Exclusive: The LCD Soundsystem Book Explained by Photographer Ruvan Wijesooriya

Documenting the iconic band over the years.

December 5, 2012

Image via Complex Original

In 2010, the world learned that LCD Soundsystem would be breaking up, making This Is Happening their last album together. They went out with a bang, performing a final show at Madison Square Garden in NYC (that was live-streamed and used fan submissions of cloud photos for the backdrop), released a documentary titled SHUT UP AND PLAY THE HITS, and now, their photographer Ruvan Wijesooriyais releasing a book with intimate photos of them throughout the years.

The book, simply titled LCD, spans seven years of images from events like Coachella to "The Manshun," also known as Rick Rubin's Hollywood recording studio. It also features album art, single art, and posters he shot for them. As you'll notice from the following photos, they're hardly set-up, making most of them appear candid and indicative of the true friendship between them. While some of the images have been published in Rolling Stone, Spin, New York Times Magazine, and The New Yorker, most have never been seen before.

For those who will be in Miami during Art Basel this week, you can stop by the Hotel Victor on Saturday, December 8, where there will be an LCD Soundsystem store. There, you can get the book before the official launch and even get a little keepsake for free.

We asked Ruvan to pick 15 of his favorite photos and explain what was happening in them and why they mean a lot to him. More often than not, the image tells a story of unity and collaboration unique to this band. Thankfully, he documented it in such a beautiful way, that the impact of LCD Soundsystem won't be so easily forgotten. Buy the book, out December 11, 2012 and published by PowerHouse Books, here.

Exclusive: The LCD Soundsystem Book Explained by Photographer Ruvan Wijesooriya

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LCD Book 1

"I shot this at a DFA party that LCD was doing. It was supposed to be the video for the single, 'Tribulations.' They took the budget the record label gave them and threw one of the best parties I had ever been to. I took this and many more photos, but I sent this to DFA Records and James, who I had only met a few times at that point. They asked to use it for a limited-edition poster."

LCD Book 2

"James came over to my place sometime in 2005, and we decided to put my framed print of the LCD poster in this press photo."

LCD Book 3

"In 2009, after shooting LCD playing live, etc., I was invited to 'The Manshun,' where LCD was to record their 3rd and last album. This was the same mansion owned by Rick Rubin, where Slayer, Beastie Boys, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and countless others have recorded albums, seen ghosts, and done loads of drugs. Anyway, here is James being funny in front of the camera, posing like he's a proper guitar hero."

LCD Book 4

"This is Shit Robot's kid (Markus Lambkin's kid) playing with a discoball in the recording room of The Manshun. Too cute and very awesome."

LCD Book 5

"Pat Mahoney, Nancy Whang, and James Murphy are trashed and sharing some bubbly in the last scene of the 'Drunk Girls' video, directed by Spike Jonze."

LCD Book 6

"James on the floor during the 'Drunk Girls' video shoot."

LCD Book 7

"In L.A. during the recording of This Is Happening, we went out a lot. Here's our fearless leader very happily drunk and talking to a girl whose rabbit fur jacket he put on, forgetting that he was 10 sizes to big for it."

LCD Book 8

"Oddly enough, this is the only portrait of 'the band' that I have. It is a rotating cast of characters, with uniting factors such as being awkward in front of the camera and not wanting to get together in one place for a picture unless they are forced to, as was the case."

LCD Book 9

"This is the cover of the LCD single, 'Bye Bye Bayou.' It features Pat Mahoney channeling a Vietnam Vet, who has somehow joined the sexually anarchic Cockettes of San Francisco hippie fame. There are very few shoots with LCD that are planned. This is one of them, and for me it is a marriage of technical ability and spontaneity in a photograph. No photoshop here."

LCD Book 10

"Pat and James have a DJ duo called Special Disco Version. This was a b-side for their press photos that we shot in L.A. while they took a break from recording This is Happening."

LCD Book 11

"In 2010, I was covering the events at Miami Art Basel for a magazine. As I was walking around trying to find something, I heard LCD sound-checking. At this point, we had stumbled upon each other in so many cities outside of our own, that it was no longer a surprise, though it was always welcomed. This concert was basically on the beach with an audience of perhaps 350 people, hosted by the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles."

LCD Book 12

"Coachella, 2010. What an amazing concert, and a huge crowd. LCD killed and always did kill when they played live."

LCD Book 13

"James stayed up late in L.A., tinkering with sound and making music. It was amazing to hear how a few little notes late at night would be half a song by the end of the next day."