Rocket 88

Print the Myth:
Joe Strummer
Portraits 1981–2002

Photographs by Josh Cheuse

Black and white portrait photograph of Joe Strummer outside Buckingham Palace, London, by Josh Cheuse

The book

For the first time and in celebration of Joe’s life and art, New York photographer and creative director Josh Cheuse has opened his private archive filled with hundreds of never-before-seen images of Joe Strummer at work and play, as well as sketches, handwritten notes and collages taken from studio sessions, and late nights around the kitchen table.

From the now iconic silhouette of Joe at dawn in LA that graced the cover of his first solo album Earthquake Weather to never seen shots from a guerrilla session outside Buckingham Palace, these images make Print the Myth a truly unique story of a creative friendship and a fitting tribute to one of the most important artists of our time. Published with the blessing of The Clash and Strummer family.

The Editions

Classic Edition

280mm × 220mm hardback
224 pages
Presented in Buckram cover with silver and while foil detailing
Heavy weight art paper
Ribbon page marker
Endpapers by Damien Hirst
Designed by Grammy Award-winner Michelle Holme

Signature Edition

Limited edition of 500 numbered copies
Signed by Josh Cheuse
Presented in a hand-made, buckram covered clamshell box
Includes an edition-stamped art print photograph of Joe on Sunset Strip in 1989

Ultimate Edition

Limited edition of 100 numbered copies
Signed by Josh Cheuse
Book bound in vintage recycled leather
Presented in a hand-made, cloth covered clamshell box
Edition-stamped art print photograph of Joe on Sunset Strip in 1989
Archival quality, matching numbered photograph signed by Josh Cheuse of Joe outside Buckingham Palace in 1988
Poster of Josh’s original, unused artwork created for Earthquake Weather

About the author

Josh Cheuse was born in New York City in 1965. At sixteen, his photography career began in the nightclubs that would become his second home, and in 1981 he used the payphone at his high school to call The Clash at Electric Ladyland Studios in Manhattan to ask if he could photograph the band.

There followed a lifetime career creating imagery for the music world. Since then Josh has created photography, packaging and marketing campaigns for artists including AC/DC, Tony Bennett, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, The Black Crowes, John Coltrane, Oasis, and The Specials.

He is currently Communications Creative Director at Sony Music Entertainment in New York and lives In Jersey City, New Jersey with his wife, actress Cara Seymour, his son Minalu and their cats Sam and Pearl.

Reviews

Cheuse hung with Strummer through solo / BAD / Pogues / Glasto years, fed into his creative process, shot single sleeves, habitually snapped, and here are the results … Print The Myth fills crucial gaps for Clash obsessives.

Classic Rock

Colour photo of an open double page of Print the Myth: Joe Strummer Portraits 1981–2002 by Josh Cheuse

Look inside

Spread from Print the Myth: Joe Strummer Portraits 1981–2002 by Josh Cheuse, published by Rocket 88

Frequently asked questions

Who are Rocket 88 Books?: We’re publishers of a range of critically and publicly acclaimed books. See here for some of them, or follow us on social media. We’re on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Where do you ship to?: We have warehouses in the USA, the UK and the EU and ship to most countries around the world.
I have more questions than you’ve answered here…: Please contact us.