American R&B and Soul singer James Brown performs on an episode of the television show 'Thicke of the Night,' Los Angeles, California, 1983.
For more than 40 years, Bob Gruen’s name has been synonymous with rock and roll. From taking early photos on tour with Ike and Tina Turner and capturing the early CBGB/Max’s Kansas City scene, to hanging out with John and Yoko and covering current stadium rockers such as Green Day, Gruen has always been at the right place at the right time. As Alice Cooper says, what makes Gruen’s work so memorable is that “he always got the money shot.” Gruen covered the New York City music scene, taking photographs that have gained worldwide recognition – Led Zeppelin to the Rolling Stones, Elvis to James Brown, Bob Dylan to Bob Marley and John Lennon to Johnny Rotten. Shortly after John Lennon moved to New York in 1971, Bob became John and Yoko’s personal photographer and friend, capturing their working life, private moments and creating two iconic images – John Lennon wearing the New York City t-shirt and, standing in front of the Statue of Liberty making the peace sign. John Lennon and Yoko Ono,1977 Kiss, NYC, 1975 Iggy Pop and Debbie Harry, Toronto, 1977 Ramones, 1975 John Lennon, NYC, 1980 Sex Pistols, Luxemburg, 1977 Kiss, Kyoto, Japan, 1977 Aerosmith, NYC, 1974 Elvis Presley, 1972 Debbie Harry, 1977 Johnny Rotten, 1976 Cherie Currie, Runaways, 1976 Johnny Rotten, 1976 Elton John, 1986 James Brown, 1980 Mick Jagger, 1975 Mick Jagger, 1975 Sid Vicious, 1977 Andy Warhol and Mick Jagger, 1978 David Bowie, 1974 Alice Cooper, 1973 Paul Stanley, FL, 1979 Led Zeppelin, 1975 John Lennon, NYC, 1974 New York Dolls, 1973 Rod Stewart, 1972 Gene Simmons, 1977 Runaways, 1976 Paul McCartney, 1976 Debbie Harry - Blondie, Coney Island, NY, 1977 Mick Jagger, 1978 Michael Jackson, 1977 Chuck Berry, 1973 Pete Townshend and Mick Jagger, Philadelphia, 1982 David Johansen, Bob Geldof, Andy Warhol, NYC, 1979 Bay City Rollers, 1975 The Clash, 1979 Iggy Pop and Debbie Harry being photographed by Chris Stein in New York, 1982 The Clash, NYC, 1982 Bob Marley, 1976 (Images © Bob Gruen)
Front row to the greatest rock shows in history, presented by Getty Images.
Soul singer James Brown sings in to a vintage microphone as he performs onstage in 1962 in New York, New York.
The Godfather of Soul made anything look cool.
James Brown, American funk soul singer, songwriter and producer, performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Yes, really.
CHICAGO (Reuters) - A climate-controlled archive in Chicago holds 5 million images of what could be called the African American experience since 1942, including exceptional, intimate photographs of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., singer Billie Holiday and boxer Muhammad Ali.
James Brown died in 2006 at the age of 73
Bleddyn Butcher’s revealing photos of Nick Cave document the singer’s past 30 years, from the Birthday Party to the Bad Seeds
Funk maestro Maceo Parker reveals his mission to spread love, reflects on the life and death of his friend Prince, and shares some stories from an extraordinary life well lived, featuring James Brown, George Clinton and Bootsy Collins.
500 Greatest Songs of All Time: From the Beatles and John Lennon to Bob Dylan and Aretha Franklin.
James Brown performs on stage at Wembley Arena on April 18th, 1986 in London, United Kingdom.