The Smiths' The Queen Is Dead turns 25 – in pictures

The iconic photo of the Smiths outside Salford Lads Club, as featured in the Guardian's My Best Shot series this week
Photograph: Stephen Wright

Morrissey's backside, taken during the Free Trade Hall gig in Manchester, 1984. Says Wright: 'It's a strange shot but most people at the time knew who it was immediately – Morrissey had toured throwing gladioli around on the 1984 shows. I've always hoped Levi's would pay me lots to use it as an advert ... sadly, it's not happened yet' Voted one of NME's best rock photos of all time, it was also used in the magazine's War Child exhibition
Photograph: Stephen Wright

Another shot from the Free Trade Hall gig. 'This is just my favourite Morrissey photo – classic young Morrissey,' says Wright. 'The front stage area at the concert was like a massive rugby scrum – no chance of getting photos – so I climbed up the rigging on the side of the stage and hid. I could only afford one reel of film and had to walk home. This and the previous "bum and flowers" photo were shot the first time I got to shoot the Smiths and they led to the Queen Is Dead album sleeve session.'
Photograph: Stephen Wright

Morrissey gets up close and personal with fans
Photograph: Stephen Wright

Morrissey on stage with the Smiths
Photograph: Stephen Wright

More Moz, this time in celebratory pose
Photograph: Stephen Wright

Stephen Wright had a habit of taking classic Morrissey pics
Photograph: Stephen Wright

Morrissey gets his kit off
Photograph: Stephen Wright

Morrissey's kit remains off
Photograph: Stephen Wright

'This was shot at Johnny Marr's house in early 1986,' says Wright. 'All I can remember is waiting nervously while the hairdresser spent a long time on Morrissey’s quiff'
Photograph: Stephen Wright

The Smiths, and that quiff, in colour
Photograph: Stephen Wright

Johnny Marr portrait
Photograph: Stephen Wright

Morrissey and his blue eyes (nice yellow cardigan, too)
Photograph: Stephen Wright

Moz live in Manchester in 1985
Photograph: Stephen Wright

Another great live image of the Smiths
Photograph: Stephen Wright

Moz and Marr onstage
Photograph: Stephen Wright

The Smiths outside Salford Lads Club, from the session in which Wright took his iconic image for The Queen Is Dead's sleeve
Photograph: Stephen Wright

The Smiths outside another Manchester landmark. Wright says: 'A few hundred yards from Salford Lads Club is the other end of Coronation Street. The street sign looks as knackered now as it did then'
Photograph: Stephen Wright

The Smiths at the Arndale Centre in Manchester, 1985. This was also taken during the session for The Queen Is Dead
Photograph: Stephen Wright

The Smiths outside the (more colourful) Salford Lads Club
Photograph: Stephen Wright

Not the 'Leeds side streets that you slip down' but a gritty back alley in Manchester
Photograph: Stephen Wright

Wright has recreated his famous shot many times. Here's Smiths tribute band the Smyths posing for him
Photograph: Stephen Wright

And here's a bus load of Smiths fans
Photograph: Stephen Wright