MICHAEL GRECCO
Chronicler of Punk, Post-Punk, and New Wave
1958–Present | An award-winning photographer and director, he is celebrated for his unparalleled documentation of the explosive music scenes of the 1970s and 80s. From the raw energy of the club circuit to iconic celebrity portraits, his work—most notably captured in the collection Days of Punk—offers an intimate look at the legends who redefined rock and roll.
Biography
Born in New York City, he attended college in Boston, where he began his professional career shooting for the Associated Press and the Boston Herald, while covering the burgeoning music scene for the legendary radio station WBCN. These previously unseen photographs from his early career comprise his latest book, Punk, Post Punk, New Wave: Onstage, Backstage, In Your Face, 1978–1991 (Abrams).
His work evolved into the multimedia exhibition Days of Punk, which premiered at Photo London in 2021 and has since been featured at La Térmica Museum (Spain) and the Southeast Museum of Photography. The exhibition continues to tour internationally, cementing his status as a premier historian of subculture.
The Move to Los Angeles & Celebrity Portraiture
In the late 1980s, he relocated to Los Angeles at the invitation of People Magazine to serve as a celebrity photographer. Since then, his striking, high-concept imagery has graced the pages of Time, Vanity Fair, Esquire, The Guardian, and Rolling Stone.
He is currently represented by prestigious galleries worldwide, including Atlas Gallery (London), Anderson Yezerski Gallery (Boston), and Modern Rocks Gallery (Austin).
Personal Life & Legacy
A father of three, he lives and works in Santa Monica with his wife and their two Russian Blue cats. In his spare time, he explores the diverse neighborhoods of his adopted hometown on his Triumph Bonneville, always with a camera in tow, ready to capture the next inspired moment.
Michael Grecco: Giving Back
10% of all print sales from the Days of Punk collection are donated directly to MusiCares. As a premier charity of the Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical health and welfare services to the music community. This partnership honors the legendary artists Michael has captured throughout his career by supporting the next generation of creators in times of need.
As a Legacy Collection, this body of work is presented as an expanded sequence to reflect the narrative depth and market significance of Days of Punk. Curated by The MF Gallery from the archives of Michael Grecco, all works are available for acquisition.
David Bowie, Foxborough, MA, 1983 © Michael Grecco
The Clash, New York City, 1981 © Michael Grecco
Wendy O. Williams of the Plasmatics, Boston, MA, 1980 © Michael Grecco
Aimee Mann of 'Til Tuesday, Boston, MA, 1985 © Michael Grecco
Devo, Boston, MA, 1978 © Michael Grecco
Lou Reed, Boston, MA, 1980 © Michael Grecco
Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads, Boston, MA, 1980 © Michael Grecco
Joe Strummers of The Clash, New York City, 1981 © Michael Grecco
Billy Idol, Boston, MA, 1982 © Michael Grecco
The Clash, New York City, 1981 © Michael Grecco
Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys, Boston, MA, 1981 © Michael Grecco
The Slits, Boston, MA, 1980 © Michael Grecco
Elvis Costello, Boston, MA, 1981 © Michael Grecco
Adam Ant, Cambridge, MA, 1981 © Michael Grecco
Joan Jett, Boston, MA, 1981 © Michael Grecco
The B-52's, Boston, MA, 1980 © Michael Grecco
Buzzcocks, Boston, MA, 1980 © Michael Grecco
Siouxsie and the Banshees, Boston, MA, 1980 © Michael Grecco
Kid Congo Powers of The Cramps, Boston, MA, 1980
The Human League, Boston, MA, 1980 © Michael Grecco
Ric Ocasek of The Cars, Boston, MA, 1980 © Michael Grecco
Madness, Boston, MA, 1983 © Michael Grecco
The Clash, New York City, 1982 © Michael Grecco
Martha Davis of The Motels, Boston, MA, 1982 © Michael Grecco
Days of Punk by Michael Grecco
Michael Grecco photographs are printed on Ilford Galerie Prestige Gold fibre gloss paper, 310gsm, signed and dated.
11” x 14” Open Edition
10% of all Days of Punk print sales are donated to MusiCares.