Quick menu
Reggae Music

Reggae Music

Reggae music originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s and incorporates some of the musical elements of rhythm and blues, jazz, mento (a celebratory, rural folk form that served its largely rural audience as dance music and an alternative to the hymns and adapted chanteys of local church singing), calypso, African music, as well as other genres. One of the most easily recognizable elements is offbeat rhythms; staccato chords played by a guitar or piano (or both) on the offbeats of the measure. The tempo of reggae is usually slower than ska but faster than rocksteady] The concept of "call and response" can be found throughout reggae music.

The bass guitar often plays the dominant role in reggae. The bass sound in reggae is thick and heavy, and equalized so the upper frequencies are removed and the lower frequencies emphasized. The guitar in reggae usually plays on the off beat of the rhythm. It is common for reggae to be sung in Jamaican Patois, Jamaican English, and Iyaric dialects. Reggae is noted for its tradition of social criticism and religion in its lyrics, although many reggae songs discuss lighter, more personal subjects, such as love and socializing.

Reggae music usually relates news, social gossip, and political comment. It spread into a commercialized jazz field, being known first as ‘Rudie Blues’, then ‘Ska’, later ‘Blue Beat’, and ‘Rock Steady’. It is instantly recognizable from the counterpoint between the bass and drum downbeat, and the offbeat rhythm section. The immediate origins of reggae were in ska and rock steady; from the latter, reggae took over the use of the bass as a percussion instrument.

Bob Marley (BM001JF)

Bob Marley

Bob Marley sitting on the bed of a rented apartment on Gloucester Road in London in February 1978

Prices from £2,000.00
print
Glastonbury Noel Gallagher (NOEL001JF)

Noel Gallagher

Noel Gallagher performing with Oasis on The Main Stage in 1995 during Glastonbury's 25th Anniversary Festival

Prices from £295.00
print
The Specials Ghost Town by artist Horace Panter

The Specials

Signed limited edition fine art cassette print by Horace Panter of The Specials 'Ghost Town'

Prices from £166.67
print
The Stranglers giant pin badge designed by artist Tony Dennis AKA Tape Deck Art

The Stranglers

Limited edition giant vintage pin badge featuring artwork of The Stranglers album Rattus Norvegicus by artist Tony Dennis AKA Tape Deck Art

Prices from £380.00
print
Bob Marley (BM002RF)

Bob Marley

Bob Marley relaxing with friends and family after a show in Houston, Texas in 1976

Prices from £295.00
print
Glastonbury Joe Strummer (JOES001JF)

Joe Strummer

At the 1995 Glastonbury Festival Joe Strummer relaxes behind the scenes

Prices from £295.00
print
Glastonbury Bob Dylan (BD005JF)

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan captured with his classic stare whilst performing on The Main Stage at the Glastonbury Festival in 1998

Prices from £295.00
print
Glastonbury Jarvis Cocker (PULP001JF)

Jarvis Cocker

Jarvis Cocker performing one of his signature moves with Pulp on The Park Stage during the 2011 Glastonbury Festival

Prices from £295.00
print
Glastonbury Jeff Buckley (JB005JF)

Jeff Buckley

Jeff Buckley performs at Glastonbury in 1995 as part of his Mystery White Boy Tour

Prices from £295.00
print
Glastonbury Liam Gallagher (LIAM001JF)

Liam Gallagher

Liam Gallagher owning the stage whilst headlining with Oasis at the Glastonbury Festival in 1995

Prices from £295.00
print
GLASTONBURY PAUL WELLER

Paul Weller

Paul Weller performing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 2015

Prices from £295.00
print
Glastonbury (GLAS003ANDI)

Glastonbury

This atmospheric photo perfectly captures the spirit of Glastonbury with its ticker tape sky.

Prices from £125.00
print
Glastonbury Flags Field (GLAS001ANDI)

Glastonbury

The flags and sign for the Glastonbury Festival sit against the tranquil calm of the Somerset countryside

Prices from £125.00
print
Bob Marley (BM001ABAL)

Bob Marley

"Bob Marley took a break from touring and came by my studio in Primrose Hill. He was in such a fantastic mode that day, really playful."

Prices from £791.67
print
Bob Marley (BM001DC)

Bob Marley

Bob Marley performing at his last ever London show on 7 June 1980 at the Crystal Palace Bowl.

Prices from £295.00
print
Bob Marley (BM001JA)

Bob Marley

Taken at the The Cattle Show Grounds, Roskilde Festival, Denmark in 1978, Bob Marley performs as part of the three-day festival.

Prices from £295.00
print
Bob Marley (BM001MPUT)

Bob Marley

Bob Marley at the Island Records office, London in July 1975

Prices from £595.00
print
Bob Marley (BM001RF)

Bob Marley

Bob Marley performing onstage at 400 Years, Houston, Texas in 1976

Prices from £295.00
print
Bob Marley (BM002BASC)

Bob Marley

Bob Marley backstage before performing at Ahoy Hall, Rotterdam in 1978

Prices from £475.00
print
Bob Marley (BM002DC)

Bob Marley

Rare contact sheet by David Corio with a fantastic selection of images of Bob Marley performing in London in 1980.

Prices from £750.00
print
Bob Marley, Mick Jagger, Peter Tosh (BMRSPT001MPUT)

Bob Marley, Mick Jagger, Peter Tosh

Bob Marley, Mick Jagger and Peter Tosh. Backstage after the Rolling Stones concert at the Palladium Theatre, New York 1978

Prices from £595.00
print
Bruce Springsteen performing at the Glastonbury Festoval in 2009 photographed by Jill Furmanovsky

Bruce Springsteen

Joiner image by Jill Furmanovsky of Bruce Springsteen performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival in June 2009

Prices from £416.67
print
Chrissie Hynde (CHRIS002JF)

Chrissie Hynde

Chrissie Hynde & Jeff Buckley hanging out back stage at the Glastonbury Festival

Prices from £295.00
print
Glastonbury  Pharell Williams (PHWI001JF)

Pharell Williams

Pharell Williams in 2015 on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival

Prices from £295.00
print

Featured Prints

Who. The (WH001MPUT)

The Who

Pete Townshend throws his guitar live whilst The Who perform at Madison Square Gardens in the US, 1979.

Prices from £595.00
print
Nick Cave (NC001STDO)

Nick Cave

Nick Cave relaxing in a Brazilian rooftop bar with Saõ Paolo as the backdrop. Taken in February 1994

Prices from £166.67
print
Cat Anderson (CATA001FRAN)

Cat Anderson

Cat was renowned for his playing in the extreme high register. He claimed that he developed his screaming high notes to impress the girls.

Prices from £354.17
print
Nile Rodgers, Chic at the Glastonbury Festival in 2017 photographed by Jill Furmanovsky

Nile Rodgers

Nile Rodgers enjoying the crowd when Chic played the Glastonbury Festival in 2017

Prices from £416.67
print
Tina Turner at Holborn Studios, London in 1983 photographed by Brian Aris

Tina Turner

Tina Turner photographed by Brian Aris at Holborn Studios in London in 1983.

Prices from £333.33
print
Arctic Monkey (ARCM001KW)

Arctic Monkeys

The Arctic Monkeys photographed by Kevin Westenberg at the Palácio da Justiça, Lisbon for Mojo Magazine in September 2022.

Prices from £1,600.00
print

Featured Artists

Devo

Devo

Devo is an American rock band, formed in 1973 their music mingles science fiction themes, surrealist humor & satirical social commentary.

artist
Pulp

Pulp

Pulp are considered to be one of the most innovative and popular bands of the late 20th century and key figures of Britpop

artist
Clash, The

The Clash

The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk.

artist
Rolling Stones, The

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band who were in the vanguard of the British music Invasion that became popular in the US in 1964–65.

artist
Noel Gallagher

Noel Gallagher

Noel Gallagher is regarded as one of the UK’s most respected musicians and the mastermind behind Britpop super group Oasis.

artist
Florence and the Machine

Florence and the Machine

Florence and the Machine's style is described as 'dark, robust & romantic', a mix of "classic soul & midnight-on-the-moors English art rock.

artist

Featured Collections

***New Arrivals***

***New Arrivals***

Here are the very latest prints we have added to our collection. We hope you love them as much as we do.

collection
Contact Sheets Print Collection

Contact Sheets Print Collection

Our contact sheet print collection is a rare opportunity to look back at the hidden moments surrounding some of rocks most iconic images.

collection
Gered Mankowitz Print Collection

Gered Mankowitz Print Collection

Discover our specially curated collection of limited edition prints from renowned music photographer Gered Mankowitz

collection
David Bowie photographed with a wolf taken by Markus Klinko in 2022. This image is known as The Protector

Markus Klinko David Bowie Print Collection

Stunning collection of limited edition prints of David Bowie created by award-winning photographer Markus Klinko.

collection
Jill Furmanovsky Collection

Jill Furmanovsky Collection

Jill Furmanovsky is one of the greatest ever rock & roll photographers with a huge archive of iconic shots of the world's best music artists

collection
Graphic Art Print Collection

Graphic Art Print Collection

Browse our collection of popular graphic art prints including iconic images by Storm Thorgerson and stunning work by contemporary artists.

collection