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The Irony and Drug Related Themes of Photographs of the Rolling Stones ARTE 214 DECLAN RILEY

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The Irony and Drug Related Themes of Photographs of the Rolling Stones ARTE 214 DECLAN RILEY The Irony and Drug Related Themes of photographs of The Rolling Stones ARTE 214 DECLAN RILEY For our assignment we were tasked with comparing 2 photographs displayed in class. For this assignment I have chosen to compare similar photos; one of Keith Richards taken by Ethan Russel in 1972, ironically posing in front of an anti-drug poster, and the other, a portrait of Mick Jagger taken by Annie Lebovitz also taken in 1972. In this comparison, not only will I be discussing comparisons and contrasts between these two pieces but I will be highlighting the underlying theme of irony that both photos present. In 1962, the world was introduced to a band that would go on to the one of the most iconic and influential rock bands to date. Formed in London, The Rolling Stones appeared on the music scene around the same time that The Beatles were also growing in popularity. Driven by founders Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones started locally in London quickly became a worldwide phenomenon. Still a band to this day The Rolling Stone have begun to play less shows and members have begun to slow down with old age and have concentrations on their own personal music.1 The Rolling Stones are regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of all time and not only influenced the music industry but also have become a permanent fixture in ‘pop-culture’. As the photos I have chosen begin to be examined, described and compared; it is important to keep in mind the immense stardom that these musicians experienced. May it be the raving fans, the copious amounts of sex, drugs and alcohol involved or even the public image that these figured have/had; these individuals transformed from men from London with musical talent, to pieces of art in eyes of many. Firstly, we will examine the portrait of Keith Richards taken by Ethan Russel printed on a gelatin silver print. Russell, a renowned photographer, is most known for being the only photographer to document The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and The Who; three of the most iconic and influential rock bands of all time. In this piece Richards is leaning against a water fountain. In an article for Rolling Stone, the popular pop-culture magazine, Russell discusses the story behind the photo. He talks of how there was a mistake made with customs while in Canada. Russell talks about how he never told any members of the band what to do during photography, that all his shots were very candid, but when in the airport, he recognized the artistic element to this 1 “Rolling Stones Biography,” Encyclopedia of World Biography, accessed November 22, 2016, http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ro-Sc/Rolling-Stones.html picture and asked Keith Richards to pose in front of it.2 This black and white print doesn’t present much in terms of depth as the picture is of a figure up against a wall; but we are presented with the contrast of Richards white outfit and black sunglasses and the blacks and whites that are present themselves in the background with the poster and walls and lights. Adding to the photograph’s artistic elements, the poster reads, “Patience Please… A Drug Free America Comes First!” which is ironic as it was publicly known that Keith Richards was a frequent drug user and could argued that Richards struggled with drugs to the point where recreational user became habitual use with elements of addiction present. In a paper written by Marcus Collins about The Rolling Stones and the effects of their music on society, Collin discusses the drug use of Richards multiple times. Richards apparently saw his body as a laboratory, the drugs as a batches of chemicals and his experience while high to be something of a science project.3 Collins also talks of how all members of the band became dependant on drugs at one time or another, with the possible exception of Mick Jagger.4 In 2008, renowned photojournalist Annie Leibovitz published a book, Annie Leibovitz at Work, in which she discussed the assignments she had as she began her rise to fame. At one point in the book Leibovitz discusses some of her most iconic pieces of work, which includes the portrait 2 “Ethan Russell's Iconic Images of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and More.” Rolling Stone, July 30, 2012, http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/ethan-russells-iconic-images-of-the- beatles-the-rolling-stones-and-more-20120730/keith-richards-0584382 3 Marcus Collins, “Sucking in the Seventies? The Rolling Stones and the aftermath of the permissive society” Popular Music History 7, no. 1 (2012): 16, doi:10.1558/pomh.v7i1.5. 4 Collins, “Sucking in the Seventies? The Rolling Stones and the aftermath of the permissive society” 16. of Mick Jagger taken in an elevator in 1975. Leibovitz was approached by The Rolling Stones to be the tour photographer, and she took the position without any hesitation. While working with the band, not only did she take some of their most iconic photographs, but she was also surrounded by other relevant and influential artists, such as Andy Warhol and the members of The Factory and even fellow photographer Ethan Russel. Annie Leibovitz has many famous pieces, ranging from portraits of celebrities to landscape and artistic shots such as the home of Ralph Waldo Emerson, and the cabin that Henry Thoreau isolated himself in.5 Her mission, of finding her way back to her initial interests in photography tied with a ‘wish-list’ of photographs she wanted to capture, Leibovitz published a monograph titled Pilgrimage. Though her images published in Pilgrimage are very different from the images and events she captured during her time with The Rolling Stones, her work with the band was influential to her development as a photojournalist. When examining the photo of Mick Jagger, in comparison with the one of Keith Richards, we find and feel more emotion with in the image pf Jagger. With similar elements in both images, such as the squareness of the lines, or the natural framing that the backdrops of both pictures and the darkened grey coloring from the black and white; one can easily draw comparison. But looking further to draw a contrast, in the portrait of Mick Jagger, we see a man who looks dishevelled; an image lacking warmth. Compared with Richards in his picture where we see a cool, casual, handsome man; with Jagger we see a man with wiry hair and running make-up, dressed in what appears to be a towel and bathrobe. At first observation, we could tie this look with the possibility of being ‘strung out’ on drugs, or recovering from a long event of partying but ironically enough, the look of dishevelment spurs from the onstage act of Jagger 5 Annie Leibovitz, Pilgrimage (New York: Random House, 2011) dumping buckets of water over his head.6 This fact tying with the idea of irony, comes to light as we exam both photographs and observe the theme of drug use that ties pictures of The Rolling Stones together. Though it is known that both Richards and Jagger used drugs, if the images above were both presented to a crowd, one might assume that Jagger was a more frequent user based on his appearance in the elevator. In conclusion, when comparing the images of Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, we can identity not only the artistic themes that both these images share and elements unique to them, but we can also understand the significance of them and the themes that tie these images and others of The Rolling Stones together. References 6 Annie Leibovitz, “Annie Gets Her Shot.” Vanity Fair, October 2008, http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2008/10/annie_excerpt200810. Collins, Marcus. "Sucking in The Seventies? The Rolling Stones and The Aftermath of the Permissive Society". Popular Music History 7, no. 1 (2012): 16. doi:10.1558/pomh.v7i1.5. "Ethan Russell’s Iconic Images of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and More." Rolling Stone. Last Modified July 30, 2012. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/ethan-russells-iconic-images-of-the- beatles-the-rolling-stones-and-more-20120730/keith-richards-0584382. Leibovitz, Annie. "Annie Gets Her Shot." Vanity Fair, October 2008 http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2008/10/annie_excerpt200810. Leibovitz, Annie. Pilgrimage. New York: Random House, 2011. “Rolling Stones Biography.” Encyclopedia of World Biography. Accessed November 22, 2016. http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ro-Sc/Rolling-Stones.html. .
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