Legendary photographer Gered Mankowitz helped to shape the very image of the Rolling Stones, shooting record covers, portraits, and intimate sessions with the band at home and on tour.
Now in a new book, The Rolling Stones: Rare and Unseen, he delves deep into his incomparable archive, uncovering the hidden gems that have remained unpublished and unseen for over 50 years — until now.
Alongside his iconic and much-loved images that captured the Stones at their swaggering best, these photographs show the band unguarded and unvarnished — young men in the eye of a rock ‘n’ roll storm, with the world at their feet.
Hundreds of photographs are accompanied by Gered’s memories and revealing insights as well as essays on the band by authors including author Will Hodgkinson and the New York Times’ Ben Sisario. The Rolling Stones: Rare and Unseen is the definitive collection of Mankowitz’s breathtaking photography.
Mankowitz is an English photographer best known for his work documenting famous musicians, including the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and Marianne Faithfull, for whom he produced album covers and fashion editorials in addition to his personal work. His most iconic photo is arguably one he took of Hendrix . He has reportedly only ever used Hasselblad cameras.
He has published numerous books of his work, including The Experience: Jimi Hendrix at Mason’s Yard and Marianne Faithfull: Fabulous Beast among many others.
The foreword for The Rolling Stones: Rare and Unseen is written by Keith Richards, and published by Welbeck, it is out on April 16.
More of Mankowitz’s work can be found on his website and Instagram.
Image credits: Photographs by Gered Mankowitz