PBS to Air 6-Part Series, ‘Icon: Music Through the Lens’

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Jimi Hendrix (Photo © Baron Wolman, via PBS)

PBS has announced the premiere of Icon: Music Through the Lens, a new six-part series that exposes the eye-opening, thrilling world of live music photography.

Icon follows the lives and wild experiences of the artists who documented popular music in images. The series will run on Fridays, July 16 to August 13 at 9 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS Video app. Watch the trailer below.

From the May 26 announcement: Featuring irreverent interviews with some of the most famous music photographers, musicians, gallerists, music journalists and social commentators, Icon: Music Through the Lens captures what it was like on both sides of the camera when the most recognizable images in history were taken. Via studio portraits, record sleeves, coffee table books, along with magazine photo shoots, fine art, and images taken at live shows and exhibitions, viewers will learn about the origins of these enduring, iconic images and the future of music photography.

Watch the teaser trailer

Icon is a dream come true for me,” said Gered Mankowitz, the series’ executive producer and renowned music photographer. “I have been committed to music photography since 1963 and have been fighting to get the genre taken seriously as an art form in its own right for most of that time.”

Watch the trailer for the episode, “On the Road”

Photographers interviewed include industry legends Jill Furmanovsky, Mick Rock, Danny Clinch, Terry O’Neill, Henry Diltz, Bob Gruen, Rachael Wright, Deborah Feingold, Laura Levine, Baron Wolman, Neal Preston, and Lynn Goldsmith.

Related: Henry Diltz talked to us about the early ’70s Los Angeles music scene

Watch the trailer for the episode, “On the Record”

Musicians who offer their point of view include Ziggy Marley, Lars Ulrich, Alice Cooper, Nick Mason, and Julian Lennon.

The various episodes cover concert photography including the origins of the “three songs, no flash” rule, album cover art, magazine cover photos, gallery exhibitions, and more.

Icon: Music Through the Lens was produced and directed by Dick Carruthers, whose career includes award-winning work with many of the artists featured in the series such as Oasis, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones, along with Gered Mankowitz and Andy Saunders serving as executive producers.

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  1. Daddy Al
    #1 Daddy Al 28 May, 2021, 01:02

    I have a great historical collection of newspapers, magazines and book dealing rock n roll dating back to 1956 Elvis Presley newspapers and magazines. About 400 books on music and over 100 on The Beatles. Sold most of my 4,500 records but still have about 5,000 CD’s. So I know what I am talking about lol.

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