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In 2013, Shepard collaborated with photographer Dennis Morris on a series of works focusing on the life of Sid Vicious, culminating in Subliminal Project’s joint show SID: Superman Is Dead. Dennis’s shots of Sid Vicious served as the basis for this collaboration specifically covering Sid’s volatile tenure as the Sex Pistols’s bassist. Now in 2014, Morris presents a comprehensive exposé of the entire band in his work, The Bollocks. This new publication features a foreword by Shepard and additional texts by Dennis Morris and Billy Idol. Limited to 200 copies, The Bollocks will also come with two individually signed and numbered 18×12 inch prints by Morris to be presented in a hand stenciled wooden box. Be sure to check out this extraordinary glimpse into the world of the Sex Pistols. Click here to purchase and if you’re in the Los Angeles area be sure to check out Dennis’s book signing on Friday, December 19 at Known Gallery on North Fairfax Avenue. Details below:
THE BOLLOCKS by Dennis Morris
A Photo Essay of the Sex Pistols
80-page large format book with over 45 rare exquisitely printed images of the Sex Pistols, (including live photos from The Marquee Club and Brunel University, behind the scenes photos and intimate shots).
“I’ve returned to these pictures of the band many times over the years, and when I’ve done so they take me right back to the time. I still listen to their debut album now and it doesn’t sound dated. In a similar way, these images, though very much of their era, haven’t aged at all. Which reflects how timeless the Sex Pistols were.”
– Dennis Morris
The Bollocks, co-published by Zero+ Publishing and The Seventh Letter, offers an exclusive glimpse into the world of The Sex Pistols. Internationally recognized photographer Dennis Morris visually records both behind-the scenes material and classic stage footage alongside intimate portraits and documents an iconic movement in the history of music with many never-before-seen images.
It was Morris’ photos of Marley that caught the eye of the young Johnny Rotten. Rotten, a massive reggae fan, had long admired Morris’ work and requested that he take the first official shots of the Sex Pistols upon signing to Virgin Records. Morris’ association with the band fitted perfectly in the plan devised by legendary music Svengali, Malcolm McLaren. Morris witnessed the raw beginnings and rise of a group that would eventually become pioneering musicians behind the Punk movement of the late 1970s.
The Sex Pistols soon learned to trust Morris completely, allowing him unrestricted access to their strange and chaotic existence. For a year, Morris trailed the band, taking hundreds of undisputed classic shots of the band. The only photographer to put the Sex Pistols fully at ease in front of the lens, Morris’ work with the band established, their public image and strong lasting identity.
Morris’ images also capture the visceral hysteria of the fans and unforgettable fashions as well as pivotal moments in the band’s history.
Limited to an edition of 200 with over 45 iconic images and two signed prints on Kodak Endura Metallic photo paper by Dennis Morris, The Bollocks, priced at US $ 800.00, provides both an extraordinary view into the intoxicating world of The Sex Pistols as well as a chapter of history charting fashions, music and trends of the 1970s for passionate fans and intrigued onlookers alike.
