John Maher - A Teenage Buzzcock in New York (1979-1980)

John Maher - A Teenage Buzzcock in New York (1979-1980)
29th April - 29th June 2025
Hillhead Library, Glasgow

Between August 1979 and November 1980, Buzzcocks toured the US three times, during which John Maher captured over 200 images with his Olympus Trip. This exhibition showcases a selection of those photographs—not just of the band, but primarily Maher’s fascination with American street scenes, buildings, views from the back seat of the tour van, hotel interiors, and numerous 1950s American cars.

"I was nineteen in 1979. I was about to spend three weeks travelling across America with Buzzcocks – our first US tour. Talk about excitement! None of us had been to America before. I needed a camera. At this stage of my photographic career, I didn’t know the difference between an f-stop and a lens cap, so my first camera had to be easy to use… point and shoot." - John Maher

This exhibition was produced by Street Level and exhibited at Trongate 103 in April 2025 and Mono in June 2024, on the occasion of the launch of the book ‘Sixteen Again: a celebration of Buzzcocks, Pete Shelley and Manchester music’ by Paul Hanley. ‘Sixteen Again’ is available from Monorail music in Kings Court.