New Book, ‘The Rolling Stones: Icons,’ Features Rare, Unpublished Photos

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A new book, The Rolling Stones: Icons, has been published by ACC Art Books. The hardcover collection, more than 300 pages, features, according to a press release, “Imagery from some of the most eminent names in photography, alongside the photographers’ own memories and reflections. From Terry O’Neill’s images of the young, uncompromising new band taken in Tin Pan Alley, through Michael Brennan’s photos of their creative peak in the ’70s, and on to the stadium tours of the 21st-century, as shot by Greg Brennan.” The book was published in the U.K. on Oct. 9, 2023; it arrives in the U.S. on Oct. 30.

Also featured are images taken by founding member, bassist and photographer Bill Wyman, as well as Linda McCartney, who, working as an editorial assistant for Town & Country, was assigned to interview and photograph the band as they chartered a yacht along the Manhattan coastline.”

From the book The Rolling Stones: Icons (Photo by Terry O’Neill; used with permission)

The book’s intro was written by veteran music journalist Harvey Kubernik, who concludes his piece by saying, “One common goal was achieved by the documentarians housed in this volume: they preserved images we collectively get to visit and see again.”

Other contributors include Michael Ward, Gered Mankowitz, Michael Joseph, “Spanish Tony” Sanchez, Dominique Tarlé, Ed Caraeff, Barry Schultz, Al Satterwhite, Ken Regan, Brian Aris, Denis O’Regan and Douglas Kirkland.

Mick Jagger, from the book The Rolling Stones: Icons (Photo by Gered Mankowitz; used with permission)

Wyman, quoted in the intro during an interview with Kubernik, says, “Our first photos were usually in black and white. The first six years of TV was all black and white because we didn’t have color in England until 1968. All the shows like Ready,Steady Go! were all shot in black and white. The band were a black-and-white band. They were a mono band sound-wise so we always tried to mix in a mono feel. We practiced. Then doing them little clubs in the beginning. Going through all of that learning process, that apprenticeship. Starting off not thinking about being rich and famous, having a career, making a record or going on TV or touring America. You can see in those early pictures on stage we were all close together.”

The Rolling Stones: Icons, says the press release, “brings together the greatest photographs ever taken of the greatest rock ’n’ roll band of all time. The result is the most important anthology of the Rolling Stones’ images ever compiled, featuring the iconic, the awe inspiring and the surprising.”

The Rolling Stones: Icons arrived in the U.K. just days before the group’s first album of new material in 18 years, Hackney Diamonds.