Josh Cheuse

Born in New York City in 1965, at 16 Josh Cruese was photographing bands in the nightclubs that would become his second home. In 1981 he used the payphone at his high school to call The Clash at Electric Ladyland Studios in Manhattan and asked to photograph the band. The invitation he received began a career creating imagery for the music world.

Right after winning a full scholarship for photography to the School of Visual Arts in New York, Josh hit the road with Big Audio Dynamite, returning to school only to use the darkroom. He began designing merchandising and sleeve artwork, and shooting video with an early portable Sony camera. He photographed friends like the Beastie Boys and documented the hip-hop and reggae scenes for publications including SPIN, Rolling Stone, Musician and Time Out. He also shot, produced and directed two videos for Joe Strummer of The Clash, using hand-cranked war cameras bought on Portobello Road in London.

Since 1993 Josh has been an art director at Sony Music, creating packaging and websites for artists including Bob Dylan, Run-DMC, Rod Stewart and Tony Bennett, while still finding time to go on the road to photograph his favorite groups like Oasis, The Black Crowes and MGMT. After Joe Strummer’s untimely death in 2002. Josh directed a video tribute to Joe’s version of the “Redemption Song” sponsored by Hellcat Records and MTV2.

In 2007 Josh published his first book of photography, “Rockers Galore,” with related shows in Tokyo, Paris and Toronto. Since then he has exhibited his work in other major cities including Moscow, London and New York, where a live shot of Run DMC was included in the Brooklyn Musuem’s 2009 show, “Who Shot Rock.”

Joe continues as a design director at Sony. He lives in Jersey City, New Jersey with his wife and son.