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.
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.
Noel Gallagher performing with Oasis on The Main Stage in 1995 during Glastonbury's 25th Anniversary Festival
Contact sheet from Iggy Pop performing live onstage at the Rainbow Theatre in July 1979
Paul Weller onstage with The Jam at the Rainbow Theatre, London in 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.
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
Iconic shot of Liam Gallagher onstage during Oasis's debut gig at Slane Castle in July 1995
Liam Gallagher onstage in Cambridge in December 1994 during Oasis's Definitely Maybe Tour
Oasis performing onstage during the first of their legendary Knebworth gigs in 1996.
Noel and Liam Gallagher photographed in Nice, France whilst recording Oasis's fourth album 'Standing on the Shoulder of Giants'
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"
Paul Weller photographed for The Face magazine (April 1983 - Issue 36), not long after he formed The Style Council with Mick Talbot.
Contact sheet of Charlie Watts, Rolling Stones drummer, taken at the Halcyon Hotel in London in March 1991
Siouxsie Sioux captured in Sweden in 1982 during Siouxsie & The Banshees Summer Tour
Jools Holland fronting the line-up in this Squeeze shot taken in London in 1978. The same year as they released their debut album.
"This image of Bob Dylan and bass player Tony Garnier, snatched at an open air concert in Italy, sums up a beautiful partnership."
Kate Bush first came to note in 1978 when, only 19, she topped the UK Singles Chart for 4 weeks with her debut single, "Wuthering Heights"
Morrissey captured by Jill Furmanovsky at her London studio in December 1983, during the early days of The Smiths
Terrible vibes between Noel and Liam produced a wonderful set of pictures. Taken in Paris in November 1995.
Noel Gallagher tuning his guitar on the floor of Studio Two, Abbey Road Studios during the recording sessions for Be Here Now in 1996
Amy Winehouse captured in the corridor of the Union Chapel - "She seemed particularly happy that night" - Jill Furmanovsky
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
Orange limited edition screen print of Liam Gallagher by David Studwell
Relaxing backstage at Abbey Road Studios during the recording of debut album 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'
John Prime backstage at The Station Inn, Nashville before performing with Jimmy Rooney's Irregulars in 2019.
Contact sheet of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers photographed at Hyde Park, London in 1991
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band who were in the vanguard of the British music Invasion that became popular in the US in 1964–65.
Amy Winehouse was an English singer and songwriter known for her deep expressive contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres.
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968 & considered one of the most innovative & influential rock bands in history.
A unique collection of images of Pink Floyd, one of the worlds most successful and influential rock bands.
Here are the very latest prints we have added to our collection. We hope you love them as much as we do.
During his 30 year career Jake Chessum has shot defining images of musicians such as Amy Winehouse, Jay Z, The Beastie Boys & David Bowie.
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
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
