Born in 1945, Ian was raised in Clydebank, a Scots shipbuilding town on Glasgow's western border. In 1963, as the Beatles were breaking into the big time, his father moved the family to Newcastle upon Tyne where he'd been offered a better job. Ian took a design course at Newcastle College of Art and Industrial Design before embarking on a career as a graphic designer.
A few years later, he bought a second-hand camera and caught the photography buzz. Within months, he started earning a living with a camera by photographing babies and Junior Marching Bands (big in the north-east) before landing a job as in-house photographer to the Tyneside Theatre Company at the University Theatre in Newcastle.
This led to a chance meeting in early 1972 with Bob Brown (who managed the City Hall, then the noth-east's major rock venue) and an open invitation to photograph the many acts who appeared at the Hall.
Discovering how much fun and money there was in rock 'n roll, Ian hitched a lift to London on Roxy Music's tour bus in early 1973 and set about establishing himself. He joined forces with the writer Andrew Tyler at the NME for a couple of years before a short-lived stint with National Rockstar eventually led to an appointment with Sounds, just in time for the punk explosion (chronicled in his book "Flash Bang Wallop!" / Abstract Publishing 2000).
During the dismal 1980's, he did less work in rock, pursuing other interests before resurging with the launch of Vox magazine and the advent of Brit-pop. In 1999, he moved to the south coast of England with his wife Shoko and bought a PC to take advantage of the digital age. He now concentrates on marketing his archive through galleries and the internet.
In 1974 Rod Stewart once said to him, "A million quid for your accent!"
David Bowie performing as Ziggy Stardust at Newcastle City Hall in January 1973.
Bob Marley and the Wailers walking to their sound check before their performance in Birmingham on 19th July 1975
Newcastle City Hall, 1973, Ian Dickson eludes security to take this photograph of David Bowie performing as the legendary Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie performing at Newcastle City Hall, UK on the Ziggy Stardust Tour in June 1973
Rod Stewart from The Faces in his pyjamas in the Royal Garden Hotel, London in 1974
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Early in October 1997 fans found out that Oasis were recording in Abbey Road, and the graffiti outside started showing Oasis content
This was the second and last time that the Stones wore these check jackets.
Nirvana in Madrid during their European Tour of In Utero in July 1992
Pink Floyd are currently getting set for the 'Their Mortal Remains' exhibition at the V&A - Check out our range of images for sale.
The Ramones' loud, fast, straightforward musical style was influenced by music that the band members grew up listening to in the 50s & 60s.
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, artist & writer. He has been influential in popular music & culture for more than five decades.
Jimi Hendrix was an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter & arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music.
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
Pink Floyd's sublime music of hope and despair, touches all nationalities and is as meaningful today as it was when conceived.
We remember the late, great David Bowie one year after his untimely passing. This collection captures his innovative, uncompromising genius
Edition 100 was created to give fans & collectors a chance to own classic, historical pictures of their favorite bands.
