Dennis Morris: Bob Marley: Music + Life 6^th June 2026 – 18^th July 2026

As Seen On BBC Breakfast and BBC South East https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2jpe1v848o

Gallery Open Thursday – Sunday 11am – 4pm.

Lucy Bell Gallery is delighted to present Dennis Morris’s exceptional photographs of Bob Marley.

‘No Woman No Cry’, ‘One Love’, ‘Redemption Song’, ‘3 Little Birds’ and ‘Could You Be Loved’ are amongst the most successful and recognisable songs ever. Bob Marley was an influential reggae pioneer who achieved global superstardom.

Following the success of his Music +Life exhibition at the Photographers Gallery in London, Dennis Morris returns with a deep dive into his extensive Bob Marley archive.

As a British-Jamaican teenage reggae fan Dennis Morris was well-aware of the emerging reggae musician Bob Marley when he arrived in England with the Wailers for their first full UK tour. Dennis was there to greet them at the legendary Speakeasy club in May 1973. Marley snuck Dennis into the gig, then asked him to join the tour and take photographs. The start of a strong friendship and unrivalled photographic access. Dennis ran home to Dalston, packed a bag and was off on a journey that launched his acclaimed career in music photography.

Dennis says: “Through these photos, I hope, you, the viewer, will feel the love, joy, hope, defiance and strength radiating from the great man Bob Marley. Long live the King!”.

The exhibition brings together a selection of pictures taken by Dennis between 1973 and 1980. All of them are iconic. Because of their friendship, Dennis was able to deliver insightful portraits of Marley from the early days of his career in Europe through to him becoming a global mega-star. In these intimate portraits, you see the real Marley: in his Jamaican garden; on his tour bus, in a hotel room with his guitar, playing table tennis…Marley’s charisma and presence shines through in all of them. Dennis has many interesting stories from those times.

Limited edition, signed, fine art prints of Dennis’s Bob Marley photographs will be available to buy. Dennis’s work with Marley led to reggae fan Johnny Rotten requesting him to shoot the Sex Pistols. Dennis has also created significant photo sessions for PiL, Marianne Faithfull, Burning Spear, Steel Pulse and the Stone Roses. Dennis was also the singer in influential post-punk band Basement 5.

As well as the exhibition, Music + Life is a beautifully printed coffee table book by renowned art book publisher Thames & Hudson.

Prints available to buy

Signed books will be available at the gallery for £40