London Calling 2014

Ray Lowry designed the iconic ‘London Calling’ Album sleeve for The Clash combining the legendary photograph taken by Penny Smith with the Pink and Green colours taken from an Elvis Presley LP sleeve.

It worked and became one of the great record sleeves of the time.

Ray Lowry passed away in 2008 and in 2011 I was approached by the Lowry foundation, ‘Could you make a series of Limited edition hand pulled screen prints from Ray’s original sketch books from his time on the road in America and beyond with The Clash. Is the Pope a Catholic!

Lowry was described by Joe Strummer as ‘The Clash’s War Artist’.

I was the resident D.J., at The Rock Garden in Covent Garden at a time when the 100 Club began to book bands other than jazz and saw the Roxy develop as a venue in the 70’s, it was a project you only get offered once.

These images have rarely been seen and not before printed using silk screen, the preferred method for printing posters, fanzines for so many of the bands of the hitherto punk era.

Three years in the planning, over 250 prints, reams of paper and litres of ink…

The show opens at Graffik Gallery in London's Portobello Road on September 10th from 6-9p.m. and then from 11th -17th September daily.

Alongside the prints I have invited guest artists to provide a one of original piece the brief being, “The Clash – Ray Lowry” Guest Artists are – K-Guy (London), Jef Aerosol (France), Rowan Newton (London), Akse (France/Manchester) and Remak (Spain).

Text by Robin Ross