Legendary rock music photographer Mick Rock is often referred to as ‘The Man Who Shot the Seventies’, for his iconic images of Syd Barrett, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Queen, the Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Blondie, Rocky Horror Picture Show, etc. London born, he has resided in New York for the past 35 years. He has shot over 100 album covers.
But in reality never shopped shooting and continues his craft to this day. Recent subjects include Snoop Dogg, Father John Misty, Lenny Kravitz , Janelle Monaie, Jimmy Fallon, The Black Keys, Karen O, Ellie Goulding, Alicia Keys, Michael Buble, Daft Punk, Perry Farrell, Motley Crue, TV On The Radio, Pharrell, Josh Groban, Flaming Lips, Nas, Rufus Wainwright, Kings of Leon, RKelly, The Black Lips , Queens of The Stone Age etc.
Rock was instrumental in creating many key rock ‘n’ roll images, such as album covers for Syd Barrett’s Madcap Laughs, Lou Reed’s Transformer and Coney Island Baby, Iggy and The Stooges’ Raw Power, Queen’s Queen II (recreated for their classic music video ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’) and Sheer Heart Attack, The Ramones End of the Century and Joan Jett’s I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll, among many others. He was the chief photographer on the films The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Shortbus. He recently shot special stills for the new TV version of Rocky Horror, featuring the transgender actress Laverne Cox as Frank n Furter. He also produced and directed the seminal music videos for Bowie: ‘John, I’m Only Dancing’, ‘Jean Genie’, ‘Space Oddity’, and ‘Life On Mars’.
A classic quote from Mick in the London Times, who dubbed him ‘the music world’s top snapper’: “I’ve never felt like a voyeur, although I’ve certainly done plenty of looking! I work from the inside out. Like a cook I gather all the ingredients and keep mixing and stirring and tasting until the kind of effluvia starts to rise, then I’m off to the races. It’s an addictive kind of a feeling that I need a regular shot of otherwise I don’t feel right…”
AUGUST 2016
Debbie Harry, Blondie, at a photoshoot by Mick Rcko in New York, 1978 to accompany an interview to promote the release of Parallel Lines
Iconic Mick Rock photograph of David Bowie during the 'Saxophone' Session in London 1973
Syd Barret photographed by Mick Rock at his flat in Earls Court, London in 1969.
David Bowie wearing a black scarf on a photo shoot by Mick Rock in New York in 2002
David Bowie looking into a mirror at Haddon Hall, Beckenham in March 1972 during an interview for Club International magazine.
Iconic shot of Debbie Harry, Blondie taken by legendary photographer Mick Rock in New York City in 1978
David Bowie and Mick Ronson eating lunch on a train to Aberdeen in 1973 heading to the first gig of David Bowie's final Ziggy Stardust Tour
David Bowie captured by Mick Rock whilst applying make-up in Scotland in 1973
David Bowie, Lou Reed & Iggy Pop during a press conference at the Dorchester Hotel, London in July 1972
David Bowie photographed by Mick Rock at Haddon Hall Beckenham in March 1972,
David Bowie praying by window in Scotland in 1973 taken by legendary music photographer Mick Rock
David Bowie wearing a black jacket photographed by Mick Rock in New York City in 2002
Black & white photo of David Bowie with Saxophone taken in London in 1973 by Mick Rock
Iconic Mick Rock photograph of Iggy Pop performing live on stage in London in 1972
Cover artwork photograph taken by Mick Rock for Raw Power, Iggy Pop's iconic third studio album that was released in February 1973
Candid picture of Lou Reed buying a puppy in 1976 taken by Mick Rock
Iconic photo of Lou Reed taken by the legendary photographer Mick Rock in London, 1975.
Classic Mick Rock photograph of Lou Reed that was used as the cover shot for his 1972 album Transformer
Early photograph of Madonna taken in New York, 1980 by legendary music photographer Mick Rock at his studio on Lexington Avenue
Mick Rock cover artwork for the iconic Queen 2 album released in 1974
Iconic shot of Freddie Mercury from Queen, taken by world leading music photographer Mick Rock in London 1974
Freddie Mercury, wrapped in purple sheets, captured by renowned photographer Mick Rock in London, 1974
This photograph of The Ramones by Mick Rock is an outtake from their 'End Of The Century' album photo session in 1979.
Taken by Mick Rock during the album cover shoot for Syd Barrett's debut solo album 'The Madcap Laughs'.
Taken in Syd Barrett's flat in Earls Court, London during the photo shoot for his debut album 'The Madcap Laughs'
Syd Barrett 'in decision' captured by Mick Rock in London in 1969 , a year after he left Pink Floyd
Shooting promotional films for the singles Rain & Paperback Writer at Chiswick Park Gardens in May 1966
This photo session was for No.1 Magazine (long since extinct) on a Eurythmics press day, they’d been doing interviews all day.
In the studio in Santa Monica, California in 1980, Bob Dylan is captured whilst leaning on his guitar case.
Angus Young, from AC/DC, captured in a small street outside a press meeting in Copenhagen in 1977
The Stranglers are one of the most enduring bands to have come out of the punk scene with an uncompromising attitude and idiosyncratic style
Madness are an English band from Camden Town, London & one of the most prominent bands of the late 70s & early 80s 2 Tone ska revival.
Critics have called The Smiths the most important alternative rock band to emerge from the British independent music scene of the 1980s.
Lou Reed was one of music's most influential icons. His music defied all definitions of genre & left a legacy that has inspired generations
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.
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.
