The Rolling Stones are one of the most iconic and influential rock bands of all time, with a career that spans six decades and countless hits. They are also one of the most photographed and documented bands in history, with thousands of images capturing their performances, their personalities, and their lifestyles.
But there are still some photos of the Rolling Stones that have never been seen by the public, until now. A collection of rare and intimate photos of the band, taken by their close friend and photographer Peter Webb, has been discovered in a south London loft, after being lost for over 50 years. The photos offer a glimpse into the private and candid moments of the Rolling Stones, during a pivotal and creative period of their career.
How Peter Webb Became Friends and Photographers with the Rolling Stones
Peter Webb was a young and talented photographer, who had studied at the Royal College of Art in London, and had worked for magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. He had also developed a passion for music, and had photographed some of the biggest names in the industry, such as David Bowie, Bob Dylan, and Jimi Hendrix.
In 1971, Webb was introduced to the Rolling Stones by his friend and fellow photographer Gered Mankowitz, who had been working with the band for several years. Webb was invited to join the band at their country house in Hampshire, where they were recording their album Sticky Fingers. Webb quickly became friends with the band members, especially Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, who shared his love for photography and art.
Webb spent several days with the band, photographing them in various settings and situations, such as in the studio, in the garden, in the pool, and in the pub. He also photographed them in a group portrait, which became the cover of their album. Webb captured the band’s relaxed and natural mood, as well as their individual and collective charisma and style.
How Peter Webb Lost and Found His Photos of the Rolling Stones
Webb’s photos of the Rolling Stones were a success, and he was commissioned to do more work for the band, such as their tour posters and their concert programmes. He also planned to publish a book of his photos, which he titled Fully Finished. However, his plans were interrupted by a tragic event, which changed his life and his career.
In 1972, Webb was involved in a serious car accident, which left him in a coma for several weeks. He suffered severe brain injuries, which affected his memory and his abilities. He had to relearn how to speak, read, and write, and he had to give up his photography career. He also lost track of his photos of the Rolling Stones, which he had stored in a cardboard box in his friend’s loft.
Webb’s photos remained forgotten and hidden for over 50 years, until they were rediscovered by chance in 2023, when his friend decided to clear out his loft. Webb was astonished and delighted to see his photos again, and he decided to share them with the world. He contacted the Proud Galleries in London, which agreed to exhibit and sell his photos, as well as to publish his book, which he finally completed after half a century.
How Peter Webb’s Photos of the Rolling Stones Reveal a Different Side of the Band
Webb’s photos of the Rolling Stones are not only a testament to his talent and friendship, but also a treasure trove of unseen and unknown aspects of the band. They reveal a different side of the Rolling Stones, which contrasts with their public and popular image. They reveal a side that is more:
Personal and intimate. Webb’s photos show the band’s private and personal moments, such as their conversations, their jokes, their hobbies, and their relationships. They show the band’s human and emotional side, such as their smiles, their laughs, their hugs, and their kisses. They show the band’s individual and unique personalities, such as their expressions, their gestures, their poses, and their outfits.
Creative and experimental. Webb’s photos show the band’s creative and experimental process, such as their recording, their rehearsing, their composing, and their improvising. They show the band’s artistic and innovative side, such as their instruments, their equipment, their props, and their effects. They show the band’s collaborative and cooperative spirit, such as their feedback, their input, their support, and their harmony.
Relaxed and natural. Webb’s photos show the band’s relaxed and natural mood, such as their calmness, their comfort, their ease, and their spontaneity. They show the band’s casual and simple style, such as their jeans, their T-shirts, their boots, and their hats. They show the band’s authentic and genuine self, such as their unfiltered, unedited, and unposed shots.
Webb’s photos of the Rolling Stones are a rare and valuable collection, which offer a new and fresh perspective on the band, and which enrich and enhance their legacy and their legend. They are a gift and a tribute to the band, and to their fans, who can now enjoy and appreciate them for the first time.
