Product Description

This is a lavishly produced photo book of the band acclaimed by many as the most important UK act of the 80s. Photographer Paul Slattery was allowed unprecedented access to the Smiths during the crucial early period of their career and this book is a permanent record of an era when their remarkable music struck a lasting chord in a generation alienated by Thatcherism. Slattery could be found backstage, front of stage and anywhere in Manchester where the Smiths plied their trade. This first ever book of his work features many photos never seen before, in both colour and black & white.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #218692 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-19
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

About the Author
Paul Slattery took his first rock photos in June 1975, of Link Wray at the London Lyceum. Between 1978 and 1985 he was a regular contributor to Sounds magazine, and since then has photographed a veritable who's who of rock'n'rollers on four continents. His work has appeared in NME, Q, Uncut, Mojo, Classic Rock and Japan's Rockin On, and in over a hundred books. While he continues to photograph rock bands he also enjoys travel and landscape photography and is presently involved in a long project to photograph of all of Britain's native orchids. He is married and lives in Brentford, West London

Customer Reviews

These charming men!
This is a book of photographs. But it is a collection of photographs of the greatest band in the history of popular music. Pictures of The Smiths between 83-84 when they were fresh faced mavericks wielding gladioli and Woolworth's jewellery as they took on the world.

I know very little if anything about photography but I do know that these pictures moved me and left me very nostalgic for a time in my distant past when I would have readily sold my grandmother to a travelling circus had Steven Patrick Morrissey or Johnny Marr ever asked me to.

If you have ever loved The Smiths (and you had to love them, you could never just `like' them) then you need this book more than your kidneys. Drape yourself on the settee , throw on `Hatful of hollow' (preferably vinyl) and savour these images as the handsomely devilish memories come flooding back. Unutterable bliss!

To Live In The Past..
There is no doubt that to live in the past is not the most intellegent course of action to undertake. I doubt very much whether anyone who was a teenager during The Smiths reign still actually listens to their music. We all grow old, tastes change, people move on.
However, The Smiths image was undeniably enticing and I suppose I will forgive myself one day for stepping back in time to relive that image once more.
Never forget though that real life is in the present.. How Soon Is Now..