Ghosts in the Machine – Christopher Stead & NEMA

The Hauntology of Graffiti and Rave Culture 1990-2010

Finally available! Ghosts in the Machine by Christopher Stead and NEMA might be this year’s most anticipated graffiti book yet. The large sized hardcover focuses on the twenty years spanning writing career by UK’s probably most notorious trainwriter NEMA. In seven chapters we are able to witness the first steps on steel in Brighton 35 years ago to countless pieces in England’s southeast counties and his later playground London.

Pushing legendary crews like TPG, MOA, DDS, or VIM they made a name mainly with unique flowy, thick and colourful panels and wholecars under various aliases as AMEN, NIMS, SIRUS, MARS, RIBS, CAPER, CRIS, ERICK or WEIRD. Beyond documenting his works in high quality shots the book gives a deep insight into the time, music, culture and circumstances of these years and becoming an adult on 40 pages of entertaining texts by NEMA and Christopher Stead.

On 360 pages you can find almost 300 photos accompanied with the location and time they have been taken. Companions like MELLIE, HEIR, EGS, HEAL, BANOS, NIFTY2, MR. MAKS, PUBES, QUE, AGONY, CARL123, JUGS and others can also be found in the refreshing designed clean layout. Ghost in the Machine opens with a foreword by Jonny Banger and finally fills a gap in your shelf with extensive content on trainwriting in Great Britain in these two decades.

360 pages, 32,7 x 24,6 cm, embossed hardcover, different paper types
Language: English
Release date: April 2025
ISBN: 978-90-817-10-15-2
Publisher: ALIAS PRESS