VINTAGE ROLLING STONES MICK JAGGER BACKSTAGE PHOTO FROM PHILLY SPECTRUM ARENA(6/30/75)
Mick Jagger, accompanied by percussionist, Ollie Brown, walks along a backstage corridor to the Rolling Stones dressing rooms at the Spectrum Arena. This was the second night of their two shows in Philly. PHOTO: © ROGER BARONE 2024 (6-30-75)
NOTES:
I was leaning on a railing backstage, camera in hand, trying to control my anxiety while waiting for the Rolling Stones to arrive and get some candid shots of them walking to their dressing rooms.
Mark Huckel, a changeover crew co-worker and close friend, stood next to me. The back hallways were illuminated by overhead fluorescent lights, spaced about ten feet apart, creating arc-light patterns of intermittent shadows and brightly lit areas on the cinderblock walls.
The Stones were here. As they approached I raised my camera and started shooting. I got a nice shot (in focus, too) of Jagger dancing up the ramp, but after processing the film, I discovered, unfortunately, that Jagger’s left hand was blocking his face.
This photo was taken several seconds after the “dancing” photo. I was about two feet away from him when I captured this image. My Pentax Spotmeter camera was set at F.28 and 1/15 shutter speed, using Kodak Ecktachrome Daylight film, pushed one stop to 800 ASA. Fluorescent lights and daylight film create a green cast on the walls.
As I was taking pictures, I said, “Great show last night, Mick!” He’s seen here turning toward me when replying: “Thank you.”
This was an extremely challenging photo opportunity. My 50mm was too large, too, slow and I didn’t have much experience using a camera that I had purchased only five months earlier.
After capturing their arrival, and subsequent walk to the stage, I zipped up to the third level for shots of the star-shaped lotus leaf stage, as the Stones began singing “Honky Tonk Women.” The rest of the night, I ran from section to section capturing various views of the show.
I worked very hard for my photos.
Rolling Stones Photos & Stories From Philadelphia: The City of Brotherly Love 