George and Marilyn as well as a long list of designers, artists, filmmakers and writers — from couture milliner Stephen Jones and Game of Thrones costume designer Michele Clapton, to DJ and fashion writer Princess Julia and BBC broadcaster Robert Elms.
Forty years after its closure, visitors can revisit the trailblazing club’s history and atmosphere with a sensory extravaganza of music, flamboyant fashions, and pioneering art, film, and graphic design.
Developed in close collaboration with some of the leading ‘Blitz Kids’ who were there, the exhibition features over 250 items, ranging from clothing and accessories, design sketches, musical instruments, flyers, magazines, furniture, artworks, photography, vinyl records and rare film footage.
At the heart of the exhibition is a creative re-interpretation of the Blitz, complete with bar and dancefloor. The immersive design and production was created by Guildhall Production Studio, part of Guildhall School of Music & Drama, in collaboration with Digital Catapult, Southby Productions and Target3D – who combined to build a realistic ‘club’ including an avatar of resident DJ and co-founder Rusty Egan and newly remastered archival footage of one of Spandau Ballet’s earliest performances. The only band to play live at the Blitz night before going on to global stardom, Spandau were part of the club’s creative ecosystem, with other ‘Blitz Kids’ producing their stagewear and lighting design (Simon Withers) and their promotional graphics (Graham Smith).
The Blitz Club! Trade marks are used with the kind permission of Rusty Egan and Rusty Egan Productions Ltd.