Punk 50, is AB’s celebration of fifty years of chaos, freedom and bold expression. We honour the rich past, the vibrant present and the future of punk with exhibitions, films, talks, a ‘zine market and a hard-hitting line-up of international icons, Belgian legends and the new generation of punk musicians.

Craig Leon (1949) belongs to the select group of producers who have helped shape music history. He worked as producer, composer, arranger and musician with artists like Talking Heads, Suicide, Blondie, Richard Hell & the Voidoids, Front 242, The Fall and many, many more.

We invite him particularly to talk about the legendary The Ramones ‘first’ for which he sat behind the dials as producer, and thus helped form the early days of punk.

Leon began his career in the seventies at Sire Records, where he helped to discover and produce early punk and new wave artists. In the eighties, he expanded his work to classical and world music, collaborating with artists like Luciano Pavarotti.

Later his focus shifted to his own compositions, in which he combined electronic, classical and ambient styles. His 1981 album Nommos achieved cult status for its futuristic, minimalist sound. Leon also worked on film, television and orchestral projects.

He continues to compose and perform internationally, building bridges between pop and avant-garde. To this day, he is praised for his versatility and innovative studio vision.