In 1967 Max borrowed his dad’s Pentax and took the only shots of Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood debuting at the Marquee Club and Fleetwood Mac at their Windsor Festival debut a few months later. The following year he played his one and only gig as lead guitar in a school music competition – in spite of the phenomenal audience reaction they weren’t allowed to win as ‘it was only a blues improvisation!'
Turning to photographing his heroes at gigs again, Max contributed to the predominantly monochrome music press at the time for the next decade and a half. Shots appeared in Beat Instrumental, Melody Maker, New Musical Express, Sounds and Record Mirror. Soon after this, whilst occasional gig coverage was maintained, a new road opened up in the form of documentary filming and so Max resigned himself to a career as a video-cameraman despite his slightly epic start in rock stills.
With an equally intense devotion to Romantic Art, Max has written books and articles on artists from William Blake to the Pre-Raphaelites and beyond as a specialist art-historian
The Clash giving it all onstage at The Music Machine (Camden Palace), London in 1978
Elvis Costello and The Attractions live at the Dominion Theatre, London, 1978
Jeff Beck performing an onstage solo at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1981.
The original Pink Floyd line-up on their first ever photo shoot in Ruskin Park, London
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.
Iconic photo of John Lennon with a flower in his eye, fondly known as 'Adoration'.
John Lennon performing at Madison Square Gardens, New York in August 1972
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk.
Liam Gallagher is best known as the charismatic, self-assured front man of Manchester Britpop band Oasis.
Catherine Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer, known for her eclectic and experimental music.
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.
For eight years photographer Brian Duffy worked with David Bowie and shot his most iconic and enduring images. View his fantastic collection
The USA has given us many of the world's greatest music artists - we celebrate the best of the best
Our contact sheet collection is a rare opportunity to look back at the hidden moments surrounding some of rocks most iconic images.
Check out our great range of authentic fine art photographic prints available for £250 or less.
