Rock photos

All I’ve got is a photograph

Posted on by brucehhackett

My early Christmas present to my readers this holiday season is to post these great rare or unusual 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, showing 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!

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In 1983, this all-star assemblage of some of rock’s best and brightest assembled for a benefit concert for Ronnie Lane of Small Faces, who had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Seated: Kenny Jones, Lane, Eric Clapton, producer Glyn Johns (squatting), Bill Wyman. Standing: Jimmy Page, Charlie Watts, Ian McLagan, Jeff Beck, Steve Winwood, Ray Cooper, Fernando Saunders, Andy Fairweather-Low.

Bonnie Raitt, Maria Muldaur and Linda Ronstadt huddle at the Hollywood Bowl, 1974

Crosby, Nash and Stills rehearsing for the CSNY Stadium Tour, 1974

Sonny & Cher backstage with Bob Dylan in Los Angeles, 1965

The photo for Neil Young’s “After the Gold Rush” album cover before Graham Nash was cropped out

Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger on a train in England, 1967

Tina Turner and Janis Joplin harmonize at a Madison Square Garden gig, 1969

Gregg Allman and Cher relax in a back yard in Macon, Georgia, 1975

Joni Mitchell, Mimi Farina and Herbie Hancock at the Greek Theatre in LA, 1979

Charlie Watts and Keith Richards goof around in a New York pub booth, 1995

Michael Jackson & younger brother Randy backstage in Memphis, 1976

Eric Clapton sharing teatime with his grandmother Rose Clapton, 1970

Rod Stewart offers a drink to David Bowie at a New York party, 1975

Ozzie Osbourne and granddaughter Andy at brunch in Paris, 2018

John Lennon and Bob Dylan share a cab ride in London, 1965

A one-off performance by The Dirty Mac (Eric Clapton, Mitch Mitchell, John Lennon and Keith Richards) for The Rolling Stones’ “Rock ‘n Roll Circus” film, 1968.

Joan Baez offers a bong hit to Jimi Hendrix backstage at the Fillmore East, New York, 1968

Valerie Bertinelli and Eddie Van Halen share a moment at home in the Hollywood Hills, 1989

James Taylor chilling before his set at The Troubadour, Los Angeles, 1970

Stevie Nicks at a Vogue cover shoot, 1983

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Just for fun: A photoshopped re-imagination of the 1964-era Beatles as young women

A hilariously frightening take on Mick Jagger as Ronald McDonald

So you want to be a rock and roll star

Posted on by brucehhackett

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 Furay 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.