Gavin Watson: Oh! What Fun We Had

Not just an ambitious restoration of a fascinating unseen archive, but a book that takes on the gargantuan task of shifting the collective memory around key moments in British youth culture history, with a mesmerizing force of honesty and humanity.

By the man who’s previous books Skins (1994), and Skins & Punks (2008), have been hailed as modern classics, Damiani is pleased to announce the latest Gavin Watson monograph, titled Oh the Fun We Had!

Appropriating the Madness lyrics as an anthem of its times, this intimate selection of photography disrupts the notion of skinheads and council estate residents as problematic figures in an almost endearing manner while still preserving the subversive character of the cult of youth. At an undisputed time of little optimism, Oh the Fun We Had! is a very important fly-on-the-wall testimonial and reminder that no matter how difficult life is; so it shall also be Fun… At least when captured from the right angle.