Chris Townsend: Punk, Fifth Column and Map Studio Cafe

In a wide-ranging conversation with Kishmeister on Itch Radio, Chris Townsend, also known as P.CAT, reflects on growing up in North London, working with The Clash and The Jam through Fifth Column, and building Map Studio Cafe into one of Kentish Town’s most enduring cultural spaces.

Chris Townsend the Early Life

Few people have experienced as many chapters of British music history as Chris Townsend.

Known to many as P.CAT, Townsend is the founder of Map Studio Cafe in Kentish Town. He was one of the figures behind Fifth Column, the influential merchandise company.

He worked with artists including The Clash, The Jam, Bob Marley and Gregory Isaacs.

Speaking to Kishmeister on Itch Radio, Townsend looked back on a life shaped by music, culture and community.

His love of music began at an early age. Growing up in North London, he was surrounded by records played by his parents, including artists such as Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong and Paul Robeson.

Those early influences laid the foundations for a lifelong passion that would eventually become both a career and a calling.

His older brothers helped widen his musical horizons. One brother promoted concerts through North London Polytechnic, bringing American artists to London audiences and giving Townsend an early glimpse into the live music world.

As a teenager, he gravitated towards Motown, soul and rhythm and blues. School discos introduced him to artists including The Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, The Ronettes and Nina Simone.

Music became more than entertainment. It became a way of understanding the world around him.

Discovering Punk at Kingsway College

After leaving school, Chris Townsend worked as a bricklayer while continuing his education through night classes at Kingsway College.

It was there that he met several people who would later become central figures in British punk culture, including John Lydon, better known as Johnny Rotten, Sid Vicious and Jah Wobble. Future actor Timothy Spall was also among his fellow students.

At the time, punk was only beginning to emerge. Few could have predicted how influential the movement would become, but Townsend immediately connected with its rebellious spirit and sense of independence.

Unlike many musical movements before it, punk encouraged participation. You did not need permission, expensive equipment or industry connections. You simply needed an idea and the determination to make it happen.

That philosophy would soon shape Townsend’s future.

The Birth of Fifth Column

The origins of Fifth Column reflect the DIY attitude that defined punk culture.

While working for concert promoter Adrian Hopkins, Townsend learnt the craft of screen printing and merchandise production. Hopkins was already a major figure in British music, having helped establish events such as Reading Festival and worked with major touring acts.

Despite gaining valuable experience, Townsend and his colleagues became frustrated with low wages. Rather than accept the situation, they decided to create their own opportunity.

Using access to printing equipment after hours, they produced a batch of T-shirts and travelled to the punk festival at Mont-de-Marsan in France.

The shirts sold out quickly.

That success convinced them there was a future in independent merchandise production and led directly to the formation of Fifth Column.

The company’s name was inspired by the historical term “fifth column”, used to describe people operating inside established systems to challenge them from within.

It was a fitting identity for a business born out of punk’s anti-establishment ethos.

Working with The Clash and The Jam

As Fifth Column grew, it secured contracts with some of the most important bands of the era.

One of its earliest major opportunities came through The Jam. The company produced merchandise for the band’s tours and later continued working on projects connected to Paul Weller’s career.

Townsend recalls the pace and pressure of those years. Demand was relentless, with stock often needing to be printed overnight and dispatched across the country at short notice.

Yet it was The Clash who made the deepest impression.

Townsend became closely connected to the band and followed them throughout some of their most influential years. He travelled to the United States during their 1979 tour, carrying bags filled with merchandise that quickly sold wherever the band performed.

Among Fifth Column’s most recognisable creations was the Kamikaze design produced for The Clash’s Pearl Harbour Tour. Decades later, original examples remain highly sought after by collectors.

For Townsend, The Clash represented something far greater than a successful punk band.

They had a bite about their music,” he explained during the interview. “If you went to a Clash gig, it had just the energy you wouldn’t find anywhere else.

The political awareness of Joe Strummer and the band’s willingness to address social issues gave their music a lasting significance that continues to resonate today.

Punk and Reggae: A Shared Culture

One of the most fascinating insights from the Chris Townsend story is the close relationship between punk and reggae culture during the late 1970s.

While the genres are often discussed separately, he remembers a period when audiences moved freely between punk gigs and reggae dances.

A typical evening could begin at a punk concert and end at a reggae session in a club such as the 100 Club.

This crossover created friendships, collaborations and cultural exchanges that influenced both scenes. It also helped explain why reggae artists and punk musicians often shared audiences.

Through his connections with members of the Marley family and figures within the reggae community, Townsend worked on merchandise and promotional projects linked to artists including Bob Marley, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Black Slate and The Cimarons.

These experiences reflected the multicultural London in which he grew up and the diverse communities that shaped his outlook.

Politics, Activism and Social Change

Politics and social justice have been recurring themes throughout Townsend’s life.

He vividly remembers major moments from the civil rights era, including the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. Those events helped shape his understanding of inequality and the importance of speaking out against injustice.

During the 1980s, as musical fashions changed, Fifth Column increasingly worked with campaign organisations and charities.

Among the groups Chris Townsend mentioned were Amnesty International, War Child, War on Want and Red Wedge, the collective of musicians and artists campaigning for political change during the Thatcher years.

His commitment to social issues was also influenced by his family background. Townsend spoke about his father’s involvement in anti-poverty campaigns and social reform initiatives, experiences that reinforced the belief that culture should serve a wider social purpose.

One particularly memorable moment came when he attended a parliamentary event during Nelson Mandela’s visit to London following his release from prison.

For Townsend, Mandela represented resilience, dignity and the triumph of justice over oppression.

Building Map Studio Cafe

While Fifth Column established Townsend’s reputation within music culture, Map Studio Cafe has become his most enduring contribution to the community.

Founded in 1990, the venue takes its name from the words Music, Art and Print.

Over the past three decades, it has evolved into a unique cultural hub in Kentish Town. It combines performance spaces, recording studios and community activities under one roof.

Map Studio Cafe hosts live music, comedy, film screenings, theatre productions, radio broadcasts, workshops and social events. It has welcomed established artists, emerging talent and local residents alike.

For Townsend, its success comes from its inclusiveness.

People who first came through the doors in the 1990s now return with children and, in some cases, grandchildren of their own. The venue has become woven into the fabric of the local community.

Like many independent cultural spaces, Map Studio Cafe has faced financial challenges over the years. Rising costs and changing economic conditions have made survival increasingly difficult for grassroots venues.

Yet community support has repeatedly demonstrated how valued the space remains.

When fundraising campaigns have been needed, people have responded because they recognise the role the venue plays in supporting creativity, connection and local culture.

Looking to the Future

Despite everything he has already achieved, Chris Townsend remains focused on the future.

One of his most ambitious current projects is the proposed launch of a second Map Studio Cafe in Atlanta, Georgia.

The idea emerged from relationships built over recent years. It aims to create cultural exchange opportunities between London and Atlanta, allowing artists and communities to collaborate across borders.

Townsend also revealed plans for a new venture called Crown Booth.

The project centres on transforming traditional red telephone boxes into affordable recording booths. These spaces would allow musicians, podcasters and creatives to record content without the expense of professional studio facilities.

Both projects reflect the same philosophy that has guided his work throughout his career.

Creating opportunities for people to express themselves and connect through culture.

Why Community Spaces Still Matter

Listening to Chris Townsend discuss music, politics and community reveals a consistent thread running through every chapter of his story.

Whether producing merchandise during the punk era, working with legendary artists, supporting campaign groups or building Map Studio Cafe, his focus has always been on bringing people together.

In an age when many independent venues face uncertain futures, the story of Chris Townsend serves as a reminder that grassroots cultural spaces remain essential.

They provide opportunities for emerging talent, preserve local identity and create communities that extend far beyond music itself.

For more than three decades, Townsend has dedicated himself to that mission.

His story is not simply a history of punk, reggae or independent music. It is the story of someone who has spent a lifetime building spaces where creativity, culture and community can thrive.

Catch Chris live from the Itch Radio Studio every Friday from 6pm for Into the Weekend  the perfect soundtrack to kick off your weekend.

Listen to the whole interview below