Paul Gorman

For the Irish footballer, see Paul Gorman (footballer). For the U.S. general, see Paul F. Gorman. For the Irish Scientist, see Paul D. Gorman.

First edition of The Look

Paul Gorman is a writer, cultural commentator and curator.

Journalism

From 1978, Gorman worked on weekly news for trade publications. In 1983, Gorman won the Periodical Publishers Association award for campaigning journalism for a series of investigative food industry articles and in 1990 was appointed west coast bureau chief of film trade Screen International, based in Los Angeles.

Between 1993 and 1998, Gorman was contributing editor at Music Week, reporting on leading executives and artists such as Madonna's manager Freddy de Mann, Creation Records founder Alan McGee and U2 manager Paul McGuinness. Between 1994 and 1999, Gorman was contributing editor at Music Business International. During this time he contributed regularly to magazines such as Mojo and conducted the first ever interview with the Spice Girls.

Gorman continues to contribute to magazines and newspapers including the Daily Telegraph, Mojo, Vice and The Word.

Television

In the mid-90s Gorman worked with production company Channel X on developing the trash culture TV series The Strip he created with partner David Knight for Channel 4. In 1999 Gorman directed documentary Las Vegas Grind for Channel 4. This was hosted by Mexican-American artist El Vez, who Gorman subsequently signed to Alan McGee’s record label Poptones, which released two El Vez albums and the single Feliz Navidad in the UK.

Fashion

In 2008, Gorman launched fashion label The Look Presents with fashion consultant Max Karie through Topman with three collections based on artist and designers featured in The Look: t-shirts by Wonder Workshop; t-shirts by Granny Takes a Trip founder Nigel Waymouth; and Priceless - a menswear range by Antony Price, designer for Roxy Music and Duran Duran.

In 2011, Gorman collaborated with artists John & Molly Dove to present a special edition of their "Wild Thing" t-shirt, as worn by Marc Bolan and Sid Vicious.

Exhibitions/curating

In 2010 Gorman curated the exhibition Process: The Working Practices Of Barney Bubbles at London's Chelsea Space . The show attracted the largest attendance of any exhibition held at the gallery .

In 2011 Gorman consulted on, and sourced material for, the British exhibitions Postmodernism: Style & Subversion 1970-1990 and Snap Crackle & Pop: British Pop Art Meets The High Street In The Swinging Sixties . In September 2011 Gorman staged a dedicated Barney Bubbles exhibit at Mindful Of Art, a group show at London's Old Vic Tunnels .

In January 2012 Gorman returned to Chelsea Space to curate the exhibition Lloyd Johnson: The Modern Outfitter, a celebration of the London fashion retailer whose boutiques provided clothing for artists from Fred Astaire and George Michael to The Clash, Tom Waits and Bob Dylan .

Gorman also consulted on and sourced material for the forthcoming exhibition British Design 1948-2012: Innovation In Thee Modern Age, which opens in March 2012 at the V&A .

Books

The result of more than ten year's research on post-war fashion and music, Gorman's The Look: Adventures in Rock and Pop Fashion, received a warm critical reception and was named in the top ten fashion books of all time by The Independent.

The Look's online presence at www.rockpopfashion.com/blog has been hailed as "excellent and enlightening".

Reasons to be Cheerful, Gorman's biography of graphic designer Barney Bubbles won Mojo magazine's Book of the Year in 2010,. The second edition was published in October 2010, to coincide with Gorman's exhibition Process: The Working Practices Of Barney Bubbles.

Gorman is currently working with design entrepreneur Tommy Roberts on a book of his life, to be published in spring 2012.

• The Look: Adventures In Pop & Rock Fashion (Sanctuary Publishing 2001). Foreword by Malcolm McLaren.
• In Their Own Write: Adventures In The Music Press (Sanctuary 2001).Foreword by Charles Shaar Murray.
• Nine Lives with Goldie (Hodder & Stoughton 2002).
• Straight with Boy George (Century 2005).
• Blood & Fire: The Story Of UB40's Ali & Robin Campbell with Tim Abbot (Century 2005).
• The Look: Adventures In Rock & Pop Fashion (Adelita 2006). Introduction by Paul Smith, foreword by Malcolm McLaren.
• Cry Salty Tears (Arrow Books 2007). Ghostwritten for Boy George’s mother Dinah O’Dowd.
• Reasons to Be Cheerful: The Life & Work Of Barney Bubbles (Adelita 2008).

External links

• Gorman's blog
• Online home of the Barney Bubbles book presenting new images and info about the visual artist
• The Look blog
• The Look Presents website
• Accessed: 24 March 2008 Collected journalism at Rock's Back Pages