Pennie Smith
Pennie Smith made one of the the most famous photographs in the history of rock ‘n’ roll – the cover image for London Calling.
Pennie Smith is one of the UK’s leading rock photographers.
She had been photographing for NME when she first met The Clash in 1976. She recalls ” They knew my work through NME. I think they decided I was the photographer for them because I could do in pictures what they made in noise. ” She stayed with them throughout their US tour in 1979, and a book of her Clash photographs, The Clash Before and After, was published in 1980 by Eel Pie Publishing. She is modest about her contribution: ” I don’t think I created their image – I just added atmosphere and perhaps the setting to the image they already had .”
Pennie rarely exhibits her work, as she is still a full time working photographer.
London Calling (1979)
The classic London Calling album cover photograph.
It is one of the most famous photographs in the history of rock ‘n’ roll. It is not cheap, but sometimes the good stuff has to hurt a little.
The photograph shows Paul Simonon about to smash up his bass during a show at The Palladium, New York City on 21 September 1979. It is an acclaimed shot, receiving the ultimate accolade from Q Magazine by being voted the best rock and roll photograph of all time. Pennie had accompanied The Clash throughout their 1979 US tour, and very nearly didn’t attend this particular concert. In the end she chose to turn down the offer to go out with friends and ended up stage right at The Palladium. The band were used to getting a big response from their US audiences, but not on this night – The Palladium had fixed seating. Paul’s frustration turned to anger, and then he lost it completely. His watch stopped at 9.50pm. Later, when it was time to choose an image for the cover of London Calling, the band spent a long time pouring over hundreds of Pennie’s photographs from the tour. Joe Strummer saw this shot on the contact sheet and said “That one”.
Sandinista! (1980)
This is the Sandinista! album cover photograph.
On this original photograph you can see the West Ham graffiti that was removed from the actual Sandinista! LP cover artwork.
Pennie Smith photographed the group behind Kings Cross/ St Pancras Station in London. The group had recently finished shooting a video for ‘The Call Up’, and Mick Jones is still wearing the helmet he wore for the filming.
Temple of Wax
Let us celebrate your all-time favourite piece of music with an incredible bespoke artwork – made just for you.
We all have a favourite vinyl record, right? One that connects with us in a special way. With our bespoke service, The Temple of Wax, we take that cherished vinyl record and transform it for you into a large-scale work of art that you can hang on your wall and enjoy every single day.
Roberta Bayley
Roberta Bayley photographed The Clash, Blondie, The Sex Pistols, and many more punk and new wave artists in New York in the late seventies.
She bought a camera in November 1975 and by 1980, in Roberta’s words, ‘I’d pretty much photographed everyone I had ever wanted to photograph who was still alive’.
Keith Haynes
Keith’s work explores pop art in its purest form, using album sleeves, record labels, badges and, of course, beautiful vinyl records – the hard currency of pop culture – to create striking and witty pop art pieces with a strong graphic design aesthetic.
The Clash – Guns series
The Clash “Guns” series is a beautiful collection that nicely encapsulates Keith’s style.
Cut from original Clash seven inch singles that themselves reference guns – be it in their song titles, subject matter or graphic design – each is supplied in a 25 x 25 cm / 10 x 10 inch black box frame ready to hang. They are a nice size for small spaces and work well individually or in groups.
Subject covered include: Bankrobber, I Fought The Law, Guns of Brixton, Tommy Gun, (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais (with its gun label), English Civil War and The Call Up.
These entry-level signed limited edition pieces are very collectible.
