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.
Noel and Liam take a break from recording in a pub near Abbey Road. The atmosphere between them had been tense in the preceding weeks
I was asked to shoot a band session at Abbey Road, about a month after the media furore that was going on at the time.
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.
The chalk blackboard and blood red wall were a gift to this session. Liam wrote the words himself.
Early in October 1996 fans found out that Oasis were recording in Abbey Road, and the graffiti outside started showing Oasis content
Guitars and equipment on display in Studio Two at Abbey Road during the recording sessions for the Oasis album 'Be Here Now'
Contact sheet of Liam Gallagher singing during a recording session for 'Be Here Now' at Abbey Road Studios in October 1996
Studio Two in Abbey Road Studios, Liam Gallagher performing during a recording session for 'Be Here Now' in 1996
Noel Gallagher photographed by Jill Furmanovsky whilst recording the Oasis album 'Be Here Now' in 1996
Noel Gallagher setting up before his Oasis gig at the Cambridge Corn Exchange in December 1994.
Noel Gallagher performing at the Cambridge Corn Exchange in 1994 during Oasis's Definitely Maybe Tour.
Oasis captured during their Definitely Maybe Tour in 1995 with San Francisco as a backdrop
Liam Gallagher beautifully captured whilst sleeping on Oasis's tour bus during their US Tour in March 1996
Iconic image of Liam Gallagher used on the cover of Jill Furmanovsky's Oasis book 'Was There Then
Stunning photograph of Noel Gallagher used on the cover for Jill Furmanovsky's Oasis photography book 'Was There Then'
Liam Gallagher squating on the stage at Knebworth Park during the rehersals for Oasis's historic gigs
Liam Gallagher captured by Jill Furmanovsky at the NEC, Birmingham during rehearsals for Oasis's historic Knebworth gigs.
Stunning silhouette shot by Jill Furmanovsky of Oasis rehearsing at the NEC, Birmingham prior to their huge Knebworth Park gigs.
Liam Gallagher captured at the NEC, Birmingham during Oasis's rehearsals for their historic Knebworth gigs.
Noel Gallagher adusting the sound during Oasis's sell-out gigs at Knebworth Park in August 1996
Noel Gallagher rehearsing onstage at Knebworth Park before Oasis performed their famous two day gigs in August 1996
Jill Furmanovsky photograph of Noel Gallagher taken in France during the recording of their 4th album 'Standing on the Shoulder of Giants'
Oasis show off their new scooters outside London’s Earls Court Arena in November 1995, when they played two shows at the venue.
Liam Gallagher captured by Jill Furmanovsky during the shoot for Oasis's Wonderwall video.
Noel Gallagher photographed at Ridge Farm Studio in 1996 whilst Oasis were recording their album 'Be Here Now'.
Liam Gallagher relaxing in his hotel room in Rhode Island whilst Oasis were touring the USA in March 1996.
Contact sheet featuring images of Oasis taken at the NEC Birmingham during the rehearsals for their iconic Knebworth Park gigs in 1996
Noel & Liam Gallagher captured during a quick shoot outside the exhibition halls of the NEC during Oasis's Knebworth rehearsals in July 1996
Liam Gallagher performing on-stage at Knebworth Park in August 1996 during Oasis's iconic gigs. Cover image for the book 'Oasis: Knebworth'.
10th August, 1996 Noel Gallagher onstage at Knebworth Park during Oasis's landmark gigs
Liam Gallagher photographed on the Main Stage at Glastonbury when Oasis headlined the Festival in June 1995.
Liam Gallagher photographed by Jill Furmanovsky whilst Oasis were recording their album Heathen Chemistry at Olympic Studios in 2001.
The Arctic Monkeys photographed by Kevin Westenberg at the Palácio da Justiça, Lisbon for Mojo Magazine in September 2022.
Nile Rodgers enjoying the crowd when Chic played the Glastonbury Festival in 2017
Tina Turner photographed by Brian Aris at Holborn Studios in London in 1983.
Pete Townshend throws his guitar live whilst The Who perform at Madison Square Gardens in the US, 1979.
Florence and the Machine's style is described as 'dark, robust & romantic', a mix of "classic soul & midnight-on-the-moors English art rock.
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.
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.
Here are the very latest prints we have added to our collection. We hope you love them as much as we do.
Browse our collection of popular graphic art prints including iconic images by Storm Thorgerson and stunning work by contemporary artists.
Discover our specially curated collection of limited edition prints from renowned music photographer Gered Mankowitz
Stunning collection of limited edition prints of David Bowie created by award-winning photographer Markus Klinko.
