Pat Pope's photography was on the covers on so many music magazines in the UK and was a high-profile photographer through the early careers of some of the biggest bands of the era. He captured many key moments and often became friends with them. We are very excited to have Pat Pope as part of the Behind The Gallery Team.

Pat Pope's photography was on the covers on so many music magazines in the UK and Part was a high-profile photographer through the early careers of some of the biggest bands of the era. He captured many key moments and often became friends with them. We are very excited to have Pat Pope as part of the Behind The Gallery Team.

So how does a small boy who loves David Bowie become a world-class photographer who flies around the world photographing the biggest bands of the day?

Well, Pat always loved music  and he played in bands as a teenager. But he also loved cameras and eventually his career took a different route. Going to London to study photography, he emerged in the early 1990s just as a new generation of bands and artists was breaking through.

Who was the first artist you ever shot?

PJ Harvey. This shot was taken while I was still at college. I asked to rearrange the furniture at her house. She didn’t like that idea so we shot outside.”

PJ Harvey Railings

What was you most memorable shoot?

David Bowie by Pat Pope

"David Bowie.  I had been a fan for 25 years and really wanted to photograph him. The problem was every opportunity went to older, more experienced photographers so I had to make my own destiny. My friend worked for a festival company where he was headlining in 1996 so I suggested a backstage studio so we could grab people as they went to catering. We teamed up with Amnesty International with the intention of having an exhibition in London later in the year to make money for the charity.

“Due to major traffic/access problems, and Bowie performing on the first day, I never got to photograph him though we had a very successful four days. Then, months later, they announced the line up for 1997 and Bowie was headlining again only this time on the Saturday. We were on again. This time I was more organised and the time was set.

“Bowie was late and I was very nervous to meet my hero. He eventually turned up. I showed him to his seat and shot three rolls of film all the time thinking I should really be speaking to him but I was too nervous. I had waited 25 years and now I was silent! As he left his PR turned and reminded him he needed a shot in his stage outfit. ‘Will you take it Pat?’ he asked. He returned an hour later by which time I was relaxed. It was like greeting an old friend! We laughed and joked and shot for ten minutes and then he invited me to shoot on stage. This was turning out to be the most memorable night of my life. I really thought we were best friends. I never met him again.”

Debbie Harry with Bananas... How did this happen?

“This shot was also taken at the Amnesty/Phoenix Festival sessions. She was a friend of Andy Warhol in the 70s and as she was carrying bananas, I asked her to hold them up by way of a Warhol/Velvet Underground tribute.”

Debbie Harry Bananas 

 

You can browse our collection of Pat Popes limited edition photography here.

 

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