So you want to be a rock and roll star

My Christmas present to my readers this holiday season is to post these great candid photos of vintage rock artists during their peak years in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, with a couple more recent shots thrown in for good measure.

I gathered these from various websites that serve as platforms for rock photography, as well as from websites of specific photographers like the great Henry Diltz. They show us the musicians in not-often-seen moments — rare concert shots, backstage huddles, outtakes from staged photo shoots — revealing them as mere humans just doing the deal.

May the Yuletide season bring you peace and comfort.

Rock on!

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**Keith Richards** takes a moment between songs during a 1972 concert.

**Bob Dylan** rehearses with **Tom Petty** and Heartbreakers bassist **Howie Epstein** during a 1986 tour.

**Emily Hackett** rocks out on stage at the LaurelLive festival in Cleveland in 2019.

**Stevie Nicks** and **Lindsey Buckingham**, 1973 LP album cover photo shoot

A young **Jim Messina** as producer of the final **Buffalo Springfield** album, with **Neil Young** looking on, in 1968.

**Tom Waits**, **Bonnie Raitt** and **John Prine** hang out backstage at a Los Angeles gig in 1973.

A rare shot of **Paul McCartney** and **John Lennon** together in Los Angeles, early 1975.

**John Sebastian, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Joni Mitchell** and **David Crosby** at the Big Sur folk festival, late 1969.

**Carole King** and **Paul Simon** early in their careers at the Brill Building, New York City, 1961.

**Peter Paul & Mary** visit with **The Beatles** at the Plaza Hotel before their appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” 1964.

**George Harrison**, **Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison** and **Bob Dylan** lay down vocals, 1988.

**Jackson Browne** at a friend’s backyard pool in Los Angeles, 1973.

**Linda Ronstadt** chilling at her Santa Monica bungalow, 1971.

An outtake from the photo shoot for **The Doors**‘ “Morrison Hotel” album cover, 1970.

**Bernie Leadon, Glenn Frey, Don Henley** and **Randy Meisner** during The Eagles’ “Desperado” album cover photo shoot, 1973.

**Gerry Beckley, Dan Peek** and **Dewey Bunnell** during a photo shoot for America’s “Homecoming” album, 1972.

**Frank Zappa** during recovery from a multiple-injury, on-stage assault in London in 1971.

**Debbie Harry** at age 23 in 1968, long before she dyed her hair and became **Blondie.**

**Keith Richards** in a tuxedo (!) gets married to **Patti Hansen** in 1983, with **Mick Jagger** serving as best man.

**Cheech Marin** and **Tommy Chong** in 1968 when they met in Vancouver and began honing their drug-oriented comedy routines.

**Jimmy Page** and **Jeff Beck** rekindle a friendship and rehash Yardbirds memories, 2016.

**George Harrison** and **Paul McCartney** recording vocals during the “Abbey Road” sessions in 1969.

**Elton John** blows minds with his U.S. debut at the Troubadour in L.A., 1970.

**Buffalo Springfield**, led by guitarists **Neil Young, Richie Fura**y and **Stephen Stills**, at Whisky A Go Go in L.A., 1966.

**David Bowie, Iggy Pop** and **Lou Reed** pose during a party in New York in 1973.

A young **Michael Jackson** gets chummy with a seemingly reluctant **Elton John**, 1977.

Led Zeppelin manager **Peter Grant** with **John Paul Jones**, **Jimmy Page, Robert Plant** and **John Bonham**, 1975.

**Joan Jett** indulges in French fries at the Santa Monica Pier, 1983.

**Carly Simon** and **James Taylor** during their married years at a party on Martha’s Vineyard, 1977.

**Bruce Springsteen** holds a first pressing of his debut LP, “Greetings From Asbury Park,” in New York, 1973

**Christie Brinkley** and **Billy Joel** during their nine-year marriage, 1988.

**John Entwistle, Keith Moon, Pete Townshend** and **Roger Daltrey** clowning during a photo shoot for “Who’s Next” in 1971.

**Penny Marshall, Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon** and **Carrie Fisher** at the Oscars, 1983.

6 comments

Hugh Bache · December 23

Great idea for a Backpage. Some wild photos.
Hope to catch up in Nashville. Fall for sure if not before.

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Budd · December 23

Nice job, Bruce!

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Nanci Drum · December 23

These photos are amazing, Bruce! The only problem is that I couldn’t put a heart on Emily’s photo. My girl, Linda Ronstadt, is looking as cute as ever…still one of my all-time favorite female performers!

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Chris Dixon · December 24

Fun pix, esp cool that got that shot of Emily in there among other legends!

Minor correction: in the Dylan/Petty pic the guy at far right is bassist Howie Epstein not guitarist Mike Campbell.

Minor additional detail: the pic with Crosby, Stills & Nash with Sebastian and Mitchell was taken at the Big Sur (CA) Folk Festival on the grounds of the Esalen Institute.

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brucehhackett · December 25

Thank you, kind sir, for your proofreading!

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- Chris Dixon · December 27
  
  You bet! Epstein (and of course Petty) no longer with us sadly, RIP
  
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