17 September 2025
Newsdesk
London’s famous Blitz club, a short-lived but globally influential nightclub, is the focus of a major new exhibition at the Design Museum. Titled “Blitz: the club that shaped the 80s,” the exhibition will run from September 20, 2025, to March 29, 2026. This marks the first-ever major retrospective on the club that helped launch the New Romantic movement and a generation of creative talent.
Four of the original “Blitz Kids” were on hand to unveil the exhibition ahead of its public opening. Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet, DJ and co-founder Rusty Egan, costume designer Fiona Dealey, and BBC broadcaster Robert Elms were reunited with over 250 artifacts from their time at the club, many of which have not been seen in over 40 years.
The exhibition is a deeply immersive experience. A highlight is a recreated section of the Blitz club itself, complete with music, a re-created bar, and a booth featuring DJ Rusty Egan thanks to cutting-edge digital technology. The space also includes newly remastered archival footage of an early performance by Spandau Ballet, who were the only band to play live at the venue.
Despite its brief 18-month lifespan from 1979-1980, the club generated a creative scene that had a massive impact on the decade that followed. It was the launchpad for artists and designers who would go on to define 80s fashion, music, and pop culture. Attendees included future stars like Boy George, Sade, and Spandau Ballet, as well as influential figures like renowned milliner Stephen Jones and costume designer Michele Clapton.
Exhibition curator Danielle Thom said it’s "remarkable that so much of 1980s pop culture can be traced back to the Blitz scene.” The vast majority of the items on display, from clothing and accessories to musical instruments and original design sketches, come from the personal collections of the original Blitz Kids, making this a truly unique and personal exploration of a pivotal cultural moment.
