Brian Aris began his photographic career as a photojournalist, working for a London agency. Over the next nine years a series of frontline assignments took him around the world - to cover the civil unrest and riots at the start of the troubles in Northern Ireland, the plight of Palestinian children in Jordan, the civil war in Lebanon, famine in Africa and the war in Vietnam, where he worked until the final days of the conflict in Saigon. He then decided on a complete change of direction and opened a studio in London where he started photographing fashion and glamour models for newspapers and magazines. His studio work was to include pop and rock stars such as Blondie, The Jam, The Clash, The Boomtown Rats, Roxy Music and The Police. And after three years he turned away from the model world to concentrate on the music industry that was exploding in Britain.
During the next two decades he covered every aspect of the music scene from punk rock, glam’ rock and straight rock ‘n’ roll with the Rolling Stones right through to the emergence of the boy bands and then the girl power that arrived with The Spice Girls. Commissioned by Bob Geldof to photograph his wedding to Paula Yates, Brian was then brought in to take the exclusive official pictures of the all-superstar Band Aid line-up organised by Bob as they got together to record the sensationally successful fund-raising hit single Do They Know It’s Christmas? to help the victims of the Ethiopian famine.
Exclusive backstage coverage of the Live Aid and Live8 concerts followed and Brian eventually went back to Ethiopia with Bob to photograph the work that had been carried out there as a result of the money raised. Other glamorous weddings followed - Sting to Trudy Styler in Dorset, David Bowie to Iman in a cathedral in Florence, Liza Minelli to David Gest in New York, Joan Collins to Percy Gibson in London and David Beckham to Victoria in an Irish castle. Band Aid returned in 2014 to raise funds to fight Ebola in Africa and once again Brian photographed the official line up for Sir Bob Geldof.
Brian Aris's archive represents one of the largest individual collections in the U.K.
Stunning shot taken in 1983 of Annie Lennox wearing a striking make-up style that was originally created by artist Sue Mann
Beautiful image of Kate Bush taken by Brian Aris at his Old Street Studio, London in 1979
This image of Madonna was taken by Brian Aris in London in 1984 on one of her first trips to the UK.
Annie Lennox from The Eurythmics photographed at Holborn Studios in London in 1983.
Annie Lennox from The Eurythmics dressed in black leather from head to toe photographed at Holborn Studios in London in 1983.
Debbie Harry, Blondie photographed wearing an Andy Warhol t-shirt in London in 1977.
Debbie Harry on the Isles of Scilly in 1982 during a video shoot for Blondie's single Islands of Lost Souls
David Bowie photographed in a lime green Thierry Mugler suit at The Factory in Dublin, Ireland in 1991.
Stunning image of David Bowie wearing a blue suit and Versace shirt in Holborn, London in 1993
Mick Jagger and David Bowie on stage at The Royal Albert Hall in London in 1988.
Debbie Harry portrait taken in New York in 1987 and later used as the cover of KooKoo Debbie's first solo album.
Contact sheet of photographs of Debbie Harry, Blondie taken by Brian Aris at his studio in Old Street, London in 1977
Beatle George Harrison photographed with his guitar collection at his home in Henley on Thames in 1979
George Michael photographed on the set for the video of “An Easier Affair" in London in 2011.
George Michael photographed poolside at a villa in St.Tropez, France in 1988
Contact sheet of The Jam shot at Old Street, London by Brian Aris in 1977
Joni Mitchell at her studio in Los Angeles in 1985 with her paintings in the background.
Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones relaxing at Longview Farm, Massachusettes in 1981
Mick Jagger photographed showing off the diamond in his front tooth at Holborn Studios in London in 1983.
Rolling Stones guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood having fun in Paris in 1983.
Sting from Police photographed on a rooftop in New York, USA in 1991.
Sting backstage in his dressing room in Germany in 1996 performing his yoga exercises before going on stage.
Limited edition screen print of a mugshot of Prince created by artist David Studwell
Exclusive David Bowie print specially created by The Postman for Rockarchive, based on a photograph taken by Dave Hogan at Live Aid in 1985
Noel recalls "Maine Road was where we all used to go as kids. So I was standing there, trying to make sure I never forgot this moment"
Relaxing backstage at Abbey Road Studios during the recording of debut album 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'
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