When it comes to Boston punk, the only band that truly matters is Unnatural Axe. Formed in 1977, the Axe has been swinging on and off for 30 years now and has been covered countless times by countless bands, the least of which is not Dim Stars, that short-lived, ill-fated '90s "supergroup" featuring members of Sonic Youth and none other than Richard Hell on vocals. During this photographer's final years in Boston, I was lucky enough to have Unnatural Axe play at some of my art openings - The Unnatural Axe Trio (guitarist Thomas White, singer/guitarist Richie Parsons and drummer Jack Clark) rocked my "KEEP OUT - The Dogs of Cuba" exhibition and, in 2005, the whole band (Parsons, White, Clark and bassist Frank Dehler) played at the first HUNG reception at Club Passim in Cambridge. They're the best punk band to ever come out of Boston, great guys and my very good friends. When Unnatural Axe were invited to headline one of three nights of the punk festival "ROAD TO RUINS" in Rome and invited me along, I jumped at the chance to go. We discovered while we were there that the Axe are regarded as incredibly influencial heroes of oldschool punk by many of their Roman fans. In concert at the punk festival, the Axe totally kicked ass. It was the best show I ever saw them play. An additional show was added at a great Roman record store, Radiation Records, and that show came in at a close second. The following photo galleries chronicle our adventures abroad.

Thomas White gets off the plane in Milan and gets some shut eye before the flight to Rome.

Click here to go on a Boston meatball submarine mission to Rome, baby.

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