While We Were Getting High & Manchester 2 Books Collection Set By Kevin Cummins - Non Fiction - Mixed Format

Titles in This Set:
While We Were Getting High
Manchester: Looking for the Light through the Pouring Rain

Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Mixed lot
ISBN: 9780571283385, 9781788402200

Overview:
Two iconic photography books come together in this carefully curated collection from Kevin Cummins. While We Were Getting High assembles Britpop-era images—unseen photographs that capture the swagger and pulse of 1990s Britain—documenting the rise and sometimes the fall of Cool Britannia through the lens of a photographer who was there from the inside. Notable collaborators include Noel Gallagher and Brett Anderson, lending rare access to the era’s inner circle. Complementing this is Manchester: Looking for the Light through the Pouring Rain, a vivid portrait of a city and its enduring pop history. Cummins’ photographs traverse rain-soaked stages in Brazil, intimate rooms in Whalley Range, and the iconic Hacienda dancefloor, capturing the anarchic energy that defined Manchester’s moment in music. The collection is enriched by four textual contributions from Paul Morley, Stuart Maconie, Gavin Martin, and John Harris, weaving context and voices that deepen the reading experience. Together, the two books offer a documentary-style, immersive journey for photography lovers, music historians, and fans seeking a tangible connection to Manchester and Britpop.

What Makes This Collection Special:
This dual-pack unites two complementary viewpoints of late-20th-century UK music culture. One title foregrounds Cummins’ intimate, behind-the-scenes photography of Britpop’s heyday, while the other paints a sweeping, city-wide portrait of Manchester’s vibrant pop ecosystem. The pairing invites readers to move from close-up portraits to a broader urban narrative, creating a satisfying reading rhythm and strong binge-read potential. With scholarly and cultural perspectives supplied by Morley, Maconie, Martin, and Harris, readers gain richer context alongside striking imagery. The set also serves as a premium gift for collectors and fans who value a cohesive, high-quality presentation that celebrates a pivotal era in British music.

Books Included in This Collection:
While We Were Getting High
While We Were Getting High gathers rare, unseen photographs charting the Britpop ascent and the edgy, anarchic energy of the 1990s. Cummins’ camera captures musicians, fashion, venues, and moments that helped define a generation, with occasional glimpses from Noel Gallagher and Brett Anderson providing insider resonance. This volume stands as a visual time capsule of a transformative period in British music, offering readers a tactile, immersive connection to the era beyond familiar album covers and magazine clippings.

Manchester: Looking for the Light through the Pouring Rain
Manchester: Looking for the Light through the Pouring Rain presents a vivid, year-spanning portrait of a city and its pop legends. From the rain-soaked stages in Brazil to intimate spaces in Whalley Range and the Hacienda’s legendary dancefloor, Cummins’ photographs capture the raw energy and intimate moments that defined Manchester’s music scene. The book is complemented by four textual contributions from Paul Morley, Stuart Maconie, Gavin Martin, and John Harris, providing vivid context and investigative insight into why Manchester became the Memphis of the UK for a generation of artists and fans.

Who This Set Is Perfect For:
Fans of Britpop and 1990s UK music will find these volumes essential, whether they’re collecting photography books, exploring music history, or seeking gift-worthy keepsakes. The collection appeals to photography enthusiasts who appreciate candid, documentary-style imagery, as well as readers who enjoy city histories and cultural narratives. It’s a superb choice for music lovers, collectors, students, teachers, and anyone building a visual archive of a defining decade in British culture.

Key Benefits:

• Two-book collection by a celebrated photographer who shaped the UK music press image
• Unseen Britpop-era photographs and a vivid Manchester city narrative
• Rich contextual writing from Morley, Maconie, Martin, and Harris
• Beautiful, collectible pairing that enhances display on shelves or coffee tables
• Ideal gift for music fans, photography lovers, and cultural historians
• Authentic UK editions with a cohesive design and presentation
• Accessible, immersive reading experience that blends image and voice
• Perfect for readers seeking a tangible connection to Manchester and the Britpop era

About the Author:
Kevin Cummins is a renowned photographer best known for documenting Britain’s music scene. He served as chief photographer at the NME for more than a decade, capturing pivotal moments and personalities that shaped late-20th-century pop culture. His work blends candid, on-tour imagery with intimate studio portraits, offering a documentary’s honesty and a photographer’s artistry. This collection draws on Cummins’ deep engagement with the eras it portrays, pairing his striking black-and-white and color photography with rich historical context to deliver a definitive visual record of Britpop’s rise and Manchester’s enduring musical heartbeat.

Why You’ll Love This Set:
Owning this two-book collection means you possess a tactile, visually compelling archive of two pivotal stories in British music. The pairing enhances the reading experience through complementary perspectives—intimate, backstage photography and a sweeping city portrait—paired with insightful writing that adds texture and depth. It’s a stylish, meaningful gift for fans and a valuable addition to any music, photography, or urban culture library. The set offers a seamless, page-turning journey from the Britpop era to Manchester’s pop history, all curated by a photographer whose work has become synonymous with an era of bold, unforgettable creativity.

Please Note: The individual books included in this listing will be dispatched as per the original UK ISBN and UK edition cover image shown in the image.