The Birthday Party (originally known as The Boys Next Door) were an Australian post-punk band, active from 1978 to 1983. Despite limited commercial success, The Birthday Party's influence has been far-reaching, and they have been called "one of the darkest and most challenging post-punk groups to emerge in the early '80s.
The group's "bleak and noisy soundscapes," which drew irreverently on blues, free jazz, and rockabilly, provided the setting for vocalist Nick Cave's disturbing tales of violence and perversion. Their music has been described by critic Simon Reynolds as gothic, and their single "Release the Bats" was particularly influential on the emerging gothic scene.
In 1980, The Birthday Party moved from Melbourne to London, where they were championed by broadcaster John Peel. Disillusioned by their stay in London, the band's sound and live shows became increasingly violent.
They broke up soon after relocating to West Berlin in 1983. The creative core of The Birthday Party – singer and songwriter Nick Cave, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Mick Harvey, and singer, songwriter and guitarist Rowland S. Howard – later went on to acclaimed careers.
The Cure on the road in Holland and Belgium during their 1980 'Seventeen Seconds' tour.
David Bowie captured by Mick Rock whilst applying make-up in Scotland in 1973
Paul Weller, from The Jam, dressing for a cover shoot for 'The Face' in London in March 1983
Van Morrison performing at the Rainbow Theatre, London in July 1973.
Queen are a British rock band credited with making significant contributions to such genres as hard rock & heavy metal, among others.
Oasis were an English rock music band formed in Manchester in 1991, to date the band have sold over 70 million records worldwide.
The Stone Roses are an English rock band, formed in Manchester in 1983, meshing '60s-styled guitar pop with an understated '80s dance beat.
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. they have dubbed their music simply "rock and roll".
The Rolling Stones have been entertaining audiences for more than 50 years. Our collections share the best images spanning their career
Here are the very latest prints we have added to our collection. We hope you love them as much as we do.
The USA has given us many of the world's greatest music artists - we celebrate the best of the best
Edition 100 was created to give fans & collectors a chance to own classic, historical pictures of their favorite bands.
