Great Moments in Popular Music An exhibition of new paintings by
Pete McKee 10 September to 29 October 2011
Great Moments in Popular Music An exhibition of new paintings by
Pete McKee 10 September - 29 October 2011
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
“My wardrobe is a throwback to the ’50s, my house has ’60s furniture, my formative memories are from the ’70s and I tried to be a rock star in the ’80s. And, through all this, music has shaped my life. So here is my homage to the wonderful and mesmerising world of popular music.” Pete McKee, September 2011
Welcome to the wo Welcome to our latest exhibition: Great Moments in Popular Music, as seen through the eyes of incredibly talented Sheffield based artist, Pete McKee. The ”Great Moments” exhibition is an exciting one for us as it marks the start of a broader approach for the gallery to popular culture beyond photography. This show is a wry look at the events in rock ’n’ roll that shaped lives and inspired generations to form rock ‘n’ roll bands and make history. As well as retelling tales of vinyl gods and goddesses, the exhibition also takes a look at fandom – the clothes, the hairstyles – all done with the wit and reverence that are Pete McKee’s trademarks. If you are not familiar with Pete’s style then you’re in for a treat. Emotions are often conveyed in a single brushstroke, and while many of his paintings show off his natural wit and sense of fun, he is not afraid to deal with difficult subjects; the death of
Buddy Holly is the focus of one of the paintings in the show, the haunting ‘Winter Dance Party’. For Pete, the destination isn’t as important as the journey. He explains: “What interests me more is not that the Rolling Stones are the biggest rock ’n’ roll band in the world, but that, once, they were spotty teenagers with greasy hair and a dream.” Likewise, in the painting ‘Jimi Starts a Fire’ (shown on the cover of this catalogue) it’s not Hendrix’s flaming guitar that gets the spotlight, but the corner shop selling the lighter fuel. Pete continues: “Coming up with a title for the show, I went through a number of puns and clever references. I settled on “Great Moments in Popular Music” as it’s very grand and to the point but it also allows me to be cheeky with my choice of subject matter. A great moment in music is a totally subjective point: Is it your first record? Is it the Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl?”
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
rld of Pete McKee One of the paintings, ‘The Beatles Get a Haircut’ neatly sums up the essence of the exhibition. It features one of the most important groups in the history of popular music, but captures a left field moment which you won’t find in any standard Beatles biographical text. The painting depicts the time, as imagined by Pete, when the Beatles first acquired their moptops, and, as Pete puts it, paraphrasing John Lennon, “changed from Rockers to Mockers”. Of course this isn’t exactly how it happened, but that’s not the point. It’s how Pete’s imagination works that is the point here, and how he applies his trademark wit to the subjects we know and love, reminding us to expect the unexpected. That’s a theme that runs through the work on show. This exhibition has been a complete pleasure to put together. Every few days for the past couple of months
an email from Pete would arrive with another classic piece for the show completed. My excitement has been building over time as the overall shape of the exhibition has come into sharper focus with the revelation of each successive painting. Visitors to the gallery from 10 September until 29 October 2011 will be able to see two floors of original paintings and one floor of original ink drawings and limited edition screenprints. The original paintings shown in this catalogue are of course unique pieces. We expect demand to be high. If you do fall in love with a piece as you turn the pages, then be bold and seize the moment. If you don’t someone else surely will. We look forward to seeing you at the gallery. If you have any questions, please get in touch. Guy White, Director, Snap Galleries
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
The Beatles Get A Haircut “To me, the change from a Teddy-boy rock ’n’ roll covers act to a smooth-suited beat combo was as significant a change as they come.” Original painting, framed size 26x32 inches. Also available as a limited edition screenprint.
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Black and Blue Original painting, framed size 32x42 inches.
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
Prison Blues “Mr Cash goes to prison, annoys the guards, stirs up the prisoners and produces some cracking live albums along the way.” Original painting, framed size 16x20 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
Room 414 “The Devil may or may not have been in attendance but in a hotel room in San Antonio, Texas, the first ever legend was born.” Original painting, framed size 26x26 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
706 Memphis Recording Service “In the summer of 1953 a young lad took the first tentative steps to rock ’n’ roll stardom.” Original painting, framed size 32x42 inches.
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
At Home With Elvis 10 (Fish Supper) Original painting, framed size 22x22 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
Jimi Starts A Fire “A fire that burns brighter than ever.” Original painting, framed size 26x26 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
Brian Wilson’s Broken Heart Club Band “His nemesis struck for the last time.” Original painting, framed size 22x22 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
The Village Green Preservation Society “Marriott, Townshend, Davies and Weller make sure our green land is always pleasant.” Original painting, framed size 26x26 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
Marque of Excellence “No other club saw so many music waves lap at its shores.” Original painting, framed size 26x26 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
The Weekenders “Praise to those pioneers, who in the interest of having a good time, were prepared to dance all weekend aided by love, sweat and chemicals.” Original painting, framed size 26x26 inches. Also available as a limited edition screenprint.
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
School Boy Crush “We can all remember our first love: she may have been called Telecaster, Jaguar or Les Paul. But sadly we ended up with one of her less attractive mates: Hondo, Tockai or Squire.” Original painting, framed size 16x16 inches. A special limited edition tote bag featuring this picture has been created by Paul Smith especially for this exhibition.
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
The Winter Dance Party. Original painting, framed size 32x42 inches
“'Winter dance party' was the name of the tour Buddy Holly was on when he took the decision to fly to the next gig due to the heavy tour schedule. Yes, the painting is an uncomfortable subject matter, but it is also a very significant moment in music history. I wanted something that sat next to the birth of a pop star and the death of one seemed prophetic. The painting is controversial, but that's not a bad thing when it comes to art; we need to kick the nest every now and then. I personally feel that the painting is beautiful and poetic and tragic. “
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
The Guitar And The Girl “Without these trobairitz the world would be a loveless place to live.” Original painting, framed size 16x16 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
Judas “The moment Bob Dylan picked up an electric guitar and plugged it in, he changed rock music forever… not everyone was impressed. His response? … “PLAY IT FUCKING LOUD!” Original painting, framed size 26x26 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
64 Beats “Birth of cool.” Original painting, framed size 26x26 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
Three Minutes To Lift Off Mr Stardust “On the daytime kids’ TV music show ‘Lift Off with Ayshea’ an alien landed and changed the hairstyles and lives of thousands.” Original painting, framed size 22x22 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
Pub Rocked “For those who shed blood to entertain us.” Original painting, framed size 20x26 inches. Also available as a limited edition screenprint.
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
Pioneers of a Brave New World “The last true musical revolution was the development of the synth band. It also tickled me to think that all trailblazing bands start their revolution by catching a bus to rehearsals.” Original painting, framed size 20x26 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
How We Listened To John Peel “From bedrooms across the nation a whole generation fell in love, dried their tears, laughed and fell asleep to John Peel.” Original painting, framed size 26x26 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
Mr Peel Saves The World Original painting, framed size 20x26 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
Great Labels in Popular Music No 1 Original painting, framed size 26x26 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
In Search of The Holy Grail “Sure, you could go on eBay and buy it online, but where’s the fun of the hunt?” Original painting, framed size 16x16 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
When Johnny Met Stephen “The stuff of legend… “I had a pair of fifties Levis on with proper American bike boots and a Johnson’s sleeveless jacket and a Johnson’s shirt and a real proper old American flying men’s cap and a super quiff which was faultless… Amazingly, he let me in.” Johnny Marr, taken from The North Will Rise Again by John Robb.” Original painting, framed size 26x26 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
The Batley Womens Guild Battle Recreation Society Present ‘Blur v Oasis’ “q.v. Monty Python’s Flying Circus.” Original painting, framed size 26x32 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
Painting Number 27 Tears Dry on Their Own Original painting, framed size 26x32 inches
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
Pee Is In The Air (after Banksy) “An overriding memory of any festival, if you are unlucky enough to be stuck up at the front, is that ‘warm glow’ you get down the back of your neck.” Original painting, framed size 16x20 inches.
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH
Pete McKee: biographical information Pete McKee was born in 1966. It was the year England won the World Cup, but also the year that his beloved Sheffield Wednesday lost the FA Cup. Perhaps it is this bittersweet beginning that has given rise to some of Pete’s most poignant work, images that can make you laugh out loud, or break your heart. Growing up through the 60’s and 70’s has become the inspiration of much of Pete’s work. His relationships, his childhood, his passion for music and his wonderful selfdeprecating humour come together to create evocative images which are earning him a worldwide following. After flirting with music during his twenties Pete began to depict the drama of the playing field as resident Sports Cartoonist at the Sheffield Telegraph. However, it was when he decided to paint a picture for a friend’s birthday, grabbed an off-cut of MDF and some left over emulsion, that Pete realised he had found his true mojo. Within months he had found a following and began exhibiting around the City of Sheffield. Within Sheffield Pete is something of a local mascot. Capturing the City of old, the hot spots, the music scene and the architectural nuances, Pete has earned himself a loyal fanbase that champion his work. His memories of childhood though are something that many people can identify with, trips to the seaside, playing cricket with your Mum, enjoying a bag of cockles in the pub. Pete manages to affectionately capture life’s simple pleasures with almost a child’s eye. There isn’t an artist from any era who can convey so much character with so few marks. With as little as two lines (and no mouth) Pete can effectively capture the unmistakable essence of Shaun Ryder, or Richard Hawley, or Paul Weller, or that bloke down the Fish Market. His iconic style has led to a growing international fanbase, taking in the great and the good. Himself a fan, Noel Gallagher chose Pete to design tour posters for Oasis’s last tour. He has also had work commissioned from the likes of the Arctic Monkeys, Disney and Richard Hawley. Early 2010 Pete was invited to design a limited edition pair of Clarks Desert Boots, using the original style template and giving it a McKee makeover. In order to celebrate the heritage of the original boot Pete created a striking pair of images featuring a groups of Mods for the men’s boot, and Modettes for the womens. The boots were sold worldwide in selected Clarks Shops, specifically in Paris, New York and Japan. Again in 2010 Pete was approached by Internationally Renowned Designer, Paul Smith, with a view to staging an exhibition of his work at the flagship Tokyo Paul Smith Store. This saw the development of Teenage Kicks – a beautifully produced limited edition book that celebrates the influence a musical awakening had on Pete. Teenage Kicks takes in several musical genres: Goth, Punk, Rock, Hippies and Rap are amongst the styles featured in this coffee table tome. And as it comes complete with a very special 12” etched piece of white vinyl Pete has finally realised a dream of having a successful, critically acclaimed record (of sorts). To commemorate this collaboration selected images were reproduced on Paul Smith clothing and bags specifically for the Japanese market.
Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com
About the gallery Snap Galleries was founded by Guy White in 2003 in Birmingham and relocated to the heart of St James in central London in 2010. Based in Piccadilly Arcade, the gallery hosts a series of exhibitions throughout the year over three floors of exhibition space. Historically the gallery has specialised in rock ‘n’ roll photography, but the ”Great Moments” exhibition marks the start of a broader approach to popular culture and the wealth of great art that celebrates it.
Snap Galleries, 8 Piccadilly Arcade, London, SW1Y 6NH Telephone +44 (0) 207 493 1152 www.snapgalleries.com e: info@snapgalleries.com