Celebrated as ‘The Man Who Shot the 70s’, Mick Rock’s legendary images encapsulate the revolutionary spirit of several eras of rock n’ roll. Rock launched his career in 1972 with his portrait of an unknown David Bowie and continued to document the rise and descent of Ziggy Stardust. His career continued to soar with key 70s images like Lou Reed’s Transformer, Iggy Pop’s Raw Power, Queen’s Queen II and many of the Sex Pistols’ infamous shots, capturing the most fascinating and exciting characters in rock music in sexy and gritty imagery.
He became one of the most sought-after photographers in the world and captured the groundbreaking New York City underground music scene pioneered by bands like The Ramones, Talking Heads and Blondie. Mick has become a legend himself, shooting the who's who of rock, punk, and pop icons right as they became part of the pop scene.
Lou Reed
Freddie Mercury
“The photos I took of Syd Barrett, David Bowie and co are more than 30 years old, but they have a certain contemporary ‘feel’ to them even now”, says Rock, who admits that his work was not influenced by famous photographers, but by these early subjects. “If it hadn’t been for rock ‘n’ roll, I would never have become a photographer. That’s what inspired me”. ~ Mick Rock
Mick Shoots Debbie Harry ~ 2007
He became one of the most sought-after photographers in the world and captured the groundbreaking New York City underground music scene pioneered by bands like The Ramones, Talking Heads and Blondie. Mick has become a legend himself, shooting the who's who of rock, punk, and pop icons right as they became part of the pop scene.
Iggy Pop
Queen
Blondie
Bob Marley
Iggy
Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter
Peter Gabriel
“Many of the musicians I photographed back then were operating well ahead of their time, and probably appeared crazy to most of our contemporaries”, he recalls. “They reminded me of the ‘mad’ poets of my university studies, especially the French Symbolist poets like Baudelaire and Rimbaud, the English Romantics like Shelley and Byron, and the American Beats like Ginsberg and Ferlinghetti”.
~ Mick Rock
“Many of the musicians I photographed back then were operating well ahead of their time, and probably appeared crazy to most of our contemporaries”, he recalls. “They reminded me of the ‘mad’ poets of my university studies, especially the French Symbolist poets like Baudelaire and Rimbaud, the English Romantics like Shelley and Byron, and the American Beats like Ginsberg and Ferlinghetti”.
~ Mick Rock
Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter
Bowie and Mick Ronson
Bowie, Iggy, Lou Reed
Bowie
Lou Reed
Iggy and the Stooges
Lou reed and David Bowie
Lou Reed, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Ziggy Stardust Farewell Party, Cafe Royale, Regent Street, Piccadilly, London July 1973
“This is an outtake from my photos of the party often dubbed ‘The Last Supper’. It was to celebrate the retirement of Bowie’s ‘Ziggy Stardust’ persona from stage performances at the final gig of his summer tour at London’s Hammersmith Odeon. I remember hanging with David the night before, when he privately told me that this was going to be his ‘last show’. I didn’t question his comment, but like everyone in the audience the next night, I felt it meant he was going to retire from ‘live’ performance forever. It sounded so absolute! And maybe this is what he meant at the time. Fortunately for us fans, of course, it was only the death of Ziggy. David’s magnificent career was only going to become even more significant, although in so many ways after all the twists and turns of his career there are many who regard his Ziggy albums and image as being the ‘jewels in his crown’. It was a wild evening of excess and exuberance, spearheaded by the legendary trio in this photograph, which carried on til dawn and those of us still standing were politely ushered to the door to greet the daylight……a celebration for the ages…” – Mick Rock 2011
“This is an outtake from my photos of the party often dubbed ‘The Last Supper’. It was to celebrate the retirement of Bowie’s ‘Ziggy Stardust’ persona from stage performances at the final gig of his summer tour at London’s Hammersmith Odeon. I remember hanging with David the night before, when he privately told me that this was going to be his ‘last show’. I didn’t question his comment, but like everyone in the audience the next night, I felt it meant he was going to retire from ‘live’ performance forever. It sounded so absolute! And maybe this is what he meant at the time. Fortunately for us fans, of course, it was only the death of Ziggy. David’s magnificent career was only going to become even more significant, although in so many ways after all the twists and turns of his career there are many who regard his Ziggy albums and image as being the ‘jewels in his crown’. It was a wild evening of excess and exuberance, spearheaded by the legendary trio in this photograph, which carried on til dawn and those of us still standing were politely ushered to the door to greet the daylight……a celebration for the ages…” – Mick Rock 2011
Warhol and Lou Reed
Bowie
Syd Barrett ~ founding member of Pink Floyd
Joey Ramone and Groupie
“The photos I took of Syd Barrett, David Bowie and co are more than 30 years old, but they have a certain contemporary ‘feel’ to them even now”, says Rock, who admits that his work was not influenced by famous photographers, but by these early subjects. “If it hadn’t been for rock ‘n’ roll, I would never have become a photographer. That’s what inspired me”. ~ Mick Rock
Joan Jett
Blondie
Ziggy
Iggy
Madonna
David Bowie
Ozzy Osbourne 1974
TIm Curry
David Bowie at the Beverly Hills Hotel, 1972.
Bowie 1973
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| Bowie 1973 |
Freddie Mercury
“The photos I took of Syd Barrett, David Bowie and co are more than 30 years old, but they have a certain contemporary ‘feel’ to them even now”, says Rock, who admits that his work was not influenced by famous photographers, but by these early subjects. “If it hadn’t been for rock ‘n’ roll, I would never have become a photographer. That’s what inspired me”. ~ Mick Rock
Kate Moss
Kate Moss with Lou Reed Tank ~ Both by Mick Rock
Videos Directed by Mick Rock
Mick Shoots Debbie Harry ~ 2007
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