//(c) 100% Boy George.// On April 9 George O’Dowd and I will be in conversation at the V&A; the subject is David Bowie’s visual style. The event is one of a series being held to coincide with the museum’s hotly-anticipated … Continue reading
//Kenny putting on make up, Nan Goldin, Boston, 1973 // Perhaps it is a matter of displacement – that slippery moment when art becomes commerce, shifting back again into the cultural arena as another kind of commodity. The fact is, … Continue reading
I’m quoted in today’s article in UK Sunday newspaper The Observer about the factual failings surrounding the punk clothing collection of the New York Metropolitan Museum Of Art’s Costume Institute. These are given added urgency by the fact that the … Continue reading
//Jacket, Beatbooks 62 from collage by Norman Ogue Mustill, 1967.// The new Beatbooks catalogue returns Andrew Sclanders to his primary preoccupation with the creative outpourings of the American Beats and their fellow travellers. The 463 items for sale represent the … Continue reading
A little-known design by Barney Bubbles – the graphics genius and subject of my book Reasons To be Cheerful – has emerged. Victor Gordon’s 1975 recipe booklet Feasts was produced for one of Bubbles’ regular clients, Justin de Blank, who … Continue reading
I am indebted to Melanie de Blank, widow of the late gastronomic pioneer Justin de Blank, for this treasure; a rare copy of a little known Barney Bubbles design, the recipe booklet Feasts by Victor Gordon. Bubbles worked alongside Justin … Continue reading
//Harold Harris with 10ft tall display item designed by Rod Stokes, Mr Freedom, 1971. Photo courtesy Andrew Greaves.// Something of a legend in 70s British boutique circles, here is Harold The Ted in all his glory accompanying one of the … Continue reading
//Interior, 430 King's Road, Chelsea, May 1971. Note coconut matting, shack-style dressing room doors, trompe de l'oeil gate painted on stockroom door… and fake tiger. Photography: David Parkinson.// I first wrote about Electric Colour Company – the design studio formed … Continue reading
//Nick Abrahams (second left) with actor Aidan Gillen (left) and crew, fox and animal trainer shooting Ekki múkk in woods near Amersham, Bucks, last year. Photo: Eva Vermandel.// Film-maker – and Bloke Of Britain – Nick Abrahams is the much-deserved … Continue reading
Regulars on both sides of various Soho bars having been mourning the familiar figure the vast majority of us knew simply as Pam. This portrait by photographer Carla Borel captures Pam’s charm, sweetness and light. And she’s in her element, … Continue reading
//Brian Eno + David Bowie interviewed by Anthea Turner for British breakfast TV at Flowers, east London, October 1994. This was to publicise the charity art show/auction Little Pieces From Big Stars. By this time the pair were collaborating again, … Continue reading
//Marque, Barney Bubbles, 1969.// I interviewed the restaurateur and fine food champion Justin de Blank – who died last month aged 85 – for Reasons To Be Cheerful; de Blank recognised Barney Bubbles’ design talents when the pair met at … Continue reading
Restaurateur and fine food pioneer Justin de Blank – who died last month aged 85 – was an early champion of Barney Bubbles’ talents. They met at the Conran Group design studio in the mid-60s; as marketing director, de Blank … Continue reading
This just in from Joe Stevens, following yesterday’s post about his new website: the story behind the photo with Johnny Rotten above, taken in London in 1978. We were at his Gunter Grove digs in Fulham. Malcolm (McLaren) had left … Continue reading
Joe Stevens needs no introduction here. These photographs of our man Captain Snaps with Johnny Rotten and Andy Warhol are among the delights awaiting visitors to his newly refreshed website www.joestevens.com. Related Posts Photography: Joe Stevens – Captain Snaps behind … Continue reading
Thanks to Kosmo Vinyl for digging this out of his archive; a late 70s shot of performer Pearl Harbour strolling along east London’s Bow Road clutching a carrier bag bearing that ubiquitous Barney Bubbles design, the Blockhead logo. Fashion fans … Continue reading
Here’s another gem from Herb Schmitz’s photographic goldmine: model Ika Hindley at west London restaurant Julie’s in an early 70s shoot for Dutch agency Kippa. Vintage experts Liz Eggleston, Mark + Cleo from C20 Vintage and Deborah Woolf took next … Continue reading
Proud to have known you Tommy. Writing the Mr Freedom book was an honour, the most pleasurable experience of my career. All photos: Brian Aris, 1986. Taken from this post:Tommy Roberts February 6 1942 – December 11 2012
//Bernard Lansky with Elvis Presley in Lansky Bros, 126 Beale Street, Memphis, 1956.// I interviewed Bernard Lansky, who has died aged 85, for my first book The Look: Adventures In Rock & Pop Fashion early one morning in March 2000 … Continue reading
Signed copies from a selection of my work are now available from this site – click on the button in the right-hand column or select SHOP from the menu at the top of the page. At the moment you can … Continue reading
//Laurie Cunningham aged 17, at Brisbane Road, home to Leyton Orient FC, 1973.// In 1989, footballer Laurie Cunningham’s life was cut short by a car crash on the outskirts of Madrid. He was 33 years old. By that time Cunningham … Continue reading
//William Cowlishaw's memorial in Pozieres cemetry, final resting place of my uncle Desmond. From Silent Cities, RIBA, 1977.// I have many times asked myself whether there can be more potent advocates of peace upon earth through the years to come … Continue reading
//Marrion Womble + Barbara Trentham in City Lights Studio clothes, London, 1973.// Herb Schmitz proudly describes himself as a photojournalist. From the start of his career in London in the late 60s, the Viennese-born Schmitz has turned an unerring eye … Continue reading
The Random House/Penguin takeover prompted a visit from photographer Sarah Lee to shoot my collection of Penguin books for illustrative material for The Guardian. One of her shots has already been used – a set of early 70s Raymond Chandlers … Continue reading
//Outside 430 King's Road (from left) summer 1971: Unknown, assistant Lisa Petersen, manager Roly Poltock, designer Diana Crawshaw and founder Trevor Myles. Photograph: Julian Allason.// Harpers & Queen ran this photograph of the short-lived but significant World’s End boutique Paradise … Continue reading
