Press Release, 8th February 2018: For immediate release

David Bowie: The Geoff MacCormack Collection

Francesca Maffeo Gallery is delighted to present ‘David Bowie, The Geoff MacCormack Collection’ by writer, producer and photographer Geoff MacCormack. This exhibition is the f irst solo show of these intimate photographs of two friends, travell ing side by side between 1973-1976.

In addit ion to the photographs, we are pleased to present ‘The Long Way Home’ a cine f i lm shot by Bowie documenting the progress of their tr ip from the docks in Japan through Siberia/Russia on ‘The Tran Siberian Express’ to Moscow for the ‘May Day Parade’.

Five of the images in this f i lm are in ‘The Geoff MacCormack Collection’, we are honoured to be able to offer al l photographs from the collection for sale through Francesca Maffeo Gallery, this includes two unique edit ions signed by David Bowie.

“Just suppose your Br i l l iant Pal said: “Wil l you jo in my band [The Spiders from Mars] and come on a tour? And would you mind awful ly i f we travel led [ f i rst c lass] by sea to New York, and then sai led from Los Angeles to San Francisco, Canada, Hawai i and on to Japan? And then, from Japan to Siber ia, through Russia [Trans-Siber ian Express] to Moscow [for May Day Parade], Poland, East and West Germany, just in t ime for tea at the George V Hotel in Par is? Fol lowed by a relaxing hol iday in Rome, just to chi l l out?

And then, just suppose, when you thought a l l the fun had f in ished, your Br i l l iant Pal said: “Would you mind being a dog [Diamond], coming back to New York on an even better ship, eat ing caviar every day and jo in ing another band, then another band, helping out on a few albums [s ix] , and general ly hanging out and having the t ime of your l i fe for a couple more years?

Supposing al l that happened…Wouldn’t i t be fantast ic to have kept a photo or two?” (G.MacCormack)

EXHIBITION TITLEDavid Bowie: The Geoff MacCormack Collection

EXHIBITION DATES24th March - 14th April 2018

PRIVATE VIEWFriday 23rd March 2018

+44 (0)1702 474 300 m – 07970 846 497info@francescamaffeogallery.comfrancescamaffeogallery.comLeigh Road – Leigh on Sea – Essex – SS9 1BW

© Geoff MacCormack

About the Gallery:The Francesca Maffeo Gallery is an independent photography gallery for Contemporary photography. Founded in 2015 by Francesca Genovese, the gallery is named in honour of Francesca’s grandmother, and opened its doors in June 2016.

The Gallery is dedicated to providing a welcoming space to experience, acquire and collect photography.

Based in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, a unique town known for its extensive art scene, and is just a 45-minute train journey from London. It is also easily accessible by car, with parking facilities nearby. The Gallery is conveniently located in amongst a wonderful variety of restaurants, coffee shops, bars and independent retailers, with Leigh Old Town just a short walk away.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Please add a copyright notice to all images ‘© Geoff MacCormack, courtesy Francesca Maffeo Gallery’

Press Information: To request further information and images please contact:

Francesca Genovese: press@francescamaffeogallery.com

+44 (0)1702 474 300 m – 07970 846 497info@francescamaffeogallery.comfrancescamaffeogallery.comLeigh Road – Leigh on Sea – Essex – SS9 1BW

LISTING INFORMATION

David Bowie:

The Geoff MacCormack Collection

24th March - 14th April 2018

It all resembles the plot of a yet-to-be-written musical. Avid mod and aspiring singer Geoff MacCormack - who moved in the same circles as modernist ‘faces’ like Marc Bolan and Mickey Finn - was selling advertising space for a London construction newspaper when an old school pal ‘phoned him and urged him to work with him. The date was January 1973, the caller was David Bowie, and the job entailed joining his band, as singer, percussionist and dancer. He said “yes”.

Within weeks, MacCormack was sailing to New York with the flight-phobic Bowie. He remembered to pack his camera, so “the party that lasted for three years” was recorded in endearingly intimate “holiday snaps”. While always one to adopt a pose, the feeling here is of an unguarded Bowie - almost as though these are shots from a family photo album. The sense of two mates - one of whom just happened to have become a rock star - having riotous good times is palpable. So much so, that a seasoned music journalist became tearful on seeing these photos.

Fortunately, MacCormack knows a Decisive Moment when he clocks one, and has a natural eye for composition; that’s why these images withstand repeated viewing.

(Written by David Gavan)

VISITOR INFORMATION

Opening Times:

Wednesday 10-2.30pm

Thursday - Saturday 10-5pm,

Admission: Free

284 Leigh Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex,

SS9 1BW

Nearest Train Station: Chalkwell c2c Line

SOCIAL MEDIA

#GeoffMacCormack

#DavidBowie

Twitter: @FMaffeoGallery

Instagram: francescamaffeogallery

© Geoff MacCormack