Written and compiled by the man himself, Peter Gravelle, ‘The Death of Photography’ commences in the low-culture, underground world of punk rock at the height of its glory and tracks his career through fashion and high art. Gravelle was a pioneer in music and fashion photography and now, forty years after punk rock first hit London, he is back to share his uninhibited story. Told through a collection of bold images and a captivating narrative, Gravelle gives readers a unique periscope back into that filthy, fury-filled era; including newly-released information on Sid Vicious’s last night alive – with Gravelle by his side.
A book of sex, drugs and rock and roll (and fashion).
The End of Photography is a redemption, a confessional and a reflection on forty years of hedonism and making art. Gravelle burns the myths, tells the stories and reveals a textured and
intelligent picture of a truly maverick life.
Peter Gravelle is a photographer that has a body of work spanning 40 years of music, fashion, portraiture and creativity with a backstory overshadowed by the dark side of drug dependency.
From the filth and the fury to the elegant extravaganza, ‘Peter Gravelle’, the many named photographer, has remained in the shadows of punk rock, low culture and high fashion, deflecting attention while steadily producing an epic body of iconic work.
‘The Death of Photography’ is a tour de force, a high end art book showcasing forty years of the best punk, fashion and portraiture of Gravelle’s career. Heavily stylised images are woven together with Gravelle’s own fascinating recollections from a live lived in technicolour.
There comes a time when a man needs to testify. Gravelle has no axe to grind nor star ego to feed . . . His intelligent storytelling is a fresh perspective on some of the most pivotal moments in our pop cultural history told without exaggeration or romance. This truth telling is a catharsis, not prettified or censored just what happened, because it happened.
Behind the glittering facade of the fashion business, Milan, Paris, Athens, Tokyo, NYC, LA - he has been there, witness to the dark underbelly of the trade.
“There was a time when I was the punk rock photographer – as defined the world over,” explains the author, most notably known for his close and hedonistic relationship with Sid Vicious. “I wanted to showcase the warts-and-all story of my career before those who remember punk rock go senile. I can’t believe forty years have passed!” “I cover everything from my first experience photographing The Damned for free, right through to the night I spent with Sid, eventually becoming one of the last people to be with him before he died of his overdose. Many of the book’s images and stories have never before been made public.”
Readers agree Gravelle’s work is unique. One reviewer commenting, “Gives an insight into what was and is still considered to be, an exciting time of change and expectations. Fabulous images with a narrative that is interesting and honest from a man who engaged with the famous and the infamous - Great read.”
Alistair Findlay adds, “A pot-pourri, a potage, a cornucopia of obsession, addiction and creativity, THE DEATH OF PHOTOGRAPHY still stands as a unique testament of the punk era, and so much more.”
‘The Death of Photography’, from Carpet Bombing Culture, is available now: http://amzn.to/1YpFw23.
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