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.
Beautiful silhouette portrait of Siouxise and the Banshees taken whilst the band were onstage in Sweden in June 1982
At the 1995 Glastonbury Festival Joe Strummer relaxes behind the scenes
Björk beautifully captured by Jill Furmanovsky at her London studio in May 1995.
Bob Dylan captured with his classic stare whilst performing on The Main Stage at the Glastonbury Festival in 1998
Jarvis Cocker performing one of his signature moves with Pulp on The Park Stage during the 2011 Glastonbury Festival
Jeff Buckley performs at Glastonbury in 1995 as part of his Mystery White Boy Tour
Liam Gallagher owning the stage whilst headlining with Oasis at the Glastonbury Festival in 1995
Paul Weller performing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 2015
Contact sheet of Joy Division backstage at the YMCA, London in August 1979
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 .
Contact sheet from Iggy Pop performing live onstage at the Rainbow Theatre in July 1979
Paul Weller, from The Jam, dressing for a cover shoot for 'The Face' in London in March 1983
Exclusive 1980s pop music montage print created using photographs taken by Jill Furmanovsky during the era.
Adam Ant photographed by Jill Furmanovsky during a cover shoot for The Face magazine in February 1981
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
Jill Furmanovsky photograph of Björk taken outside her Primrose Hill studio in May 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.
Boy George captured during a photo shoot for The Face Magazine in 1982
Joiner image by Jill Furmanovsky of Bruce Springsteen performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival in June 2009
Buzzcocks captured in a public library whilst on a press session in Manchester in August 1977.
Punk group Buzzcocks captured under a Manchester street sign in August 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
Contact sheet of the photo shoot for the 'Living without Cruelty' book cover featuring Chrissie Hynde chained up in a cage
Chrissie Hynde photographed by Jill Furmanovsky during the photo shoot for The Pretenders album 'Packed!'.
Nile Rodgers enjoying the crowd when Chic played the Glastonbury Festival in 2017
Limited edition screen print of Amy Winehouse by artist David Studwell.
Cat was renowned for his playing in the extreme high register. He claimed that he developed his screaming high notes to impress the girls.
Colour image of Pink Floyd performing during their British Winter tour in 1974
Noel Gallagher is regarded as one of the UK’s most respected musicians and the mastermind behind Britpop super group Oasis.
Foo Fighters is an American rock band founded in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the death of Kurt Cobain.
Florence and the Machine's style is described as 'dark, robust & romantic', a mix of "classic soul & midnight-on-the-moors English art rock.
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, artist & writer. He has been influential in popular music & culture for more than five decades.
Here are the very latest prints we have added to our collection. We hope you love them as much as we do.
Our contact sheet print collection is a rare opportunity to look back at the hidden moments surrounding some of rocks most iconic images.
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
Browse our collection of popular graphic art prints including iconic images by Storm Thorgerson and stunning work by contemporary artists.
