The Shot That Created the Modern Rock and Roll Image
In 1963 Terry O'Neill took a picture of The Rolling Stones outside the Tin Pan Alley Club on Denmark Street in Londons Soho. The band was just. These pictures would stay as a lasting record of how music culture in Britain was changing.
Art collectors who visit Iconic Images Gallery may wonder: why is Terry O'Neills Rolling Stone Photograph famous?
One reason is that the picture showed the band in a way that was different from the coordinated pop-group portraits that were common then. Of the musicians in matching clothes and bright smiles O'Neill captured their special clothes, their own expressions and their rebellious look.
O'Neill worked for the Daily Sketch when he took the picture. He had just photographed The Beatles and his editor did not like how the bands looked. The editor even told O'Neill to photograph performers who were more conventionally attractive.
Although the picture was set up on purpose of just happening by chance the location and the bands look gave it a unique character. The image helped create an identity for The Rolling Stones that made them stand out from the usual pop acts.
Today the picture is seen as an image of the bands early years and of the broader cultural changes in 1960s Britain. It is still one of Terry O'Neills known music photographs.
To see Terry O'Neills art prints go to Iconic Images Gallery at 16 Waterloo Place, in St Jamess (SW1Y 4AR) or look at iconicimagesgallery.com.