No one quite knows clothes like Marco Pirroni knows clothes. He was dressing like a punk rocker before the term punk rock was coined, unintentionally influenced the New Romantic style and had a collection of clothing from the Kings Road in the 70s that most could only dream of. Marco and Dave Carroll have clocked up hundred of hours talking about clothes since they were introduced back in the 90s. He’s best known as the lead guitarist and co-song writer of Adam and the Ants.
Questions by Dave Carroll
Edited by Bridget Veal
Q. Do you remember buying any leather clothing or leather accessories on the Kings Road in the 70s?
A. Yes
Leather trousers
T-shirt
Jackets
Wristbands
Belts
You name it!
Q. What’s your perspective on what a studded belt or studded wristband meant to a punk rocker?
A. The wristbands from SEX (430 Kings Road) were certainly a symbol of punkness.
Q, At what moment did you know you wanted to be a guitar player in a band? And who would you say have been your biggest inspirations, or influences on your career as a guitarist?
A. Soon as I heard Mick Ronson on Alladin Sane. I had been teaching myself at home, but it was that album that made me think of doing it seriously.
Q. Was there any other punk rocker you know of that was more into their clothes than you were? Someone who bought as much as you did, someone truly invested in buying and savoring their kit?
A. Lots of people.
Q. We had your collection of SEX & Seditonaries gear photographed in the 90s, these photos are somewhere, we must find them. Of everything you bought from Maclaren & Westwood what were you favourite pieces and why?
A. I loved the blue coat and pink loafers. The loafers fell apart.
Q. The London Leatherman accessories sold at SEX & Seditionaries were displayed on wooden gymnastics frames on the right as you entered the shop. How impactful was this display of leather accessories with studs and chains?
A. They added to the kinky rock and roll atmosphere.
Q. Who looked better in leather the rock’n rollers, glam rockers, punk rockers or the post-punk 80s scenes?
A. Dirk Bogarde.
Q. Did you ever go to the The London Leatherman shop on Queenstown Road?
A. Yes.
Q. A real punk rock piece of The London Leatherman clothing is the ciré wet look nylon (LN6) T-shirts that were sold to SEX, Seditionaries, Smutz, BOY, loads of shops with their own labels sewn in. In 1978 I had them in black and in navy blue. Did you have one? If yes, in what colour?
A. Yeah, everyone had them. I had a black and a red one.
Q. Shoes are your thing. What’s the best designed shoe in your opinion and why?
A. The Justin Roper boot.
Q. If you had to pick just one memorable look you’ve self styled, what was it (the clothes, accessories & shoes), when did you wear it and do you have a picture?
A. I can’t pick one, I also looked fucking stupid a lot of the time.
