Fernando Aceves first saw the light of day in Mexico City in 1965. For the last twelve years he has dedicated his self-taught photographic talents to documenting Mexican and international all contemporary musical genres, although his personal preferences lean toward the rock scene.
Aceves has worked mainly for concert promoters, record companies, Mexican and foreign publications and the artists themselves, such as Paul McCartney (1993), Pink Floyd (1994), David Bowie (1997) and the Rolling Stones, among many others. In 2000 The Museum of Modern Art of Mexico City presented his highly influential exhibition, The Rolling Stones, - the first time music photography had been given status in Mexico.
Fernando has published two books, Ilusiones y destellos: retratos del rock mexicano (Editorial Plaza y Janés), a unique collection of 129 portraits of the rock musicians who have shaped the Mexican rock music scene over the last forty years, and ’50 Jazzistas Mexicanos’ his book on Mexican Jazz Musicians which came out in 2001.
Aceves is the only Mexican photographer who systematically focuses on music full-time. He works with 35mm and does not add special lighting to any given situation. One of the world’s best ’live’ photographers, Fernando has photographed hundreds of concerts in the United States, Canada, Great Britain and is the official photographer of the National Auditorium in Mexico City.
“You need to capture the musician's essence, find its human side, bring him down to Earth. Turn an idol into someone "normal" but without taking them from their environment”.
David Bowie in front of a Diego Rivera mural whilst visiting the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City in October 1997
Keith Richards and Mick Jagger performing onstage with The Rollihg Stones at Foro Sol, Mexico City in February 1998
The Rolling Stones shooting the video for 'I Go Wild' in Mexico City in January 1995
in 1997 prior to his first ever gig in Mexico City David Bowie explores the local cultural sites including the 'Pyramids of Teotihuacan'
David Bowie photographed with a mask at Frida Kahlo's house and museum in Mexico City in October 1997
Taken at Freida Kahlo’s Museum known as the ‘Blue House’, in Mexico City a few days before David Bowie's first ever concert in Mexico, 1997
David Bowie onstage at his first and only ever concert in Mexico in July 1997
Jarvis Cocker mimicking the poster artwork for the film 'Kes' on an NME shoot
Courtney Love captured during a London photo shoot for Melody Maker magazine in August 1991.
Led Zeppelin performing at Madison Square Garden, New York, USA 1977.
Miles Davis with John Coltrane during the recording sessions for 'Kind of Blue' at Columbia Studios in New York in the Spring of 1959
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968 & considered one of the most innovative & influential rock bands in history.
Björk Guðmundsdóttir, (born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk is an Icelandic singer-songwriter.
Joy Division (originally named Warsaw), an English rock band formed in 1976 were one of the pioneers of the post-punk movement.
The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960 and widely regarded as the most influential acts of the rock era.
Here are the very latest prints we have added to our collection. We hope you love them as much as we do.
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
When it comes to rock photography Michael Putland has done it all, having shot the biggest name in rock & pop from Abba to Zappa.
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
