Search
Close this search box.

Early Smiths photos on display at Central Library

Share
Tweet
Share
Chat

An exhibition of early photographs of Manchester music icons The Smiths – including the world-famous shot of the group posing outside the Salford Lads Club – is now on display at Manchester Central Library.

As a novice photographer, Stephen Wright captured the band with his first Nikon camera in the mid-1980s and his images have become an integral part of The Smiths’ visual history.

Stephen has photographed a number of musicial legends during his career, including Madonna, Prince, Miles Davis, Nina Simone and James Brown.

But his most famous image is still a posed shot of The Smiths, taken outside the Salford Lads Club in 1985, ahead of the release of their album The Queen is Dead.

Stephen caught the band at their peak on a dark, murky day in Salford. The original film was processed in a darkroom in the photographer’s bedroom, with chemicals which were kept in old fizzy-drinks bottles.

The image was selected by the band and became renowned worldwide. The photograph is now a part of the collections of the National Portrait Gallery, the Manchester Art Gallery and the Salford Art Gallery.

Stephen recently allowed the Salford Lads Club to use one of his Smiths images to adorn a  T-shirt, which raised £65,000 in a year for a trip for teenagers to visit Native Americans in South Dakota – the descendants of the ‘Salford Sioux’, who worked with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Circus in 1888.

Stephen has also donated signed limited edition prints to a range of charities.

“I’m delighted that people will have the opportunity to enjoy my early photographs in such a lovely venue, which is only a few hundred yards the site where I first photographed The Smiths live, at what was the Free Trade Hall in 1984,” said Stephen.

The instantly recognisable images will be displayed on the library’s first floor, near to the Henry Watson Music Library, which hosts a collection of musical instruments and production software which can be used for free, plus an extensive collection of rock and pop biographies to loan.

The images will be on display at Central Library until 25th August.

MORE INFO

Share
Tweet
Share
Chat

Did we miss something? Let us know: [email protected]

Want to be the first to receive all the latest news stories, what’s on and events from the heart of Manchester? Sign up here.

Manchester is a successful city, but many people suffer. I Love Manchester helps raise awareness and funds to help improve the lives and prospects of people across Greater Manchester – and we can’t do it without your help. So please support us with what you can so we can continue to spread the love. Thank you in advance!

Support us

£
Support now wdgk loader image

Got a story worth sharing?

What’s the story? We are all ears when it comes to positive news and inspiring stories. You can send story ideas to [email protected]

An email you’ll love. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest news stories delivered direct to your inbox.

Search
Close this search box.