Matt Anker has been a professional photographer based in London for over 20 years. Born in Epping, Matt grew up in Kent and acquired his first camera at age 10, and began experimenting with a 35mm camera as a teenager, playing with distortion and colours. This led to his attending what was then the Medway School of Art and Design to study advertising and editorial photography.
His first job was as an assistant to Jill Furmanovsky, which led to stints with Mel Yates, Nick Yates and Normski, eventually Matt was able to secure his own studio with Mel Yates.
During the early 1990’s, the ’indie’ music scene in Britain was in a transitional period, on the cusp of exploding into the mainstream. Small fanzines and indie magazines with obscure circulations documented bands such as Blur, The Inspiral Carpets and Carter USM, one such magazine, Lime Lizard, gave Matt his first break, and he was able to photograph the early careers of bands such as Pearl Jam and Nirvana and others associated with the ’Grunge’ movement.
Matt began working for the major record companies, and took many memorable images of artists, as varied as Blur, Motorhead, The Orb, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Massive Attack, Nick Cave and Napalm Death.
Matt’s style has been informed by such diverse influences as comtemporary artists such as Rothko and Dali and the great reportage images of the 1920’s and 30’s.
At the time of shooting this assignment,, Blur were one of many 'indie' bands. Little did we know how successful they would be."
Nirvana photographed in a stairwell at the Astoria, London in November 1991.
Outside the Hilton Hotel, St John’s Wood. I didn’t know who they were, but the lead singer came to the front.
Early shot of The Fall at Central Station Car Park, Manchester in the summer of 1978
Sex Pistols on the set for the 'Pretty Vacant' video shoot at the ITN Studios, London in June 1977
In the studio in Santa Monica, California in 1980, Bob Dylan is captured whilst leaning on his guitar case.
Shooting promotional films for the singles Rain & Paperback Writer at Chiswick Park Gardens in May 1966
Fleetwood Mac are one of the world's greatest rock bands having sold over more than 100 million records over the last 50 years
Critics have called The Smiths the most important alternative rock band to emerge from the British independent music scene of the 1980s.
The Ramones' loud, fast, straightforward musical style was influenced by music that the band members grew up listening to in the 50s & 60s.
Madness are an English band from Camden Town, London & one of the most prominent bands of the late 70s & early 80s 2 Tone ska revival.
The USA has given us many of the world's greatest music artists - we celebrate the best of the best
We are all still reeling from the tragic loss of David Bowie. Here is a wonderful tribute from one of our photographers, Mark Mawston.
For eight years photographer Brian Duffy worked with David Bowie and shot his most iconic and enduring images. View his fantastic 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
