A new show in London unveils never-before-seen photos of rock superstars the Rolling Stones, taken by an official photographer to the band and hidden away in an attic for decades. “The Rolling Stones – Elegantly Wasted,” at London’s J/M Gallery, showcases snaps by Tony Sanchez—known affectionately as Spanish Tony—who worked as guitarist Keith Richards’ assistant for eight years, sticking close to the band throughout the ’60s and ’70s, including during their time in self-imposed exile in the South of France, when they fled the Labour government’s 93 percent tax on high earners.
Sanchez met the band via the art dealer Robert Fraser, and became one of two official photographers for the 1969 Stones in the Park festival along with Michael Cooper, documenting the band throughout their rise to fame. In 1979 the photographer released a memoir about his time with the band——which featured a selection of photographs he had taken over the last two decades, along with anecdotes of drug taking, international flights, and nights out with the Beatles.
Tony Sanchez, Onstage at The Rock and Roll Circus (1968). Courtesy of Spanish Tony Media and Bayliss Rare Books.
After Sanchez’s death in 2000, his collection of photographs went by inheritance to his son Steve, whose sons Nick and Matt later went searching in Steve’s attic for the photos. The treasure trove they found includes images of wild parties, iconic performances, and behind-the-scenes views of famous magazine photo shoots, as well as more intimate portraits.
The Rolling Stones formed in London in 1962, with original members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (who had met at five years old in primary school in Dartford), Brian Jones, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts. Over the band’s seven-decade career, they have sold over 200 million records. The opening of “Elegantly Wasted” falls between the recent release of the band’s 31st studio album, (their first since the 2021 death of drummer Watts) and the start of their 18-date American tour on April 28.
J/M Gallery have called the photos “the most idiosyncratic shots of the band a collector could hope for” from a photographer with “unprecedented access.” The show has been created in partnership with Bayliss Rare Books, with owner and founder Oliver Bayliss saying that he “couldn’t be happier to be involved in this project. I spent months trawling through Tony’s archive—thousands of negatives and contact sheets—and am blown away by Tony’s unique eye and the quality of these images.” Limited edition prints produced by Bayliss Rare Books of photographs included in the exhibition are also available online.
Tony Sanchez, Keith Richards, Olympic Studios (1969). Courtesy of Spanish Tony Media and Bayliss Rare Books.
Tony Sanchez, The Lost Boys – Beggars Banquet album cover shoot, Swarkestone Pavillion (1968). Courtesy of Spanish Tony Media and Bayliss Rare Books.
Tony Sanchez, Keith Richards and his motorbike, Redlands (early 1970s). Courtesy of Spanish Tony Media and Bayliss Rare Books.
Tony Sanchez, Mick and Keith Backstage, USA (early 70s). Courtesy of Spanish Tony Media and Bayliss Rare Books.
Tony Sanchez, The Glimmer Twins onstage (1970s). Courtesy of Spanish Tony Media and Bayliss Rare Books.
Source: Exhibition - news.artnet.com
