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Caroline CoonBritish journalist, photographer, designer, artist
Country:
 Great Britain |
Biography of Caroline Coon
Caroline Coon is a British journalist, photographer, designer, artist, and author of several books, including "The New Wave Punk Rock Explosion" in 1988. She has exhibited her works, which mostly have a strong bisexual and feminist undertone, in renowned galleries such as Saatchi and Tate.
Coon received her education at Central St Martins College of Art, where she graduated in 1968 as a figurative painter. In a time when figurative art was considered obsolete, she used "conservative" mediums such as oil, brush, and canvas.
In 1966, Coon posed nude for photographer George H. Marks and later starred in his film "Amour." Her first painting, titled "My Beautiful Cunt," was sold in 1967 to Clive Goodwin, the husband of artist Pauline Boty. According to her official website biography, Coon's paintings are "hot, highly individual, and influenced by pop art, feminist art, and sexual liberation politics," which elicit mixed reactions. The biography also notes that while society readily accepts female nudity in art, it reacted with horror to her explicit depiction of male nudity in her paintings. For instance, in 1995, the Tate gallery banned Coon's painting "Mr Olympia," which portrayed explicit male genitalia.
In recent years, Coon has released a series of urban landscapes dedicated to the London neighborhood of Ladbroke Grove, particularly known as "The Brothel Series." She is an activist in the London underground movement and has been influenced by hippie philosophy and feminism. In 1967, while still a student, she began her public involvement by founding Release, an agency that provided legal support to young people arrested for drug possession. From a feminist perspective, Coon also advocated for the legalization of prostitution. Later, she became an activist for Cunst Art, a feminist art/performance project that published provocative pamphlets such as "The Woman Equals Whore Questionnaire," "Abort The Pope," and "It Is Women's Duty And Right To Hate Religion." In the brochure "Calling Women Whores Lets Rapists Go Free," Coon and lawyer Amber Marks argued for the urgent need to legalize prostitution. Coon continues to actively participate in movements advocating the legalization of drugs under the slogan "Don't Demonize Dealers, License Them!"
In the mid-1970s, Caroline Coon became an active participant in the punk movement and was one of the first journalists to support the new scene, which was predominantly criticized by the media at the time. She was among the attendees of the Punk Festival at the 100 Club and was arrested alongside Sid Vicious, whom she tried to defend. Coon stated, "We were placed in adjacent cells, and I could hear Sid's cries as he was being beaten. Release posted bail for me, and I immediately went back to the 100 Club to continue reporting."
Coon wrote articles and reviews for Melody Maker and Sounds and worked on the design of music releases. She created the poster "Global Revolution" for The Clash's album "Give 'em Enough Rope" and designed the cover for The Clash's debut single "White Riot" and The Police's first hit single "Roxanne." She later worked on Babyshambles' "Janie Jones"/"Strummerville" (B-Unique Records, 2006). Coon managed The Clash's affairs from 1978 to 1980, overseeing their Sort It Out Tour in the UK and the Pearl Harbour Tour in the US.
In 1992, Omnibus Press published her book "1988: The New Wave Punk Rock Explosion," which offered an insider's perspective on the development of the punk movement in its early years. A reviewer from the Punk 77 portal described it as possibly the best book on punk rock.
Known for her feminist attitude towards sex, which believes that women have the same right to promiscuity as men, Coon had numerous relationships with famous musicians. She was in a significant relationship with Joe Strummer, the frontman of The Clash. Before that, Robert Wyatt dedicated his song "O Caroline" to her, and Bob Dylan's song "She Belongs to Me" is also believed to be inspired by her (though some dispute this claim, suggesting Joan Baez as an alternative inspiration).
The Stranglers paid a different kind of tribute to Coon by including the scandalous track "London Lady" on their debut album "Rattus Norvegicus," referring to her as the "London lady" who actively sought intimacy with the band members in hopes of adding them to her extensive "collection of conquests." Many rock music sources only mention Caroline Coon in connection to her early involvement with The Stranglers, which is believed to be the reason she is remembered in rock music history.
In June 2000, Coon won a legal case against Random House, the publisher of Jonathan Green's book "All Dressed Up: The Sixties and the Counter-Culture." The book claimed that in the early days of Release, Coon sought sponsors for her venture by offering sexual services to clients. The book was subsequently taken off the shelves, and Coon received £73,000 in compensation.
Caroline Coon's multifaceted career as a journalist, artist, activist, and influential figure within the punk movement has left a significant impact on the art and music scenes in Britain. Her bold and provocative works continue to challenge societal norms and promote feminist ideals.
