Van Morrison, OBE (born 31 August 1945) is a Northern Irish singer, songwriter and musician. Known as "Van the Man" to his fans, Morrison started his professional career when, as a teenager in the late 1950s, he played a variety of instruments including guitar, harmonica, keyboards and saxophone for various Irish showbands covering the popular hits of the day. He rose to prominence in the mid-1960s as the lead singer of the Northern Irish R&B band 'Them', with whom he recorded the garage band classic "Gloria". His solo career began under the pop-hit oriented guidance of Bert Berns with the release of the hit single "Brown Eyed Girl" in 1967.
Much of Morrison's music is structured around the conventions of soul music and R&B, such as the popular singles "Brown Eyed Girl", "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)", "Domino" and "Wild Night". An equal part of his catalogue consists of lengthy, loosely connected, spiritually-inspired musical journeys that show the influence of Celtic tradition, jazz and stream-of-consciousness narrative, such as the album Astral Weeks and lesser-known ones such as Veedon Fleece and Common One. The two strains together are sometimes referred to as "Celtic soul"
Morrison has received six Grammy Awards, the 1994 Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, and has been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2016 he was knighted for his musical achievements and his services to tourism and charitable causes in Northern Ireland.
In the studio in Santa Monica, California in 1980, Bob Dylan is captured whilst leaning on his guitar case.
This photo session was for No.1 Magazine (long since extinct) on a Eurythmics press day, they’d been doing interviews all day.
Early shot of The Fall at Central Station Car Park, Manchester in the summer of 1978
Angus Young, from AC/DC, captured in a small street outside a press meeting in Copenhagen in 1977
Critics have called The Smiths the most important alternative rock band to emerge from the British independent music scene of the 1980s.
Fleetwood Mac are one of the world's greatest rock bands having sold over more than 100 million records over the last 50 years
Madness are an English band from Camden Town, London & one of the most prominent bands of the late 70s & early 80s 2 Tone ska revival.
The Who are an English rock band that formed in 1964 & are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century.
We are all still reeling from the tragic loss of David Bowie. Here is a wonderful tribute from one of our photographers, Mark Mawston.
Check out our great range of authentic fine art photographic prints available for £250 or less.
For eight years photographer Brian Duffy worked with David Bowie and shot his most iconic and enduring images. View his fantastic collection
Our contact sheet collection is a rare opportunity to look back at the hidden moments surrounding some of rocks most iconic images.
