Another sad loss - Mick Rock - THE photographer of 70's rock artists - has died. He was credited with Art Direction & Photography on Axe Victim, and I suspect photographed Bill quite often? Be good to see those photographs and hear Bill's recollections of his collaborator.
top of page
bottom of page
fanx bill , a really nice narrative, so many people are not recognised for what they are and how they changed things, but nearly forgotten except for real memories of the situations that gave us a lot of joy, because things were just as they are now, that was then, this is the same now!!! love to you and the family, and god bless your mum and dad, always.
I was alerted to Mick's sad passing this morning by my youngest daughter Elle who posted a tribute to him on her Instagram pages. Mick photographed her and my son Elliot some years back for a Tommy Hilfigger advertising promotion which featured the offspring of various rock musicians.
Of course Mick and I go back to the very first Be Bop Deluxe album which featured Mick's photographs of the band on it. I remember those sessions well. I wasn't keen on the idea, for the back cover shot, of me being made up to resemble the skull on the album's front cover but was more happy with the interior double fold photo' (taken in London's Kensington Gardens,) which followed my brief of something more poetic and 'Cocteau-like' . That photo' showed me with a rose reflecting in a mirror, it was more suitable to my sensibilities.
Those were innocent days, to a degree, when having our first album released by a major label was a very big deal indeed. Having someone of Mick Rock's reputation taking our photograph was equally special.
Another thing of interest is that Mick's first wife, Sheila Rock, photographed me for 'The Love That Whirls' album and also for 'Getting The Holy Ghost Across.' And, after I married Emiko, I discovered that Sheila is a friend of Emi's too.
So shocked to hear of Mick's passing, he was an important and unique photographer of the rock scene of the '70s and will be missed. I say it so often these days but the greats of my generation are coming to the end of their time on Earth, and some leave us way too early...😥
if there was a photographer to take great snaps and shots of the great'z, it was the phenomenal mick rock yeah!!!! god bless you mick.
As I was saying, Mr. Rock is responsible for three of my favourite record covers since childhood: Madcap Laughs, Raw Power and Transformer. He had the gift of capturing and conveying moments.
Here's a bit of history that I hope Bill doesn't mind me putting here, in view of Mick and his memory:
A poster I sent away for in '72 from The Sun....a still from Mick Rock's John I'm Only Dancing video from Sept/Oct '72 - I think it cost 20 p inc. (as they used to say) postage!
It was on my bedroom wall, and then, as Bowie gained momentum, it was surrounded by loads of other pictures & posters, many taken by Mick.....happy days!
Terribly sad.....he was responsible for so many iconic Bowie images, also the 'Life On Mars' video. He photographed so many other people of the time, and was a great raconteur of his times and experiences within a golden era of music.....
A real loss - I am really upset at this one.....I have his wonderful Ziggy book and will look at it tonight with fresh eyes, and a longing for what has passed, and an era which will never be repeated.......RIP Mick - great work!