Maureen Baker:
PiL's Public Image 1982/83

First published Fodderstompf, 2006
© Article: 2006 Fodderstompf.com / Pix: Maureen Baker

As well as helping Bob Tulipan with management Maureen Baker was a photographer who PiL came to admire, and work with extensively; circa 1982-83. Pretty much becoming their official photographer at the time. Her PiL pix were used all over the USA; and some also later turned up in the 1983 Japanese Tour Programme.

Maureen had unrivalled access to the band on and off-stage; photographing every single PiL live show from the period, as well as on the road and in the studio etc. Being an insider, some of her pictures are far more candid or personal than is normally seen. It is obvious PiL trusted her. There aren't many – if any – photographers they would have allowed on stage as they performed. And you only have to look at how relaxed they are with her off-stage to know that other photographers just wouldn't have got many of these shots…

Maureen's pictures help document a pivotal time in PiL history and Fodderstompf is delighted to bring you a selection of these superb images. Most of which are previously unpublished. You'll also find some extra bits and pieces – such as gig posters, flyers and press archives – which Maureen has kindly supplied…

Many thanks to Maureen for digging her pictures out of storage especially for the site. In all the years we've been doing Fodderstompf – and despite all the photographers we've ever had dealings with – no one has ever done anything like this before. It is greatly appreciated.

It is also worth pointing out that you are about to enter an un-commercial zone, at NO point did Maureen ask for anything in return. Her only interest was in sharing a (small) selection of her work. Respect.

In a little additional sidenote, Maureen and Bob Tulipan have continued to work together over the years, and in the eighties and nineties were heavily involved in bringing music, dance, theatre, and art to the USA from the USSR; and vice versa. Subverting both cultures! Maureen, a former college DJ, helped program Moscow's first independent radio station in 1988 and was responsible in exposing them to bands like PiL and The Clash. As a result of PiL's appearance at the Rock Summer Festival in Tallinn, Estonia 1988, Maureen was introduced to the promoter Juri Makarov by John Lydon.

Public Image Ltd 1982/83
Additional notes in "inverted commas" from Maureen…
Keith live at Boston, The Channel, October 9th 1982 © Maureen Baker	"Father John!" © Maureen Baker
John, Park South Studios, NYC © Maureen Baker	John, Keith, Martin, Park South Studios, NYC © Maureen Baker
PiL live at Ploughkeepsie, The Chance, March 20th 1983 © Maureen Baker	PiL live at Ploughkeepsie, The Chance, March 20th 1983 © Maureen Baker
PiL live at Ploughkeepsie, The Chance, March 20th 1983 © Maureen Baker	PiL live at Ploughkeepsie, The Chance, March 20th 1983 © Maureen Baker
Martin Atkins, unknown soundcheck, circa 1982 © Maureen Baker	John (etc) with Billy Idol, backstage NY, Brooklyn Zoo, January 29th 1983 © Maureen Baker
Sweat John and Keith live, circa 1982 © Maureen Baker	This is Religion! John live, circa 1982 © Maureen Baker
Pompom John live, circa 1982 © Maureen Baker	Keith rehearsing, 1982 © Maureen Baker "A great one of Keith, with Fender"
Mic 1 John live, circa 1982 © Maureen Baker	Mic 2 John live, circa 1982 © Maureen Baker
Lunchtime On the Road, November 25th 1982 © Maureen Baker "A photo I sent to LA Weekly and they used it for their ad when the Butthole Surfers were opening for PiL!"	Best Man NYC, November 21st 1982 © Maureen Baker "John as best man…"
Keith and John share a drink? Backstage at Pasadena, Convention Center, November 7th 1982 © Maureen Baker	PiL live at Pasadena, Convention Center, November 7th 1982 © Maureen Baker
John Lydon & Keith Levene, San Francisco, November 1982 © Maureen Baker	PiL live at San Francisco, The Galleria, November 5th 1982 © Maureen Baker
PiL live at San Francisco, The Galleria, November 5th 1982 © Maureen Baker	PiL live at San Francisco, The Galleria, November 5th 1982 © Maureen Baker
"The galleria being a glass and chrome shopping mall that had enormous lightbulbs all over the place. Once the bass kicked in, all the lightbulbs loosened in their sockets and fell to the stage causing john to think he was being attacked by bottles!!"
PiL press conference, San Francisco 181 Club, November 4 1982 left to right: Bob Tulipan, Martin Atkins, John Lydon, Keith Levene, Pete Jones © Maureen Baker	John at PiL press conference, San Francisco 181 Club, November 4 1982 © Maureen Baker
Gig Posters & Flyers etc
Poster Minneapolis, Walker Art Center and First Avenue, October 25th 1982 courtesy Maureen Baker	Poster San Francisco, The Galleria, November 5 1982 courtesy Maureen Baker
Poster Chicago, Granada Theater, October 23 1982 courtesy Maureen Baker	Poster Montreal, The Spectrum, Canada, October 17 1982 courtesy Maureen Baker
Gig flyer / handout Pasadena, Convention Center, November 7 1982 courtesy Maureen Baker	Press conference invite, San Francisco 181 Club, November 4 1982 courtesy Maureen Baker
Gig flyer / handout San Francisco, The Galleria November 5 1982 courtesy Maureen Baker
Press Archives
The following is a (small) selection of Maureen's press archives from the period. They are split into 2 PDF files (for which you will need the free Adobe Reader software).
PDF 1 (460 kb) (4 pages) New York Times, September 30th 1982 Melody Maker, October 9th 1982 San Francisco Examiner, November 6th 1982 Los Angeles Herald Examiner, November 9th 1982	PDF 2 (428 kb) (3 pages) NY Daily News, September 26th 1982 Billboard, November 20th 1982 Cash Box, November 13th 1982 The Atlanta Journal, December 4th 1982