Baron Wolman: The Rolling Stone Years

Overview

Baron Wolman was the first official photographer of Rolling Stone magazine, and shot roll after roll of rock 'n' roll legends during the late sixties and early seventies. He’s just launched a book called Every Picture Tells A Story: The Rolling Stone Years in conjunction with an exhibition of iconic shots at the Blender Gallery in Paddington. This means that until October 15, you can get close-up and intimate with Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, the Who, and even AC/DC.

Blender’s the perfect space for Baron’s photographic record of rock’s golden age — the gallery prides itself on working with both local and international music photographers. Baron’s shots are not just of musos on stage, but also in repose or on the road at a time when stars were more accessible and less manufactured. The scores of photos are accompanied by candid commentary and first-hand reminiscences, providing an authentic account of the halcyon days of rock ‘n’ roll.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Baron’s images of legends from Miles Davis to Muddy Waters capture an energy that Rolling Stone magazine made accessible to music lovers everywhere. Go see this exhibition of inspiring and iconic photos taken at a time when pictures of musicians could be impromptu, not media-managed.