Instrument

Description

Photographer Pat Graham has documented many bands and musicians over the years, often paying special attention to their instruments and the stories told by the signs of wear-of fingers on frets or keys, and the chips, scratches, and modifications that personalize the instruments to their owners. Instrument collects the most fascinating and beautiful of these portraits of instruments, alone and with the musicians who play them, including those of Modest Mouse, Fugazi, Radiohead, Johnny Marr, Ian Curtis, and many more. Accompanying the images are personal stories from the photographer and the musicians themselves.

From the 1990s through to today, Pat Graham has captured influential independent musicians in live performance, behind-the-scenes back stages, tour vans, hotel rooms, and studios, having exceptional candid access and trust built up through friendships with many of the musicians he documents. During this period he toured endlessly with bands such as Modest Mouse, the Make Up, Tortoise, and June of 44, across the USA and Europe. His photos have been published in numerous magazines, including Rolling Stone, Spin Magazine, Art Forum, NME, Dazed & Confused, Raygun, the Village Voice, the Washington Post, Washington City Paper, the Guardian, Punk Life, Punk Planet, Copper Press, Time Out, VICE, Tokion, Swindle, Guitar World, and the Chicago Reader. In 2001 he took the artist in residence position at the Grange Hall, in Wakefield Rhode Island. After which he moved his base to London, England. In 2003 Graham co-founded contemporary art gallery '96 Gillespie,' a not for profit gallery dedicated to encouraging and supporting a dialogue between US and UK artists & to being a significant venue for American artists in the UK. He works & exhibits internationally. Johnny Marr is one of the most influential guitarists of the last 30 years, from his time as a founding member and co-songwriter in the Smiths to his later playig with Modest Mouse, Electronic, The The, and the Cribs.

" A must-have coffee-table tome for the indie-rock set." -Guitar Aficionado "poignantly documents the true connection between the artist and his or her instrument, with photographs that are telling, and commentary that is personal and often revelatory." - Under the Radar "Pat Graham's Instrument is a stunning collection of photographs and anecdotes, illustrating the intimate connection between musician and tool. Photographer Graham shows instruments as more than the sum of their parts; played, shredded and loved, perfected with blood, sweat and tears. Complete with a foreword by Johnny Marr, Instrument depicts these tools of the trade that were recorded and toured with, modified, and that ultimately became treasured heirlooms of members of The Smiths, Sonic Youth, Fugazi, Wilco and many more." - Filter Good Music Guide