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.
Amy Winehouse captured in the corridor of the Union Chapel - "She seemed particularly happy that night and made references to a loved one "
Bob Marley sitting on the bed of a rented apartment on Gloucester Road in London in February 1978
The Cure on the road in Holland and Belgium during their 1980 'Seventeen Seconds' tour.
Contact sheet from Iggy Pop performing live onstage at the Rainbow Theatre in July 1979
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.
This shoot of Madness in New York City in February 1980 was for Issue No.1 of a new magazine that developed cult status, The Face.
Terrible vibes between Noel and Liam produced a wonderful set of pictures. Taken in Paris in November 1995.
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 & Liam Gallagher from Oasis backstage before performing onstage at Wembley Stadium in July 2000
Taken during the Oasis 'Definitely Maybe' Tour in Detroit, USA in 1995
Contact sheet of Noel & Liam Gallagher larking around during the recording sessions for 'Be Here Now' at Abbey Road Studios in October 1996
Noel Gallagher tuning his guitar on the floor of Studio Two, Abbey Road Studios during the recording sessions for Be Here Now in 1996
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"
Contact sheet of Charlie Watts, Rolling Stones drummer, taken at the Halcyon Hotel in London in March 1991
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
Contact sheet of Joy Division backstage at the YMCA, London in August 1979
"In his velvet embroidered suits, striking guitar poses, Jimmy Page and the equally dynamic Robert Plant were a photographers dream."
Noel Gallagher rehearsing in Studio Two at Abbey Road in October 1996 during the recordings for the Oasis album 'Be Here Now'
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 .
Alex Chilton photographed in a disused gymnasium in London in 1978
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.
Contact sheet from photo shoot of Björk taken by Jill Furmanovsky in Primrose Hill in 1995
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 Private Stock Records shortly after their debut album 'Blondie' was re-released.
Shooting promotional films for the singles Rain & Paperback Writer at Chiswick Park Gardens in May 1966
In the studio in Santa Monica, California in 1980, Bob Dylan is captured whilst leaning on his guitar case.
This photo session was for No.1 Magazine (long since extinct) on a Eurythmics press day, they’d been doing interviews all day.
Early shot of The Fall at Central Station Car Park, Manchester in the summer of 1978
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Check out our great range of authentic fine art photographic prints available for £250 or less.
The USA has given us many of the world's greatest music artists - we celebrate the best of the best
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
We are all still reeling from the tragic loss of David Bowie. Here is a wonderful tribute from one of our photographers, Mark Mawston.
