BOOK REVIEW: Richard Bellia - An eye on music 1980-2016.

Photographer Richard Bellia was there when it mattered carrying his trusted camera to capture moments in music’s vast cannon of historical importance, some which now forms his own tapestry of work in Un œil sur la musique 1980-2016 i.e. An eye on music 1980-2016.

The intro to the book says ‘’a thousand photos: breathe the same air as the musicians, feel the bass, the riffs and the silences, sixtieth of a second per sixtieth of a second.’’ With this in mind its hard not to get stuck straight in with the mammoth heavyweight volume of photos infront of you. The first striking images come from prime Punk era via Denmark Street, John Lydon looking grimacingly at the camera in the studio and on stage with PiL, Joe Strummer looking cool as holding his guitar towards the camera, Topper Headon, Mick Jones and leather clad Paul Simonon all looking equally stunning in separate shots.

There’s the usual reprobates but all seen from angles and images you have never seen before The Stranglers backstage at Festival Elixir, Guéhenno, 1983; Jaz Coleman of Killing Joke looking as nightmarish as he ever did on stage Mont-de-Marsan, 1985; Peter Garrett from Midnight Oil on his knees on stage at Festival Elixir, Guéhenno, 1985; mullet wearing David Bowie suited and booted on stage at Wembley Stadium, 1987 and Robert Smith and The Cure look as iconic as ever taking over 10 pages of the book in a number of locations, backstage, on the road and just having fun through the 80’s and early 90’s.

The amount of documentation throughout the book is sublime and totally engrossing as you flick through pages featuring Kylie Minogue looking young and youthful in Munich 1989; Madonna’s vast Wembley Stadium crowd 1987; Paul Weller in white double denim centre stage with The Style Council, Royal Albert Hall, 1987; Bono carrying a youngster on his shoulders playing with U2, Werchter (Belgique), 1983; whilst similar Irish starlet Van Morrison brandishes an acoustic guitar on stage Hammersmith Odeon, 1988; Chas Smash and Suggs from Madness ready to unleash their ska beats to the Madstock crowd of 1992.

The never ending story continues with scouse genius Lee Mavers looking like Brian Jones younger brother; Ian Brown, Mani and John Squire of The Stone Roses flared up and looing majestic on stage in Paris 1989; fellow Mancunian Morrissey quiffed hair and astute in see through shirt Brixton Academy, 1991; Happy Mondays Shaun Ryder points what I can only assume is a fake gun into the crowd at ULU, London 1988.

Further acts appearing include AC/DC, Alain Bashung, Ben Harper, Keziah Jones, Allan Mc Gee, Alt-J, Anton Newcombe, A Tribe Called Quest, Billy Corgan, The Chemical Brothers, Daniel Johnston, Elliott Smith, Dominique A, Erykah Badu, Gonzales, Nuits Sonores 2008, Frank Black, Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, Galaxie 500, Laurent Garnier, Nirvana, Klub des losers, Léo Ferré, Bertrand Cantat, Chet Baker, Lewis Durham, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Lana Del Rey, Zombierella bassist of Messer Chups, Metronomy, Marilyn Manson, Mika, Nasser, Nirvana, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Paul McCartney, Peter Van Pooele, Radiohead, Placebo, Tricky, Donnington 1996, Nuits Sonores along with many many more.

Richards cannon of work is totally stunning and you can only don your hat to his no doubt hours of work to documents his life’s work. A remarkable book, the work captured within you rarely see all from one artist.

Richard will be doing an exhibition in London in November 2024

Richard Bellia – An eye on music 1980-2016 can ordered via the following link