The Smiths' The Queen Is Dead turns 25 – in pictures

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Stephen Wright first photographed the Smiths in 1984 and went on to take the famous Salford Lads Club shot for the inside sleeve of The Queen Is Dead. Here is a selection of his finest Smiths photos ...

You can see more pictures on Stephen Wright's website. From 10 June, six of his favourite images are on display at the Idea Generation gallery in Shoreditch

Mon 13 Jun 2011 12.47 BST First published on Mon 13 Jun 2011 12.47 BST

• The iconic photo of the Smiths outside Salford Lads Club, as featured in the Guardian's My Best Shot series this week Photograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Morrissey's backside, taken during the Free Trade Hall gig in Manchester, 1984. Says Wright: 'It's a strange shot but most people at the time knew who it was immediately – Morrissey had toured throwing gladioli around on the 1984 shows. I've always hoped Levi's would pay me lots to use it as an advert ... sadly, it's not happened yet' Voted one of NME's best rock photos of all time, it was also used in the magazine's War Child exhibitionPhotograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Another shot from the Free Trade Hall gig. 'This is just my favourite Morrissey photo – classic young Morrissey,' says Wright. 'The front stage area at the concert was like a massive rugby scrum – no chance of getting photos – so I climbed up the rigging on the side of the stage and hid. I could only afford one reel of film and had to walk home. This and the previous "bum and flowers" photo were shot the first time I got to shoot the Smiths and they led to the Queen Is Dead album sleeve session.'Photograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Morrissey gets up close and personal with fans Photograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Morrissey on stage with the SmithsPhotograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• More Moz, this time in celebratory pose Photograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Stephen Wright had a habit of taking classic Morrissey picsPhotograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Morrissey gets his kit off Photograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Morrissey's kit remains offPhotograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• 'This was shot at Johnny Marr's house in early 1986,' says Wright. 'All I can remember is waiting nervously while the hairdresser spent a long time on Morrissey’s quiff'Photograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• The Smiths, and that quiff, in colour Photograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Johnny Marr portraitPhotograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Morrissey and his blue eyes (nice yellow cardigan, too) Photograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Moz live in Manchester in 1985Photograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Another great live image of the SmithsPhotograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Moz and Marr onstagePhotograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• The Smiths outside Salford Lads Club, from the session in which Wright took his iconic image for The Queen Is Dead's sleevePhotograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• The Smiths outside another Manchester landmark. Wright says: 'A few hundred yards from Salford Lads Club is the other end of Coronation Street. The street sign looks as knackered now as it did then'Photograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• The Smiths at the Arndale Centre in Manchester, 1985. This was also taken during the session for The Queen Is DeadPhotograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• The Smiths outside the (more colourful) Salford Lads ClubPhotograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Not the 'Leeds side streets that you slip down' but a gritty back alley in ManchesterPhotograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Wright has recreated his famous shot many times. Here's Smiths tribute band the Smyths posing for himPhotograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• And here's a bus load of Smiths fans Photograph: Stephen Wright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

Topics

• The Smiths

• Morrissey
• Johnny Marr
• Pop and rock
• Indie

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