Rockarchive founder, Jill Furmanovsky, was born and brought up in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Her parents moved to London in 1965 when Jill was 11 years old and she became a member of the Beatles fan-club and an 'Apple scruff' – one of the teenagers that hung around outside Abbey Road hoping to catch sight of the Fab Four. Her first rock shot was of Paul McCartney standing outside his house with two of her school friends taken on a Kodak Instamatic.
Following a foundation course at Harrow School of Art, Jill studied textile and graphic design at the Central School of Art and Design. After only two weeks training in photography, she had a lucky break when she was offered (and gleefully accepted) the unpaid job of official photographer at London's premier rock venue, The Rainbow Theatre in 1972.
Artists photographed in her 40 year career include many of the biggest names in rock music: Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, Eric Clapton, Blondie, The Police, Led Zeppelin, The Pretenders, Bob Dylan, and Oasis are but a few. She has also directed videos for Oasis and The Pretenders.
Jill continues to shoot in the music industry. Her traffic-stopping image of Florence Welsh graced the streets of Los Angeles in 2012 as part of the exhibit ‘Who Shot Rock & Roll?’ at the Annenberg Space for Photography. She was also featured extensively in the film of the same name in which Noel Gallagher took part on her behalf, to praise their long working relationship.
Jill's book 'The Moment' 25 Years of Rock Photography' (1995) is a seminal work in the genre. Her subsequent book, ‘Oasis - Was There Then ' A Photographic Journey' (1997) followed a ground-breaking exhibition of the same name that toured in the UK and Ireland (Noel Gallagher thought she was a caterer who took good pictures).
Jill has won many awards for her music photography including The Jane Bown Observer Portrait Award (1992) and 'Woman of the Year' for Music and Related Industries (1988). Further accolades followed. In 2012 she was presented with a special award by Record of The Day Magazine.
"She seemed particularly happy that night and made references to a loved one (Blake) who was in the audience."
Bob Marley sitting on the bed of a rented apartment on Gloucester Road in London in 1978
The Cure on the road in Holland and Belgium during their 1980 'Seventeen Seconds' tour.
Jimmy Page onstage at Led Zeppelin's legendary Earls Court Arena concerts in 1975
Jill Furmanovsky recalls, "This was a typical music press session - probably for Sounds. The journalist and ‘snapper’, me, at a posh hotel.
Terrible vibes between Noel and Liam produced a wonderful set of pictures.
This was taken during a break in filming the Oasis Wonderwall video.
Johnny Marr had given Noel one of his guitars in the early days when he was broke. Now he was able to buy any guitar that took his fancy
This was the second day of a 2-day press shoot for the release of Be Here Now. It was the day Tony Blair became Prime Minister
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"
Pink Floyd in Abbey Road making a new album that became 'Wish You Were Here'. Jill Furmanovsky was asked to drop in and shoot some stills
"In his velvet embroidered suits, striking guitar poses, Jimmy Page and the equally dynamic Robert Plant were a photographers dream."
David Gilmour’s superb guitar solo during ’Comfortably Numb’ on PinK Floyd's The Wall Tour
David Gilmour in Studio 3, at Abbey Road Studios. The band were recording Have a Cigar that day for their new album Wish You Were Here .
By the end of 1978, with a handful of new songs he was itching to record, it was time for him to return to the studio."
The styling for a cover shoot for Sounds Magazine was a sheet off the bed. The lighting came from a bedside lamp.
B.B. King headlines the venue at the Rainbow Theatre in 1973 with support acts from Lou Reed, Golden Earring & The Persuasions.
Billy Idol poses for the camera on a bed with a cat. He was part of the Bromley Contingent, a group of followers & fans of the Sex Pistols.
Debbie Harry (Blondie) at the Apollo Theatre, Glasgow, Scotland, May 1977, kicking off their first UK tour,
Debbie Harry at the Glasgow Apollo, 1977, kicking off their first UK tour supporting American band Television. Blondie were the support act.
Debbie Harry of Blondie photographed by Jill Furmanovsky at Chrysalis Records shortly after their debut album 'Blondie' was re-released.
"This image of Bob Dylan and bass player Tony Garnier, snatched at an open air concert in Italy, sums up a beautiful partnership."
Buzzcocks captured in a public library whilst on a press session in Manchester in May 1977.
Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band play the Rainbow Theatre, London, 1973.
This concert was shortly after 'Caravanserai', the 4th album by Santana released in Oct 1972. It was a turning point in Santana's career.
Chrissie Hynde & Jeff Buckley hanging out back stage at the Glastonbury Festival
'White riot, I wanna riot, white riot, a riot of my own!' There was a riot at this gig when the audience smashed up a load of seats.
Bristol punk band The Cortinas hanging out in London in 1977 after the release of their debut single ' Fascist Dictator'
Cream rehearsing in Bray in 2005 before their reunion concerts at the Royal Albert Hall
Elvis Costello & The Attractions headline at the Rock Against Racism concert in Brockwell Park, Brixton in September 1978
Inner sleeve artwork for Pink Floyd's album Wish You Were Here. The nude woman in the inner sleeve is absent from first viewing
Liam wearing the famous brown check coat that never seemed to come off during the tour and watching the sound-check intently as was his way.
This is my preferred time of year to shoot, whereby the sun is low and casts wonderful long shadows. This setting in Hyde Park was perfect.
Squeeze are a British band formed in Depford, London in 1974 that came to prominence during the new wave period of the late 1970s.
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, artist & writer. He has been influential in popular music & culture for more than five decades.
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968 & considered one of the most innovative & influential rock bands in history.
Cat Stevens (real name Yusuf Islam) is a British singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, humanitarian, and education philanthropist
Pink Floyd's sublime music of hope and despair, touches all nationalities and is as meaningful today as it was when conceived.
All our traditonal darkroom prints are hand printed from the original negative by a master printer to give them a crafted and unique feel
Here are the very latest prints we have added to our collection. We hope you love them as much as we do.
The USA has given us many of the world's greatest music artists - we celebrate the best of the best
