Two decades of rock and reel

Jun 17 2008 by Mike Chapple, Liverpool Daily Post

THE work of a Liverpool photographer, chronicling the careers of some of the world’s top rock artists, is currently being displayed at a number of exhibitions across the city.

For more than two decades, Mark McNulty has travelled the world taking pictures of everyone from The Who and The White Stripes to Bjork and Echo and the Bunnymen.

A blow-up selection from his extensive portfolio is now being shown at six locations around the city to tie in with Capital of Culture year, and as a prelude to the publication of a book about his work, entitled Pop Cultured, due to be published by Liverpool University press in September.

“I’ve always been interested in music and photography,” explained the 42-year-old from Walton.

“But I decided to choose photography only in 1987 when I was on stage at the Earthbeat Festival, in Sefton Park, when I was sort of playing guitar with the band Eat My Dog.

“Three songs into a four-song set, I decided to put down my guitar and I’ve been on the other side of the lens ever since.”

Besides capturing on film some of the world’s top artists, the former De La Salle pupil has also provided a valuable record of the Liverpool music scene for the past 20 years, with formative pictures of bands such as The La’s and Shack, as well as the rave culture and the days of Cream.

“The one taken of the brothers Mick and John Head, of Shack, is probably one of my favourites,” he said.

“It’s just a snapshot taken on Parr Street in 1990, but it’s got a real iconic feel to it.”

More recently, he has worked with the current crop of artists to come from the Mersey scene including The Zutons, Pop Levi, Candie Payne and Ladytron.

He added: “Time was if you were a photographer around here you’d probably have to have gone to London to get the work, but things are different now.

“There is a proper infrastructure in place in this city, which means that you can stay put if you want to and be a success.

“Liverpool is in a position where it can support its own now.”

Mark’s work is currently on display at the Carling Academy; the Metquarter; Metropolitan, on Berry Street; Probe Records, in Slater Street; Ran; at 55 Bold Street; and 3345 Parr Street.

mikechapple@dailypost.co.uk