History of Rock & Roll Images
The patent for the Rickenbacker Frying Pan guitar issued in 1937.
Early transistor radios: the red Regency transistor released in 1954, and the green Sony transistor in 1955.
Concert poster for the Moondog Coronation Ball thrown by Alan Freed of the Moondog Radio Show, considered by some to have been the first rock and roll concert.
The vivacious Little Richard pounds the piano keys during a live performance, c. 1956.
Singer Jerry Lee Lewis, like his influence Little Richard, stands as he performs a lively rock and roll song, c. 1957.
Musician Chuck Berry, an early rock and roll star, performing the "duck walk" with his electric guitar.
A young Elvis Presley, c. 1957.
The Beatles perform for the first time on U.S. television as guests on the Ed Sullivan Show, 9 February 1964.
American fans await the arrival of the Beatles at JFK airport, 7 February 1964.
Thousands of fans swarm New York's JFK airport waiting to catch a glimpse of the Fab Four before they return to England after a two-week visit in the U.S., 21 February 1964.
A photo of The Rolling Stones, "long hair" and all, taken in 1964.
The original "butcher" cover art for the Beatles album Yesterday and Today recalled by Capitol Records following complaints, 1966.
Captiol Records released this revised edition of the Beatles album Yesterday and Today after recalling the original version due to its controversial cover art, 1966.
The rock legend Jimi Hendrix, pictured at the height of his career, c. 1967.
A poster for the Gathering of the Tribes, or the Human Be-In, event, a free concert held in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, 14 January 1967, the first of many free music-in-the-park events held in the late 1960s.
A 1987 edition of Rolling Stone magazine featured an image of rock musician Jimi Hendrix on stage on the 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival, igniting his guitar at the end of his set.
A poster announcing the three-day Woodstock Music & Art Fair held in upstate New York in August 1969.
Tickets to the Woodstock Music & Art Fair.
The cover art for Jimi Hendrix Experience's album, Axis: Bold as Love (1967).
Janis Joplin—a powerhouse onstage, and considered by many to have been the first great female rock star.
Fierce singer-songwriter Grace Slick, the front woman for '60s psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane.
In 1968, Decca records withdrew the Rolling Stones, Beggar's Banquet album due to this "vulgar" cover art.
Movie poster advertising Pink Floyd: The Wall, an animated film set to the music from the album of the same name, 1982.
In one of the most requested White House photos—and one of the more startling—'50s rebel rocker Elvis Presley poses with Republican president, and former member of the House Un-American Activities Commission, Richard Nixon, c. 1970.
The February 1970 cover of Rolling Stone magazine is a photo taken by Annie Leibovitz on the morning of 8 December 1980, the same day John Lennon would be fatally shot in front of the Dakota apartment building in New York.
The October 1975 edition of Time magazine, featuring "Rock's New Sensation," Bruce Springsteen.
Prince performs at Chicago's Uptown Theatre, c. 1980.
The band KISS, in full makeup, on the cover of their hit self-titled album.
The band KISS, without their makeup, on the cover of their 1983 release Lick It Up.
In 1988 and 1989, record retailers throughout the country refused to stock this Prince album, Love Sexy, because of its provocative cover art.
