The UK has produced many of the most successful groups and performers in international rock music over the last half century, from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Elton John and Oasis. Its genres of rock have been equally influential: Beat Music in the 60s; Glam, Progressive Rock, Punk and New Wave in the 70s; New Romantic, synthpop and Goth in the 80s; Indie and Britpop in the 90s.
Alongside these have been the photographers. It has been this small army of creative lensmen and women who have supplied the images that make up the rock package - image being as important as the music in many cases. Whether they be captured on the stage, taken formally in a studio with nothing left to chance, or snapped naturally in an unguarded moment, many of these photographs have become iconic.
The Royal Albert Hall has teamed up with Rock Archive to bring some of these images to the Hall. Founded in 1998 by photographer Jill Furmanovsky, Rock Archive is the product of the idea to make unseen work from her own archive and that of her colleagues more accessible to fans and collectors of photography. Jill has won many awards for her photography including The Jane Brown Observer Portrait Award for her classic Charlie Watts portrait in 1992. In 1998 she was honoured with the accolade, 'Woman of the Year for Music and Related Industries'.
The exhibition can be viewed when attending performances or on the following free open days:
Saturday 10 May 11am - 4pm
Sunday 11 May 11am - 4pm
Saturday 24 May 11am - 4pm
Sunday 25 May 11am - 4pm
Sunday 1 June 11am - 4pm