A career retrospective on one of the all-time great photographers of both music and black
culture Dennis Morris. When we think of the trailblazing photographer Dennis Morris's work
music is right there. Morris's adventures in the 1970s reggae and punk scene laid the
groundwork for a six-decade career. It all began with Bob Marley: Morris doorstepped Marley
in his early teens while skipping school and went on to capture much of Marley's tour which
launched his career as a music photographer. He later became the official photographer for the
Sex Pistols and for John Lydon's next project Public Image Limited Morris was art director
and designer as well as taking iconic images for the band. He captured the greats of reggae and
roots music from Lee 'Scratch' Perry to Toots and Jimmy Cliff forming friendships with many
of the acts. Morris's documentary and street photography work with roots in his experiences
as a Black teenager in 1970s Britain bring us visionary projects that explore race politics
and cultural identity. From the miner's strike to squat protests from civil rights
organizations to pop-up studio portraits his work was a reckoning with his new home capturing
eccentricity and individual spirits with his camera. Edited by Laurie Hurwitz this book
unfolds in two electrifying parts: the first unravels Morris's lens on race culture and
identity in 1970s Britain while the second pulses with encounters with music legends like
Patti Smith Gregory Isaacs The Stone Roses and Radiohead. With contributions from agnès B
and Sean O'Hagan the book will delight photography fans and music lovers alike. It includes
previously unseen images and is supported by an internationally touring exhibition presenting
Morris's influential work in depth for the first time.
