The 60s music scene was a particularly revolutionary era in popular music, as it saw the formation and evolution of rock. At the beginning of the decade, pop and rock and roll trends of the 1950s continued; nevertheless, the rock and roll of the decade before started to merge into a more international, eclectic variant known as rock.
In the early 1960s, rock and roll in its purest form were gradually overtaken by pop rock, beat, psychedelic rock, blues rock, and folk rock, which had grown in popularity. The country and folk-influenced style associated with the latter half of the 60s rock music spawned a generation of popular singer-songwriters who wrote and performed their own work. Towards the decade's end, genres such as Baroque pop, sunshine pop, bubblegum pop, and progressive rock started to grow popular, with the latter of the two finding greater success in the following decade.
Furthermore, the 1960s saw funk and soul music rising in popularity; rhythm and blues, in general, remained popular, and this style was commonly associated with Girl groups of the time, whose fusion of R&B and Gospel with rock and roll enjoyed success until the mid-part of the decade.
Aside from the popularity of rock and R&B music in the 60s, Latin American, as well as Jamaican and Cuban music, achieved a degree of popularity throughout the decade, with genres such as Bossa nova, the cha-cha-cha, ska, and calypso being popular. From a classical point of view, the 60s were also an important decade as they saw the development of experimental, jazz and contemporary classical music, notably minimalism and free improvisation.
This iconic 'Umbrella' image of The Beatles was taken in Scotland in 1964 on the banks of Loch Earn.
The Beatles having fun at Cliveden House whilst taking a break from filming the comedy, Help in May 1965.
Iconic photo of John Lennon with a flower in his eye, fondly known as 'Adoration'.
A very relaxed looking John Lennon taken by photographer Robert Whitaker at his studio in London.
Early set of contact sheet photos by Don Hunstein taken of Bob Dylan in his New York apartment on West 4th Street in 1963.
Bob Dylan relaxing and having a pint during the recordings for his BBC concert at BBC Studios in June 1965
Bob Dylan during his recording sessions for 'Highway 61 Revisited' at Columbia Studios in June 1965
At Columbia Studios, New York 1963 Bob Dylan crouching with his guitar during a recording session for his second studio album 'Freewheelin''
David Bowie posing in Beckenham Palace Park in September 1969
Jimi Hendix performing at the Christmas on Earth concert at Olympia, London in December 1967
A rather pensive Jimi Hendrix captured in his manager's, Mike Jeffreys, office in 1968
Jimi Hendrix reading 'Blonde on Blonde' by Bob Dylan before performing at the Astoria, London in 1967
Iconic shot of Jimi Hendrix, 1969, in his flat on Brook Street, Mayfair, London, during an interview for Melody Maker
Contact sheet of Jimi Hendrix photographed at his London home on Brook Street in 1969
John Lennon captured by legendary music photographer Brian Duffy in 1965
Keith Richards with his acoustic Gibson Hummingbird guitar taken at RCA Studios in Hollywood in 1965.
One of Pink Floyd's earliest photo shoots taken in June 1967 using the lighting they used in their gigs
The original Pink Floyd line-up on their first ever photo shoot in Kennington Park, London
Syd Barrett with Pink Floyd at the International ‘Love In’ Festival at Alexandra Palace in Summer 1967
The Rolling Stones onstage performing during the television show "Ready, Set, Go"
Keith Richards performing onstage during an episode of Ready Steady Go! in London in 1966
Led Zeppelin performing at Madison Square Garden, New York, USA 1977.
Exclusive David Bowie print specially created by The Postman for Rockarchive, based on a photograph taken by Dave Hogan at Live Aid in 1985
Underwater photo of Krist Novoselic in a LA swimming pool whilst on a Nirvana publicty shoot
Limited edition screen print of a mugshot of Prince created by artist David Studwell
Bob Marley was a Jamaican reggae singer, songwriter, musician, & guitarist who achieved international fame & acclaim.
David Bowie was a leading figure in popular music for over five decades & regarded by critics & musicians as a true innovator.
Queen are a British rock band credited with making significant contributions to such genres as hard rock & heavy metal, among others.
Oasis was an English rock music band formed in Manchester in 1991, to date the band has sold over 70 million records worldwide.
Here are the very latest prints we have added to our collection. We hope you love them as much as we do.
Jill Furmanovsky is one of the greatest ever rock & roll photographers with a huge archive of iconic shots of the world's best music artists
Album covers can define a band almost as much as the music itself. Now you can put this great art on your wall as well as your turntable
Our contact sheet print collection is a rare opportunity to look back at the hidden moments surrounding some of rocks most iconic images.