This documentary will spend time with Kevin Cummins as he enters his seventh decade. Although living in London since the late 80’s, Cummins is Manchester to the core. If you close your eyes and think of Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, The Fall, Buzzcocks, The Stone Roses, The Happy Mondays or Oasis, it’s likely the iconic images you’ll see were created by this man. Through his photographs, Cummins has had a unique hand in telling the story of Manchester, creating a certain mythology around music giants Ian Curtis, Morrissey and others. The complex, opinionated, renowned music photographer is busier than ever these days. His life taken up with photo shoots, book publications, art exhibitions and his staunch obsession with Manchester City Football Club.

A declared socialist, Cummins was born into an Irish family in Manchester in 1953. He started working for the New Musical Express in 1977, becoming chief photographer in the late 1980’s. Revered worldwide as one of the finest music photographers of our time he has photographed the giants of the Indie music world. He is the author of acclaimed photographic books on the likes of Joy Division, New Order, The Fall, Morrissey, The Sex Pistols, Britpop in the 90’s, Manic Street Preachers and the music scene in Manchester. Cummins is currently working on a new book celebrating his acclaimed photos of David Bowie. The first, taken fifty years ago, in 1973, during the Ziggy Stardust Tour. He is also penning a retrospective book covering his last half a century behind the camera. In November 2022, his mesmerising photographs of lan Curtis went on display in a renowned London art gallery as he squeezed in book signings in Manchester for his new publication on The Fall, while always finding time to worship at the altar of M.C.F.C. If there was a time to make a documentary about Kevin Cummins, then this is it. So, we better get busy getting the finance in place!

All Photos © Kevin Cummins

 

 

 

IN DEVELOPMENT – Curious Dog Films, December 2022.