Mick Rock and Kevin Cummins - Rock Photography Legends

While idly browsing through HMV on a Saturday afternoon, I came across the coffee table book 'Psychedelic Renegades. Photos of Syd Barrett by Mick Rock' so being a fan of Syd Barrett I naturally picked it up. This is where my love affair of rock photography began and now the walls of my studio apartment are adorned with posters ripped out of NME and album artwork such Gold Against the Soul, Pink Floyd's Animals, Dr Dee and many more. I now have two favourite rock photographers, Mick Rock and Kevin Cummins, who for me, capture perfectly the essence and personality of their subjects in their purest form.

I'll start by talking about 'Psychedelic Renegades' as it can contains such an artistic insight into the Syd Barrett's day to day live. The first set of photographs takes us to the streets of Earl's Court where Syd is posing with a convertible that formerly belonged to Mickey Finn of T-Rex. The convertible dominates the frame as it seems to be a symbol of Syd's own life, what was once exceptionally good at what it did and a high powered, sought after machine was reduced to having a tyre missing and covered in police notices warning of a removal due to neglect. The first set of photos are a particular favourite of mine as the photos are tinted in a light grey which makes Syd's heavy, deep set eyes thick in eye-liner all the more dramatic.

Syd's personality is epitomized in this photograph. 

The second set of photographs within the book are much more vibrant as they are set in Syd's apartment with much emphasis on his red and blue painted striped floorboards. This adds a much more bohemian element with Iggy, a half-Eskimo girl, baring all in the background. Although Psychedelic Renegades is my favourite work by Mick Rock, I am also particularly fond of the work he did with David Bowie, capturing the essence of Ziggy Stardust in all his colourful glory.



Kevin Cummins

I discovered Kevin Cummins through my love of the Manic Street Preachers as I came across photos of the Glamour Twins, Richey and Nicky, and marveled at how the photos summed up the messy, effeminate glamour of these two characters. Born in 1953, Cummins was fortunate to be there, camera at the ready  at the dawn of the punk age, capturing Johnny Rotten and the Sex Pistol's in action. He has captured many defining moments of music history, frozen there in his images are Ian Curtis in his trench coat, taking a thoughtful drag on his cigarette, Richey staring at his reflection with his chest covered in blood having just carved 'VIH' on his chest (the intention was to carve 'HIV' but having done it in the mirror, Richey hadn't realized that he was carving back to front) and Morrissey smiling to himself. My favourite photograph by Kevin Cummins has to be his series of photos taken of Richey. Standing against a red backdrop, a topless Richey has Andy Warhol's famous head shots of Marilyn Monroe printed repeatedly across his chest and arms. These images captures the idea of Richey BEING a 'Manic Street Preacher' as with his arms stretched out, he seems to be elevating himself as an idea, a person placed on earth to tell everybody what is wrong with the world, which he did in his lyrics. By having Marilyn Monroe printed across his body, he is reminding us of his inner depression being played out within the media circus which was also the fate of Marilyn.

All in all, I wouldn't describe myself as having extensive knowledge of photography, but I am fascinated by Rock Photography. It is essential in capturing moments that define a generation and these images will always live on in the hearts of every rock 'n' roller.

Richey and Marilyn: A shared fate captured.