For over ten years Barrie Wentzell worked as the exclusive chief photographer for legendary music publication 'Melody Maker'. He photographed one of the most important decades in the history of popular music, shooting many unknown musicians who went on to be global superstars. Celebrated artists such as Bob Dylan, Louis Armstrong, Aretha Franklin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and rock and roll icons such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton all have their place in Barrie Wentzell's vast archive.
Barrie's career began at a photo studio in Belgravia in the the early 1960s. It was then, upon meeting his soon to become mentor, photojournalist Maurice Newcombe, that he became inspired to pursue a photographic career of his own and he started working in the area of music. In 1965 he had a chance encounter with the young Diana Ross and the image he captured of this yet-to-be global icon became a riveting front cover of Melody Maker and caught the attention of Bob Houston, the assistant editor at the time. And so the journey began ...
2017 saw the release of the film 'Melody Makers' in which Barrie Barrie tells the story of the rise and fall of the magazine, which marked the end to a style of rock n' roll journalism that no longer exit's today.
We are proud to offer a selection of Barrie's fantastic images for sale
A rather pensive Jimi Hendrix captured in his manager's, Mike Jeffreys, office in 1968
Bob Dylan relaxing and having a pint during the recordings for his BBC concert at BBC Studios in June 1965
John Lennon & Yoko Ono in the kitchen of their home in Tittenhurst Park Ascot, UK in 1971, taken after an on-site press interview.
Iconic shot of Jimi Hendrix, 1969, in his flat on Brook Street, Mayfair, London, during an interview for Melody Maker
Jimi Hendrix onstage during his legendary performance at the Woburn Music Festival in 1968
Jimi Hendrix after performing on Lulu's TV show in London in January 1969
Contact sheet of David Bowie images taken during an interview in London, 1972. One of the images was used on the cover of Melody Maker
At Brian Epstein's house in London during the launch party for The Beatles album 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'.
The Beatles outside Brian Epstein's home in Belgravia, London during the launch party for 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band' in 1967
The ’Bopping Imp’ as we used to call him in his acoustic days, becomes the ’Electric Warrior’.
Bob Dylan rehearsing for the recording of his BBC In Concert show at BBC Studios, Shepherds Bush in London in June 1965
Barrie Wentzell shoots the back cover for Cat Stevens album 'Tea for the Tillerman' on Primrose Hill, London.
Roger and Nick on a train to Edinburgh, Dark Side of The Moon tour 1974. The band preferred to travel by train rather than bus or plane.
David Bowie wearing a two piece quilted suit designed by Freddie Burretti for the 1972 Ziggy Stardust tour.
Bob Marley relaxing with friends and family after a show in Houston, Texas in 1976
Rod Stewart standing next to his concert tour plane in Los Angeles, December 1977. Rod recalls, "The tour got off to a terrible start."
Björk Guðmundsdóttir, (born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk is an Icelandic singer-songwriter.
American jazz trumpeter Miles Davis is regarded as one of the most innovative, influential and respected figures in the history of music.
Jimi Hendrix was an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter & arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music.
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in 1975. Without them popular culture in the last 30+ years would be very different.
We are delighted to share our brand new collection of Bob Dylan prints by photographer Arthur Rosato taken in 1980 during the 'Gospel Years'
The Rolling Stones have been entertaining audiences for more than 50 years. Our collections share the best images spanning their career
Edition 100 was created to give fans & collectors a chance to own classic, historical pictures of their favorite bands.
Welcome to our Jazz & Blues Print Collection - over 50 years of iconic images of the world's greatest Jazz & Blues musicians
