Twilight of the Mortals

Additional Data

CLICK HERE TO READ: MONT SHERAR FULL INTERVIEW WITH RAHMAN THE WRITER

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RAHMAN THE WRITER :: The original line up of Killing Joke reformed in 2008. Was this the time when the specific idea of a photo collection book began to take root, and did you realize just how significantly important a book like this could be for historical purposes?

MONT SHERAR :: There was never any specific plan for a book until long after the reunion, but I did begin taking photos for the first time since 1989 around that time. Soon after that, I began to share a few on social media to see if they were of any interest to people. The response to these photos was more than gracious so why not continue with it.

In the meantime, photographer Frank Jenkinson would release his own book appropriately titled, ‘Killing Joke Picture Book’. This historic gem focused on his own personal work from the bands earliest days. A long overdue publication that preserves a landmark period of the newly formed band.

People began to suggest if I might be able to make a similar kind of tribute publication, but for the band’s modern day, post-reunion era that could top off their legacy. I did have a few photos, and continued taking them whenever I had the opportunity, so maybe, eventually…?

That might have been the first time I considered that my own work could be used for a ‘twilight’ era phase of the band. But to consider making something in true book form would still be many years away. Something like this takes an unimaginable amount of time, money, and patience, and that’s just to accumulate enough potential material. In other words, a few cool shots from the press box, or using other people’s work, just ain’t gonna cut it.

Projects like this are much easier said than done.

From observing social media conversations, some people think that to make a book, its as simple as combing the internet for cool pictures and printing them.  That might sound promising enough, but prepare for the worst copyright nightmare you could ever dream up. It has to be your own work. Then there are other issues such as having one’s own material but is there enough diversity, uniqueness, and decent quality to fill a narrative that keeps things fresh from page 1 to page 200 or more? What about design, layout, printing, binding, packaging etc. It’s not as simple as posting photos to Instagram or uploading to YouTube. Its serious business, start to finish.

In the meantime, I just continued to photograph and film the band as usual, trying to place the focus on emotional content and unique POV’s rather than perfect pixels, which I’m not good at anyway. In addition, I was provided access to never- seen- before scenarios, including the songwriting sessions of PYLON and Big Paul’s own creative world outside of music.

It soon became clear that despite me being my own worst critic, much of what I had captured had at the very least, real historical significance, and a decent swathe of diversity to match.

So, maybe a book of my collection was a good idea after all, I thought.  Let’s do it!

RAHMAN THE WRITER: Have the band itself provided their ‘blessings’ to the project?

MONT SHERAR; 200%. The support shown for this has been nothing short of astonishing. Just allowing me to be in the various scenarios and positions I’ve been in to take the pictures says it all really. But on top of this I’ve also received varied forms of personal written contributions for publication as well. And of course, the ultimate endorsement of all: 4 tracks of solo work (Jaz spoken) for a vinyl-only, double 7” release available exclusively for this book only. That must be enough indicators for a blessing, I hope! 

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