Brian Aris began his career as a photojournalist, working for a London agency during the 1960s. 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 and the tragic famine that raged across Africa. He also covered the war in Vietnam, where he worked until the final days of the conflict in Saigon.
In the late 1970s, Brian decided to move away from photojournalism and embark on a complete change of direction so he opened a studio in London where he started photographing fashion and glamour models for newspapers and magazines. Over time his studio work also began to include pop and rock stars such as Blondie, The Jam, The Clash, George Michael, Roxy Music and The Police and eventually Brian decided to concentrate full-time on documenting the music industry that was exploding in Britain at the time. During the next two decades, Brian Aris shot every aspect of the music scene from punk and rock ‘n’ roll right through to the emergence of boy bands and girl power.
A highlight of his career was when Brian was asked to take the exclusive official pictures of the all-superstar Band Aid line-up when they got together to record the record-breaking fund-raising hit single Do They Know It’s Christmas? to help the victims of the Ethiopian famine. He had been asked to take the pictures by Sir Bob Geldoff and later went on to shoot the Live Aid and Live8 concerts that followed. Brian was also commissioned to produce official portraits to mark the late Queen Elizabeth II's 70th birthday in 1996 and later in 1997 for her and Prince Philip's Golden Wedding Anniversary.
One of Brian Aris's most notable bodies of work is the photographs he took of David Bowie between 1985 and 2000. These include backstage shots from Live Aid in 1985, photos of his marriage to Iman in 1992, and Bowie working with Tin Machine in Dublin in 1991. In an interview with The Independent in 2017 Brian said “I worked a lot with David Bowie. I even photographed his wedding to the beautiful model Iman in Florence. So I got to see the wonderfully modest and generous man behind the public image. He was a truly original talent and a great musician".
Brian Aris's extraordinary archive represents one of the largest individual photography collections in the UK. We are delighted to offer a selection of Brian's wonderful limited edition prints for sale including some of his classic shots of David Bowie, Debbie Harry, George Michael, Annie Lennox Tina Turner, and Kate Bush.
Stunning shot taken in 1983 of Annie Lennox wearing a striking make-up style that was originally created by artist Sue Mann
Debbie Harry reclining on a chair in her New York apartment in 1988. Her portrait by Andy Warhol is resting on a radiator in the background.
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.
The Arctic Monkeys photographed by Kevin Westenberg at the Palácio da Justiça, Lisbon for Mojo Magazine in September 2022.
Limited edition screen print of Amy Winehouse by artist David Studwell.
Nick Cave relaxing in a Brazilian rooftop bar with Saõ Paolo as the backdrop. Taken in February 1994
Pete Townshend throws his guitar live whilst The Who perform at Madison Square Gardens in the US, 1979.
Pulp are considered to be one of the most innovative and popular bands of the late 20th century and key figures of Britpop
Devo is an American rock band, formed in 1973 their music mingles science fiction themes, surrealist humor & satirical social commentary.
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, artist & writer. He has been influential in popular music & culture for more than five decades.
The Libertines are an English rock band, formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât (vocals/guitar) and Pete Doherty (vocals/guitar).
Here are the very latest prints we have added to our collection. We hope you love them as much as we do.
Our contact sheet print collection is a rare opportunity to look back at the hidden moments surrounding some of rocks most iconic images.
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
Stunning collection of limited edition prints of David Bowie created by award-winning photographer Markus Klinko.
