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'The most stupendous rock and roll picture book ever assembled' – USA TODAY
BLINDS & SHUTTERS is the story of the Sixties, a cult classic and a publishing benchmark. It is quite simply our most famous book and widely regarded as the cornerstone of any rock'n'roll library.
Now, 30 years after the first copies were produced and to celebrate 45 years in publishing, Genesis is releasing the final 600 copies in the edition, presented in a special anniversary binding.
With over 600 photographs and a 30,000-word text from 93 legendary contributors, BLINDS & SHUTTERS is not only a unique insider’s view of the Sixties through the lens of photographer Michael Cooper, it is the defining record of an era, as told by those who were at its centre. From musicians such as Eric Clapton and George Harrison, to artists Andy Warhol and David Hockney, to writers William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, the list of contributors to BLINDS & SHUTTERS is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
This landmark edition is now down to the final copies. The remaining books have been signed by the following 10 iconic contributors listed below.
Sir Peter Blake CBE RDI RA (1932 - present) British artist of the Pop Art movement best known for the Sgt Pepper album cover.
'When Michael Cooper was working in the Sixties it was a much more exhilarating and productive period... There was exploration and excitement in all the arts and a feeling that something could happen.' - FRANCIS BACON
'It's difficult to separate The Beatles from the fashion or the culture. It was all happening at once, as a kind of whirlpool.' - PAUL McCARTNEY
'Michael had that perfect ability to take all those pictures without annoying anybody. It would be accepted by whoever was around - people wouldn't know they were having their picture taken.' - KEITH RICHARDS
Michael Cooper's superb photographs provide a unique insider's view of the Sixties. He was a close friend of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles - and thus of everyone who was drawn to them. He was never without his camera and while he was simply recording whatever was going on around him every day, he was also aware that he was documenting a historic time with epoch-making people.
Keith Richards, in his foreword to this book, recalls of Michael: 'I remember a camera protruding from his chest as if he was some mutant, and he wore pink woolly socks'.
Michael Cooper died tragically in 1973. During the last stages of his life he conceived the idea for BLINDS & SHUTTERS and expressed a wish that it should be published with a little help from his friends. In an astonishing response, 93 contributors (including three Beatles, and all the Stones) banded together to provide the book's text.
'The subjects of my book are not just faces I have photographed but people I have worked with, or become involved with on a very personal level. This is why I prefer to think of this book not just as my own, but a collective work.' - Michael Cooper (1972)
50,000 autographs were given during the making of BLINDS & SHUTTERS. Each anniversary copy is signed personally by at least nine of the contributors:
Tariq Ali, Kenneth Anger, Neil Aspinall, Brian Auger, Don Bachardy, Francis Bacon, Long John Baldry, Larry Bell, Billy Al Bengston, Jo Bergman, Andrew Birkin, Sir Peter Blake, Derek Boshier, Jenny Boyd, Pattie Boyd, Eric Burdon, William Burroughs, Donald Cammell, Anthony Caro, Patrick Caulfield, Eric Clapton, Leonard Cohen, Adam Cooper, David Courts, Spencer Davis, Bo Diddley, Jim Dine, Terry Doran, Julie Driscoll, John Dunbar, Duane Eddy, Marianne Faithfull, Robert Fraser, Jean Genet, Christopher Gibbs, Ralph Gibson, Allen Ginsberg, Richard Hamilton, George Harrison, Richie Havens, Jann Haworth, David Hockney, Dennis Hopper, John Irvin, Mick Jagger, Sarah Janson, Allen Jones, John Kasmin, Craig Kauffman, Phil Kaufman, Tony Kent, Astrid Kirchherr, Stash Klossowski, Al Kooper, Gavin Lambert, Sandy Lieberson, Paul McCartney, Michael McClure, John McConnell, Earl McGrath, Ian McLagan, Taj Mahal, Gerard Malanga, Ann Marshall, John Mayall, Richard Merkin, Nicholas Monro, Kim Moon, Ed Moses, Graham Nash, Harry Nilsson, Claes Oldenburg, Yoko Ono, Anita Pallenberg, Eduardo Paolozzi, Gretchen Parsons, Keith Richards, Perry Richardson, Bridget Riley, Larry Rivers, Brian Roylance, George Segal, Colin Self, Carly Simon, Terry Southern, Dusty Springfield, Ringo Starr, Ian Stewart, Dean Stockwell, Derek Taylor, Jurgen Vollmer, Klaus Voormann, Andy Warhol, Charlie Watts, Nigel Waymouth, Steve Winwood, Ronnie Wood, and the book's Executive Consultant, Bill Wyman.
To celebrate 45 years of Genesis Publications and 30 years since the milestone publication of our most sought-after limited edition, we are delighted to make available the final 600 copies of BLINDS & SHUTTERS.
The edition is limited to 5,000 signed and numbered copies worldwide. Each book is personally signed by at least nine of the contributors.
Presented in a special anniversary binding, the 368-page book is quarter bound in leather with foil blocking and silkscreened page edging. An individually placed photograph is inset into the book's front cover. A hand-made slipcase houses each book. The publication's large format (360mm x 250mm) provides the perfect medium for Michael Cooper's work, which is printed on a fine quality, heavy (200 gsm) paper.
Over 600 photographs are included, many of which are published exclusively in BLINDS & SHUTTERS. The fascinating text that runs throughout the book is written by 93 contributors. Their recollections provide revealing, first-hand accounts of the events of the Sixties.
Select from the following editions:
| C) Simon / Ginsberg / Davis | No longer available |
The result of five years' international research and close collaboration with 93 contributors, BLINDS & SHUTTERS is a mind-expanding journey through the Sixties, internationally acclaimed as the definitive cult chronicle of that decade.
30 years after its original publication and to celebrate 45 years in publishing, Genesis is making available the final 600 copies in the edition, presented in a special anniversary binding.
Since 1974 Genesis has created signed limited edition books on behalf of authors and artists ranging from the Beatles to Buckingham Palace.
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For enquiries, please call
+44 (0)1483 540970
Genesis House, 2 Jenner Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3PL, England
In order to make investing in one of our limited edition books or prints easier, we offer an interest-free option to spread the cost.
For purchases over £150, the payments are spread over three months. For example, for a purchase of £360, £122.40 would be paid today, followed by two instalments of £118.80.
Genesis will dispatch your item once the last instalment is paid.
