I’m interviewed by Andrew Bunney about the Tommy Roberts book on Japanese lifestyle/culture blog Honeyee – read here.
This is Andrew’s own honeyee blog.
Buy Mr Freedom – Tommy Roberts: British Design Hero here.
In conversation with Antony Price at the Fashion + Textile Museum today
Oct 17th, 2012
This morning I’m in conversation with designer Antony Price as part of London’s Fashion & Textile Museum’s programme of events relating to its current Pop! Design Culture Fashion exhibition.
We’ll be talking about Antony’s career in the context of the British art school influence on these areas of popular culture. My visual presentation will also reference the work of others who emerged from the art school system, including design entrepreneur Tommy Roberts – the subject of my new book – and artist/designers John Dove and Molly White.
As a tribute to Roberts, London vintage queen Deborah Woolf is displaying this rare, stunning design from the first version of his and Trevor Myles’ pop art boutique Mr Freedom, at 430 King’s Road: a stars and stripes kimono-style dress.
Pop! Design Culture Fashion is on until October 27. Details here.
October 17: A right turn-out for Pop! with John Dove + Molly White, Antony Price + Tommy Roberts
Oct 4th, 2012
On October 17 I’m hosting the opening session of the Pop! Design Study Day at London’s Fashion & Textile Museum.
The event is part of the FTM’s Pop! Design Culture Fashion exhibition and I’ll be kicking off proceedings in conversation with John Dove & Molly White, Antony Price and Tommy Roberts.
The Face 1983: Geoff Deane applies the Practical Styling principle to pop
Sep 26th, 2012
Such was the shadow Tommy Roberts cast over popular music that even Practical Styling, the 80s central London furniture, office and homewares outlet he ran with partner Paul Jones, was cited as an influence by performer Geoff Deane.
‘Pop culture’s one-man production line’ – Tommy Roberts book in new issue of GQ
Aug 3rd, 2012
The September 2012 issue of GQ features this David Parkinson photograph of the interior of Tommy Roberts and Trevor Myles’ Mr Freedom at 430 King’s Road.
One of a number of previously-unpublished photographs in Mr Freedom – Tommy Roberts: British Design Hero, this shot captures the extraordinary fit-out Myles and Roberts’ commissioned from pioneering East End design team Electric Colour Company.
Read my post about ECC’s achievements – with interviews and many illustrations, still the only piece to be published anywhere about this important but sorely neglected group of British artist/designers – here.
Documentaries: Up pops Tommy Roberts in Three Swings On A Pendulum (1967)
Jul 31st, 2012
//Roberts, right, tries on a military greatcoat at I Was Lord Kitchener’s Valet//
Look out for an appearance by Tommy Roberts – subject of my new book – in the 1967 documentary Three Swings On A Pendulum, currently available for viewing (in the UK at least) on BBC iPlayer.
Photography: David Reed’s portrait of Tommy Roberts + John Paul, 1971
Jul 10th, 2012
Thanks to photographer David Reed for this portrait of Tommy Roberts and John Paul in much satin finery in the office hallway above their Mr Freedom boutique at 20 Kensington Church Street in 1971.
Rough Kids, Sex Pistols + Art School Babies: Tommy Roberts in the final issue of The Word
Jul 9th, 2012
//Pages 108-111, The Word, August 2012.//
Out later this week, the final issue of The Word marks a significant staging post in the story of magazine publishing in the digital age.
Champions of the written word and intelligent discourse about popular culture, the editorial team headed by veteran double-act Mark Ellen and David Hepworth have assembled a fine last edition in which I’m stoked to be included, with an extract from Mr Freedom about Tommy Roberts’ involvement in the mid-70s British music scene (including never-previously revealed details of Roberts’ loaning of rehearsal space to the nascent Sex Pistols, the burglary of his shop City Lights Studio by members of the group and Malcolm McLaren’s interest in managing Ian Dury).
V&A talk today: King’s Road from Mary Quant to Malcolm McLaren + Vivienne Westwood
Jun 30th, 2012
This morning I am participating in the V&A’s study day From Biba To Topshop with a presentation on the rise and fall of boutique culture in London’s King’s Road, starting with the opening of Bazaar by Archie Nairn, Alexander Plunket-Green and Mary Quant at 138a in 1955 and closing with the establishment of World’s End at 430 by Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood.
More details here.
Smiles all round at the Tommy Roberts book launch
Jun 23rd, 2012
//Clockwise from top: With Joe + Duke Brooks; Jimmy Page + Jeff Dexter; Joe, Duke + Pippa Brooks with Tommy Roberts; Caz Facey with...J+D! These photos: Pippa Brooks.//
There were big smiles for Tommy Roberts at the midsummer’s eve party to celebrate the publication of my new book Mr Freedom – Tommy Roberts: British Design Hero.
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