Caroline Coon

Biography

Caroline Mary Thompson Coon (born 23 March, 1945) is an English artist known for her paintings, her feminist political activism, her writing and photography. Coon became a key player in the nascent punk scene, documenting in writing and photography its rise of key figures including the Sex Pistols, the Clash and The Slits. Following the publication of an August 1976 Melody Maker article, “Punk Rock: Rebels Against The System,” she was credited by John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) with being the first to use the adjective ‘punk’ – The Punk Rock Movement - to describe the new era of rock music being made in UK. Coon managed The Clash from 1978 to 1980, through two significant tours in the UK and North America. Her photographs of the early punk days are now published and exhibited throughout the world.