14 Iconic Rock ‘n’ Roll Portraits Taken by Bob Gruen

Bob Gruen is one of the most well known and respected photographers in Rock'n Roll. He began making photos of Rock Stars forty years ago. Bob Gruen has been documenting the rock scene, capturing now iconic images of The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Led Zeppelin, New York Dolls, Blondie, The Ramones, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono among others and continues to work today with current acts Green Day and the Strypes. Bob Gruen says of his career, “Photography has led me to some great experiences and enduring relationships.”

"Car Crash Debbie" - Bob Gruen's portrait of Debbie Harry of Blondie, taken at a wrecked car on 6th Avenue and 50th Street in New York City, September 1976.

July 25, 1965: Bob Dylan performs at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I. - with an electric guitar. It was a day of infamy for some Dylan fans, but it was also an important day for photographer Bob Gruen, who has just acquired his first press pass.

From left: Arthur Kane, David Johansen, Jerry Nolan, Johnny Thunders and Syl Sylvain of the New York Dolls, in Los Angeles, September 1973.

John Lennon pictured on a rooftop in New York City, August 29, 1974. Gruen became Lennon's photographer after he moved to New York. He told Mason he had given Lennon a New York City T-shirt, and photographed him on a rooftop.

The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger at The Record Plant in New York City, May 7, 1972.

This multiple-image exposure captures the energy of Tina Turner on stage at the Honka Monka Room in New York City, July 8, 1970.

From left: John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, in New York, July 24, 1973. "It was kind of a snapshot," Gruen said. "But it turned out to be one of the most iconic pictures that, you know, really sums up the excess of the '70s. The plane's so big it doesn't even fit in the picture."

Chuck Berry kisses his guitar, on stage at the Rock & Roll Revival concert at New York's Madison Square Garden, October 15, 1971.

"Brain of a Popstar" immortalizes a meeting of the minds of Surrealist Salvador Dali and the surreal Alice Cooper, in New York, February 25, 1973.

From left: Johnny Rotten, Sid Vicious, Steve Jones and Paul Cook of The Sex Pistols playing with straws at a cafe in Luxembourg, November 1977.

Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones and Tina Turner, backstage at the Ritz in New York City, January 1983.

From left: Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of Kiss, at the "Dressed to Kill" album cover shoot at West 23rd Street and 8th Avenue in New York City, October 26, 1974.

Joan Jett of The Runaways, pictured on a bed at the Sunset Marquis hotel in Los Angeles, December 1976.

From Left: Joe Strummer, Mick Jones and Paul Simonon of The Clash, at Top of The Rock in New York City, June 1981.

(Photos © Bob Gruen)