Bloody Belgium

the punk explosion in Belgium 1976-1979

a book by RONNY WYNANTS and JOERI CARDON

Now available in English – Ships Worldwide

Belgium was the very first country on mainland Europe to catch the shockwave of punk rock. With the UK just across the Channel, Belgian teenagers were already taking the ferry from Ostend to Dover, spending wild weekends in London’s underground scene—and returning home armed with records, fashion, fanzines, and attitude. They didn’t just import punk—they ignited it locally.

Bloody Belgium: The Punk Explosion in Belgium 1976–1979 is the definitive chronicle of this seismic cultural moment. Nicknamed ’the Belgian punk bible’, this is the most thoroughly researched and complete account of Belgium’s punk era ever written. It captures how a generation of youth across Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and beyond created their own raw, furious sound—marking Belgium as the first continental country to truly embrace punk.

This book is the result of years of dedicated research and interviews with dozens of key figures from the scene. Every band active between 1976 and 1979 gets their place here—from iconic pioneers like The Kids, Mad Virgins, and X-Pulsion, to local legends like P.I.G.Z. and De Kommeniste, to unknown and long forgotten bands as Burk, Karton, or SIC, with amazing stories and exciting music.

The Kids, one of Belgium’s first punk bands, released their classic self-titled debut just months after the Sex Pistols’ Never Mind the Bollocks—a blistering record still hailed today as one of the greatest punk albums ever. And what to say about the very first sparks that lit the fuse? Even before The Kids dropped their blistering debut LP in 1978, the Belgian underground was already stirring. As early as 1977, Chainsaw released their ferocious split 7″ EP with Raxola—a raw and defiant statement that punk had landed on the continent. Then came Raxola’s self-titled LP in 1978, blending street-level urgency with sharp songwriting. And let’s not forget Hubble Bubble, whose 1977 debut LP fused glam and punk aggression—featuring none other than a young Plastic Bertrand behind the drum kit, before he’d go on to international fame.

Some of these bands went on to achieve cult status far beyond Belgium’s borders, influencing punks across Europe. Others burned bright and fast in youth centers and squats, never breaking through the mainstream—but all left a lasting impact.

Bloody Belgium is more than a book. It’s a vital document of rebellion, resistance, and creativity. A time capsule. A tribute. A riot in print.

A FEW PAGES FROM THE BOOK AS A PREVIEW!

With an abundance of unique images and revealing quotes from the protagonists themselves, Bloody Belgium immerses you in this period as if you were there. The book is not only a musical overview, but also a historical document of a generation that rediscovered and shaped its world through the creative and energetic power of punk.

This is an indispensable reference work for every music lover and an inspiring source for anyone who is touched by the DIY spirit and unbridled energy of punk. Bloody Belgium is a visual and substantive journey through a legendary period in Belgian music history.

With forewords by Marcel Vanthilt, Kris Debusscher (Mad Virgins) and Gust De Coster!

Ronny Wynants is a long-time punk collector, archivist, and scene insider whose passion for Belgian punk dates back to its earliest days. His unmatched archive of flyers, photos, and rare recordings forms the visual and historical backbone of Bloody Belgium.

Joeri Cardon writes about music, his passion, and has a sharp eye for underground culture. He conducted dozens of in-depth interviews and shaped the chaotic spirit of the era into a compelling and coherent narrative.

Together, they spent years digging through basements, chasing forgotten band members, and piecing together the untold story of Belgian punk—creating what many now call the most important book ever written on the subject.

Le livre est également disponible en version française.

AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE €85 / $99.5 / £75 / JP¥15k / A$ 150 / CN¥700

$99 / £75 • 800 pages • 8.7 x 11 inch / 22 x 28 cm • 6.7 lb / 3kg / • hardcover • Delivered to your home in sturdy packaging!

You thought ‘Ça plane pour moi’ was the only Belgian punk song? OMG! There’s so much more to discover. Explore Belgian punk in this playlist and be flabbergasted!

Punk… what it set in motion, man! I knew immediately: this is it, this is the big revelation I’ve been waiting for for years. Without punk, I would never have climbed onto a stage myself. If you want to do something, just do it. You can do it, as long as you have the guts. Don’t think we were great musicians, mind you. Listen to the organ in the early releases of Aroma Di Amore; you couldn’t go and audition for Yes with that. But we did it anyway. Punk was great, although I always thought that a real punk band should only record a few singles and an LP at most. After that, they had to stop, as The Heartbreakers, X-Ray Spex and The Sex Pistols did so solemnly, or they had to evolve, like The Clash and Howard Devoto. Punk was a flash in the pan; it set everything on fire, and that’s a huge achievement.

Elvis Peeters, Author and singer of Aroma di Amore