Stuart Sutcliffe: A Retrospective [Paperback]

Matthew H. Clough (Editor), Colin Fallows (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2009

Stuart Sutcliffe (1940–62) is infamously renowned for his short tenure as “the fifth Beatle” and original bass player for the band—and for his tragic death from a brain hemorrhage at the young age of twenty-one. Less well known are the stylistic contributions he made to both the Beatles—from creating the name of the band with John Lennon to inspiring their original “mop top” cuts—and to the Liverpool and Hamburg art scenes. This volume combines fascinating details from Sutcliffe’s time in the pubs, flats, and classrooms of Liverpool and Hamburg with an exploration of Sutcliffe’s art. With contributions from Stuart’s lover and the acclaimed photographer Astrid Kirchherr, eminent art historian Donald Kuspit and writer John Savage, as well as thirty-two color images from Sutcliffe’s work and numerous unpublished black-and-white photos of the artist and members of the Beatles, Stuart Sutcliffe: A Retrospective is a visually stunning celebration of the man, his music, and his art.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Matthew Clough is director of the Victoria Gallery and Museum at the University of Liverpool. Colin Fallows is professor of sound and visual art at the Liverpool School of Art and Design at Liverpool John Moores University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Liverpool University Press (March 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1846311764
• ISBN-13: 978-1846311765
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #606,449 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Abstract Expressionism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Look Into Stu's Life, May 10, 2009

By 

Daniel W. Smith "Sutcliffe Fan" (Hermosa Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stuart Sutcliffe: A Retrospective (Paperback)

I will start off with the only two negative things I can say. They are both very minor concerns. The first is there are typos in the text of this work (I know, big deal). The second is there is not enough text! More interviews would have been nice, as the ones presented here offer much more information about Mr. Sutcliffe than has previously been released. The high grade glossy paper is a huge plus. The famous pictures of the early Beatles taken by Astrid Kircherr look even more impressive on this paper, as does Stu's art. The range of styles Stu used in his art was a revelation. Many early paintings presented here bear more similarity to Primitivism of the American South than anything else. Lots of people know Stu was a creative individual, but I don't hink many realized exactly how creative he was. This book should change that.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This guy was the real thing., January 17, 2011

By 

Chris Gargan (mt. vernon, wi) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stuart Sutcliffe: A Retrospective (Paperback)

I saw a movie about this guy's brief career with the Beatles and his subsequent decision to return to art school before his premature death at age 21. Out of curiosity I googled his work and was surprised at how mature his work appeared. I bought the book to confirm my suspicions. I returned today from the Abstract Expressionist show in NYC at the MoMa. Mr. Sutcliffe's paintings not only would not have looked out of place in this show, I think that they're better than some of the "masters" work. If you like Ab Ex, you should give this book a serious look.