Strangeways Here We Come

This limited edition photographic print celebrates the 30th Anniversary of The Queen Is Dead; considered to be one of the greatest albums of all time and a defining album of the 1980s.

The launch of this edition follows an exhibition of photographer Stephen Wright’s work at The Lowry in Salford, UK, which included the infamous shot of The Smiths outside the Salford Lads Club, to which this print can be seen as an alternative or companion piece. The famous photograph from this shoot was originally used for the inner sleeve of the band’s The Queen Is Dead album in 1986, 30 years prior to this publication.

“That photo of The Smiths was taken on a murky and cold Salford day in 1985. If you can imagine trying to take pictures on a really dark November day – it was a bit of a technical struggle to put it mildly, it was taken with the wrong lens on a dark day but to some extent maybe that’s why it works. There’s something quite enigmatic about Morrissey’s expression – it doesn’t look desperately posed. They were at the peak of their success and I’m so proud that the image has become recognisable worldwide. It’s funny really – I remember developing the shot in a makeshift darkroom in my bedroom – using chemicals that I kept in old fizzy drinks bottles.” Stephen Wright

Today the primary image is part of the collections of the National Portrait Gallery, Manchester Art Gallery and Salford Museum & Art Gallery and is perhaps the most iconic image of The Smiths, as well as one of the most iconic images in the Rock Photography canon of all time. Available in three sizes. Photo shows 16″ print.

Printed and signed on demand so allow for delay in delivery of up to one month. Just get in touch, if time is of the essence! We will contact you with updates following your purchase.