


How photographer Dennis Morris became a pop culture legend
GalleryAt the age of 13, he took one of the most famous pictures of Bob Marley. The Londoner went on to immortalize a whole pantheon of reggae and rock stars, from Lee 'Scratch' Perry to Oasis and the Sex Pistols. An exhibition at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris pays tribute to his work.
The freshest, most natural photo of Bob Marley was taken by a teenager. In 1973, 13-year-old Dennis Morris skipped school with the idea of photographing his idol playing at London's Speakeasy club, waiting for hours before the band arrived for sound checks. There was an immediate rapport between the musician from Jamaica, who was not yet a star, and the young Black boy, also of Caribbean origin, who was trying to find his place in British society. So much so that Morris was invited to accompany the band on tour.
"I grabbed my sports bag like I was going to school and left the house," Morris said.
Just before leaving, sitting in the van, Marley turned around and said, "Are you ready, Dennis?" In response, the kid took this historic photo. The tour in question was short-lived – the band hated the cold and, horrified by the snow, saw it as a sign from Jah (God) that they should return to Jamaica. As for Morris, he returned to his mother's house, where he received quite a beating.
But the episode marked a turning point in his life. He kept in touch with Marley, and when the singer returned to London in 1975 for his famous concert at the Lyceum, Morris's photos graced the covers of Melody Maker and New Musical Express (NME) magazines. It was the start of his career. For him, the reggae legend was more than just an opportunity – he was more like a surrogate father, especially as neither Dennis nor Bob had grown up with a father figure. "Bob Marley talked to me about my history, encouraged me to progress. He taught me to be a man, to be Black, and to be proud," he said.
At the forefront of the punk movement
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