Mick Rock, one of the most important rock photographers of all time died on November 18th after complications of COVID-19. He was 72 years old.
Mick started his career as a student in Cambridge after borrowing a camera from a class mate and started shooting the local rock scene and getting acquainted with Syd Barett and Mick Jagger’s brother, Chris.
Except from being the official photographer for David Bowie Rock also worked for some of the biggest rock bands and artists like Queen, T. Rex, Syd Barrett, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Joan Jett, Talking Heads, Roxy Music, Thin Lizzy, Geordie, Mötley Crüe and Blondie, earning the title “The Man Who Shot The ‘70s”.
His photos were used in several famous album covers such as Lou Reed’s “Transformer” and “Coney Island Baby”, Iggy and the Stooges’ “Raw Power”, Queen’s “Queen II” and “Sheer Heart Attack”, Geordie’s “Don’t Be Fooled by the Name”, the Ramones’ “End Of The Century” and Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll”.
The following text was published on his Facebook page:
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share our beloved psychedelic renegade Mick Rock has made the Jungian journey to the other side. Those who had the pleasure of existing in his orbit, know that Mick was always so much more than ’The Man Who Shot The 70s.’ He was a photographic poet — a true force of nature who spent his days doing exactly what he loved, always in his own delightfully outrageous way.
The stars seemed to effortlessly align for Mick when he was behind the camera; feeding off of the unique charisma of his subjects electrified and energized him. His intent always intense. His focus always total. A man fascinated with image, he absorbed visual beings through his lens and immersed himself in their art, thus creating some of the most magnificent photographs rock music has ever seen.
To know Mick was to love him. He was a mythical creature; the likes of which we shall never experience again. Let us not mourn the loss, but instead celebrate the fabulous life and extraordinary career of Michael David Rock. While you do so in your own way, we must ask that the privacy of his nearest and dearest be respected at this time. Therefore, there will be no further comments.
Photo: Nathalie Rock
