The famed beatnik allure of London’s Carnaby Street has lost its polish in recent decades.
Once ground zero for edgy pop poetics, narcotic inspiration and velvet collar lock-ins, the strip of hallowed tarmac now offers a bewildering and dispiriting range of replica red buses, plastic Union Flag bowler hats and sundry BritainPLC tat.
Channeling the former – The Carnabys, live at The Garage.
Photos by Carl Byron Batson. Not to be reproduced without express prior permission.
Photographer, published poet, former party animal, body builder, grave robber
to the stars and renowned chainsaw juggler, Carl can often be spotted on his
Harley Davidson pretending to be in Terminator 2. He is also frequently seen in
the press pits of old London town, camera in hand, avoiding being hit by bottles
of wee and crippling his opposition with secret Kung Fu moves.
