"Pennie Smith is one of the UK’s leading rock photographers. She had been photographing for NME when she first met The Clash in 1976. She recalls ” They knew my work through NME. I think they decided I was the photographer for them because I could do in pictures what they made in noise. ” She stayed with them throughout their US tour in 1979, and a book of her Clash photographs, The Clash Before and After, was published in 1980 by Eel Pie Publishing.
Pennie Smith made one of the the most famous photographs in the history of rock ‘n’ roll – the cover image for London Calling by The Clash. The photograph shows Paul Simonon about to smash up his bass during a show at The Palladium, New York City on 21 September 1979. It is an acclaimed shot, receiving the ultimate accolade from Q Magazine by being voted the best rock and roll photograph of all time."
Text from SNAP Galleries Limited