The Cramps

The Cramps

"This was show at LFI’s Studio. I say Studio, that’s being generous, It was not, it was a room 8ft high sealing, plastic tiled floor and about 14ft square. Just about enough room for a back drop to hang from. There was a little make up area with a mirror normally for any female artist or anybody doing their hair boy or girl!

When the band came in they were quite subdued. Not many words were spoken just nods mostly. It felt a bit weird. I was only given about a couple of hours with them. Set the first shot up and in they step. Well, they then came alive. They were great to work with. They became more chatty and animated as the minutes ticked by. They all went out very happy bunnies. They used one of the images for Fever single cover which I was well chuffed about!”

London-based photographer Simon Fowler by Author Ross Stapleton  Head of Artist Development Virgin Records 1981-1982

"Whether through commissioned recording sleeves or official photo sessions, concert and theatre posters, or innumerable magazine covers and national print media featuring Simon Fowler work, he boasts an incredible portfolio. As principal photographer for Smash Hits at the height of its reign as the standard bearer for all things fashionably pop in the UK throughout the eighties, his signature work represents bespoke visual signposts for some of the biggest selling and most popular recording artists on the planet. Even more remarkable is the vast gamut of British and European cultural genres his photography embraces. Aside from photographing touring heavyweights including Bruce Springsteen, The Jacksons, Meat Loaf, Blue Oyster Cult and David Bowie, from punk to the present it’s less a case of who is present than who never made the cut. His archives include Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Bryan Ferry, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Pretenders, The Boomtown Rats, Ozzy Ozbourne, Thin Lizzy, Lemmy (Motorhead), The Police, The Human League, Duran Duran, Steve Strange, Spandau Ballet, Madness, Haircut 100, Depeche Mode, The Communards, Psychedelic Furs, omnipresent Boy George, Alison Moyet, Paul Young, Simple Minds, Simply Red, Wet Wet Wet, Mike Oldfield, UB40, The Waterboys,Marillion, Talk Talk, The Bee Gees/Robin Gibb, Rod Stewart, Paul Weller, AC/DC, Frank Zappa, Shakin’ Stevens, Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Iron Maiden, Ian Gillan (Deep Purple), Twisted Sister, Hanoi Rocks, The Stone Roses, Manic Street Preachers, Primal Scream, Mick Hucknall, Underworld, Menswear, Suede, James. Simon didn’t so much shoot the ’80’s as help nail it for posterity."

Archival Digital Print 
Hand signed and numbered by the photographer

12 x 17 in. - Open edition

15 x 22 In. - Edition 35

24 x 33 in. - Edition 25