Backstage Photos of Eddie Van Halen at the Metro Center in March 1986

Van Halen performed at the Metro Center in Rockford, Illinois, on March 16, 1986. This event was notable as it took place shortly before the official start of their legendary 5150 Tour, which officially kicked off in Shreveport, Louisiana, on March 27, 1986.

The concert featured the debut era of “Van Hagar,” with Sammy Hagar having recently replaced David Lee Roth as the lead vocalist. While the tour’s official opening night is often cited as March 27, the Rockford show (along with a performance in Rosemont, Illinois, on March 15) served as critical early performances or “warm-ups” for the new lineup.

Renowned rock photographer Paul Natkin captured several iconic images of Eddie Van Halen both onstage and backstage during this specific date at the Metro Center. The show occurred just eight days before the release of the 5150 album on March 24, 1986.

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Rita Moreno: A Living Legend and EGOT Icon

Rita Moreno is a true trailblazer and a living legend in the entertainment industry. Born in Puerto Rico, she moved to New York City as a child and eventually became one of the few performers to achieve the prestigious EGOT status (winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award). She is perhaps most famous for her iconic portrayal of Anita in the 1961 film version of West Side Story, a role that earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Throughout her career spanning over seven thập kỷ, Moreno has broken numerous racial and cultural barriers for Latino performers. Beyond her acting talent, she is widely admired for her resilience and her outspoken advocacy for social justice. Even in her 90s, she continues to captivate audiences with her energy and grace, proving that true talent knows no age.

Take a look at these beautiful photos to see portraits of a young Rita Moreno in the 1950s and 1960s.

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Paul Newman Eating Ice Cream With a Cat on His Shoulder at the Griffith Park Zoo in Los Angeles, 1956

These photos were taken at the Griffith Park Zoo in Los Angeles in 1956. The humor, of course, comes from the clear irony of the sign: “NO DOGS OR PETS Allowed in Zoo.” Despite the explicit rule, Paul Newman is standing right next to the sign with a cat draped over his shoulder like a stole, calmly eating an ice cream.

The Siamese cat, named Louis XIV, actually belonged to the photographer, Sanford Roth, who took the pictures. Louis XIV was a bit of a celebrity in his own right and had also been photographed with James Dean the previous year.

Federico Fellini and Giulietta Masina: A Symphony of Love and Art

The partnership between director Federico Fellini and actress Giulietta Masina was far more than a celebrated marriage, it was the creative heartbeat of post-war Italian cinema.

Married for fifty years, they shared a profound “director-muse” relationship that yielded some of the most poetic films ever made. Fellini often remarked that Masina was his greatest inspiration, a “little fairy” who brought a human, soul-stirring dimension to his surreal and often eccentric cinematic worlds. Through her iconic roles in masterpieces like La Strada and Nights of Cabiria, Masina became the emotional anchor for Fellini’s vision, translating his complex fantasies into universal stories of hope and suffering.

Their bond was famously captured at the 1993 Academy Awards, where a tearful Masina watched as Fellini received his Honorary Oscar and told her, “Please, Giulietta, stop crying!” Together, they remain the ultimate symbol of how romantic devotion can be transformed into timeless, world-class art.

Enjoy these vintage photos capturing the beautiful moments shared by Federico Fellini and Giulietta Masina.

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Amazing Photographs of Etta James Performing on Stage in the 1970s

“When I look out at the people and they look at me and they’re smiling, then I know that I’m loved. That is the time when I have no worries, no problems.” – Etta James (1938–2012)

In the 1970s, Etta James’ stage presence was a fascinating paradox of vulnerability and raw, aggressive power. While the decade was a period of intense personal struggle for her, it also captured her at what many critics consider the height of her “earthy” vocal powers.

By the 1970s, the “little girl” quality of her early career had vanished, replaced by a deeper, whiskey-cured growl. On stage, she was often described as the “Earth Mother”—a powerhouse who commanded the room with a feisty, no-nonsense personality.

Performances were often gritty and “churchy,” blending gospel-infused passion with the “hot-blooded eroticism” of the blues. She was known for intense audience engagement. In smaller venues, like the nightclubs she played in Oakland, she was known to drop to her knees and sing directly to fans at the front tables.

Her 1970s sets moved away from the orchestral “At Last” polish toward a tougher, more eclectic sound. She leaned heavily into funky R&B and swampy rock. Key live tracks from this era included nine-minute-plus versions of “Respect Yourself” and her own anthem “W-O-M-A-N.”

She didn’t just sing the songs; she “worked” them, often extending tracks into long, improvisational grooves that allowed her band to stretch out while she manipulated the crowd’s energy with sass and verve.

It’s important to note that her 1970s performances were often a “comeback” effort. She spent the early part of the decade battling addiction and was in and out of rehab. By 1974, after a stint in a psychiatric hospital and rehab, her performances took on a new level of “survivalist” energy.

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1933 Harley-Davidson Motorcycles on the Beach in Milwaukee for a Photo Shoot

In 1933, Harley-Davidson designers created a one year only paint job which is arguably the best that has ever come out of Milwaukee. Even back in the 1930s, Harley knew that nothing looks better on a motorcycle than beautiful women and if you throw in some sand and sun, you’ve got a recipe for success. So, Harley trucked a couple of their new ’33 models down to Bradford Beach in Milwaukee for a photo shoot.

Both motorcycles pictured are powered by 74” sidevalve engines mated to hand-shifted three-speed transmissions. The 1933 model year was one of the lowest production years in Harley history, with only 2671 big twins produced and a total production of 3703 units (this number includes singles and small twins). Of the two motorcycles used in the photo shoot, the sidecar model, is the rarest with only 164 being manufactured. These low productions numbers were a result of the Great Depression, which drastically cut sales for Harley-Davidson. It is likely that Harley hoped that their new “flashy” paint job would help attract more customers. Unfortunately, most of these photos were deemed too risque for an ad campaign, but one did make it on the cover of the Enthusiast.

(via Harley Davidson Forums)

Rarely Seen Photos of a Very Young Annie Lennox in the 1960s and 1970s

Annie Lennox is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving moderate success in the late 1970s as part of the new wave band the Tourists, she and fellow musician Dave Stewart went on to achieve international success in the 1980s as Eurythmics. Appearing in the 1983 music video for “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” with orange cropped hair and wearing a man's lounge suit, the BBC wrote, “all eyes were on Annie Lennox, the singer whose powerful androgynous look defied the male gaze.”

Lennox was born on Christmas Day 1954 in Torry, Aberdeen, Scotland. She went to the Aberdeen High School for Girls (which since became Harlaw Academy secondary school) where she was encouraged by her parents to explore her artistic qualities. She excelled at music, poetry and artwork. Here she learned to play the flute and the piano. She also sang in the choir and later played in symphony orchestras and military bands, and each year took part in the Aberdeen Music Festival. Lennox attended Dalcroze Eurhythmics classes while at high school. Eurhythmics, with its English spelling, is an approach to music education developed by the Swiss composer Emile Jaques-Dalcroze. The word Eurhythmics is derived from Greek and means “good flow.” The band, Eurythmics, adopted the French spelling.

In 1971, Lennox began studying on a three-year Music Performance degree course at the Royal Academy of Music in London. It is one of a small number of quite elite British music conservatories predominantly for classical music study at third level. At college in London she studied flute, piano and harpsichord for nearly three years. Although Lennox studied for close to the duration of the course she did not finish her studies at the college. She found the amount of time devoted to music practice required to become a professional classical musician obsessive and felt that she was unconnected with the “whole cultural aspect.” Lennox lived on a student grant and worked at part-time jobs for extra money. She was unhappy with the direction she was going in and doubted her own talent when compared to her student contemporaries while at the Royal Academy and deliberated on what other direction she could take.

Lennox’s flute teacher’s final report stated: “Ann has not always been sure of where to direct her efforts, though lately she has been more committed. She is very, very able, however.” Two years later, Lennox reported to the academy: “I have had to work as a waitress, barmaid, and shop assistant to keep me when not in musical work.” Lennox attended the Dalcroze Eurhythmics Spring Course of 1974. She also played and sang with a few bands, such as Windsong, during the period of her course.

In 2017, the academy awarded her an honorary degree of Doctorate. In her acceptance speech of her honorary Doctorate, Lennox said, “Many of my life experiences can be described as unconventional, idiosyncratic and synchronistic – as this event [graduation ceremony] proves to be no exception. By rights, I feel I’m not entitled to be here – but as John Lennon once famously said… ‘Life is what happens to you while you’re making other plans.’”

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