Elton John by Terry O'Neill: The definitive portrait with unseen images

by Terry O'Neill

Overview

"Looking at Terry's photographs is like gazing through a window at the most extraordinary and exciting moments of my life. I'm so glad he was with us throughout the madness: in his evocative and stylish photos he captured those moments as no other photographer could." - Elton John


Elton John and iconic photographer Terry O'Neill worked together for many years, taking in excess of 5,000 photographs. From intimate backstage shots to huge stadium concerts, the photographs in this book represent the very best of this archive, with most of the images being shown here for the first time.

O'Neill has drawn on his personal relationship with Elton John to write the book's introduction and captions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781788401487
Publisher:	Octopus Books
Publication date:	11/05/2019
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	434,348
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Terry O'Neill is one of the world's most collected photographers with work hanging in national art galleries and private collections worldwide. From presidents to pop stars, he has photographed the frontline of fame for more than six decades.

O'Neill began his career at the birth of the 1960s. While other photographers concentrated on earthquakes, wars and politics, O'Neill realised that youth culture was a breaking news story on a global scale and began chronicling the emerging faces of film, fashion and music who would go on to define the Swinging Sixties. By 1965 he was being commissioned by the biggest magazines and newspapers in the world.
No other living photographer has embraced the span of fame, capturing the icons of our age from Winston Churchill to Nelson Mandela, from Frank Sinatra and Elvis to Amy Winehouse, from Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot to Nicole Kidman, as well as every James Bond from Sean C onnery to Daniel Craig. He photographed The Beatles and The Rolling Stones when they were still struggling young bands in 1963, pioneered backstage reportage photography with David Bowie, Elton John, The Who, Eric Clapton and Chuck Berry and his images have adorned historic rock albums, movie posters and international magazine covers.

Editorial Reviews

11/11/2019

In this impressive work, photographer O’Neill (Bowie by O’Neill) presents highlights from his more than 5,000 photographs of Elton John. A portrait photo shoot at John’s home in 1972 “led to a working relationship that has spanned more than 45 years.” O’Neill’s exciting concert shots show John performing at Wembley Stadium, where the audience “topped 70,000,” and later at Dodger Stadium, where John donned a sequined Dodgers baseball uniform. There is a notable selection of intimate photographs, such as a “reoccurring theme” of John lying in bed, showing off his extensive shoe collection, and posing with his mother and grandmother, that give readers a glimpse into his personal life. Other highlights include shots of John modeling his flamboyant wardrobe, including a King Henry VIII–inspired outfit complete with star-shaped glasses, and a navy butterfly suit designed by Bob Mackie; several photos show him with such musicians as Diana Ross, Paul McCartney, and Cher. O’Neill closes the volume with a series of vibrant photos that were used for John’s costume auction catalogue each of which are curiously both in color and in black and white. This is a perfect gift for Elton John fans as well as those who have an interest in 1970s fashion at its most outré. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly