Michael Putland
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Michael Putland (27 May 1947 – 18 November 2019) was an English music photographer, known for photographing musicians in the 1970s.


Biography

Born in 1947 just outside London, Putland took up photography at the age of 9. He was a portrait photographer and photojournalist most noted for his extensive archive of photographs of musicians and other famous subjects. His later work was more directed to photographing classical musicians, as well as fashion and travel photography. Putland left school at 16 and began working in a photographic studio in London. From 1965 to 1967 he assisted Walter Curtin, a
Time-Life Time Life, Inc. (also habitually represented with a hyphen as Time-Life, Inc., even by the company itself) was an American multi-media conglomerate company formerly known as a prolific production/publishing company and Direct marketing, direct ...
photographer, with his photojournalism and commercial advertising work. After Curtin returned to his adopted home in Canada, Putland set up as a photographer in his own right, and in 1969 he and a friend rented their own photographic studio. By 1971, he was the official photographer for the British music magazine ''Disc & Music Echo''. His first assignment for them that year was to photograph
Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English musician. He is known as the lead singer and one of the founder members of The Rolling Stones. Jagger has co-written most of the band's songs with lead guitarist Keith Richards; Jagge ...
in London.


Career


The Rolling Stones

Already shooting regularly for British magazines like ''Disc and Music Echo'', Putland was hired as the tour photographer for
the Rolling Stones European Tour 1973 The Rolling Stones 1973 European Tour was a concert tour of Great Britain and Continental Europe in September and October 1973 by The Rolling Stones. History The tour followed the release of the group's album ''Goats Head Soup'' on 31 August. ...
and this led to a long-term relationship with the Stones. Some of his best-selling images come from this period of close association with the band; as an example, his portrait of Bob Marley and Peter Tosh with a grinning, boyish Mick Jagger nestled between them. In 1999,
Genesis Publications Genesis Publications Limited is a British publishing company founded in 1974 by Brian Roylance, a former student of the London College of Printing. His aim was to create a company in the traditions of the private press, true to the arts of pri ...
produced a limited edition book, ''Pleased to Meet You'', containing 400 images of the Rolling Stones by Putland. Putland was on the sets of Stones videos, including the "
It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It) "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" is the lead single from English rock band the Rolling Stones' 1974 album ''It's Only Rock 'n Roll''. Writing is credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and the single reached the top ten in the UK charts ...
" shoot with the band in their sailor suits, and the tracks "
Some Girls ''Some Girls'' is the fourteenth studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 9 June 1978 by Rolling Stones Records. It was recorded in sessions held from October 1977 to February 1978 at Pathé Marconi Studios in Paris ...
" and " Respectable"—a still from the latter was used in 2005 as the cover for Stones' ''
Rarities 1971–2003 ''Rarities 1971–2003'' is a compilation album by The Rolling Stones that was released in 2005 worldwide by Virgin Records – as well as by the coffee-chain Starbucks in North America – and features a selection of rare and obscure material ...
'' album. Putland also had photographed the original "Respectable" 1978 single cover. Also published are shots of
Mick Taylor Michael Kevin Taylor (born 17 January 1949) is an English guitarist, best known as a former member of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (1967–1969) and the Rolling Stones (1969–1974). As a member of the Stones, h ...
; a candid set of the band backstage at The New York Palladium with the McCartneys;
Bianca Jagger Bianca Jagger (born Blanca Pérez-Mora Macías; 2 May 1945)
; and an extensive number of images of the band both onstage and off during the 1970s and 1980s.


New York

Putland lived and worked in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
from 1977 to 1984, during which period he photographed extensively for the major record labels including Capitol,
WEA The Wea were a Miami–Illinois-speaking Native American tribe originally located in western Indiana. Historically, they were described as being either closely related to the Miami tribe or a sub-tribe of Miami. Today, the descendants of th ...
, PolyGram, Columbia and A&M. Whilst in New York he also started a music photo library called Retna which he was involved in running for nearly 30 years and which he sold in 2006.


Editorial work

Putland photographed
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...
.David Fricke,
The Return of Led Zeppelin
, ''Rolling Stone'', 10 August 2006. The article is illustrated with a photograph by Putland. Retrieved by the Wayback Machine on 27 March 2008.
He was hired regularly to shoot magazine covers and posters for British music publications as diverse as ''
Smash Hits ''Smash Hits'' was a British music magazine aimed at young adults, originally published by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006, and, after initially appearing monthly, was issued fortnightly during most of that time. The name survived as a brand ...
'' (
Bananarama Bananarama is an English pop group formed in London in 1980. The group, originally a trio, consisted of friends Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, and Keren Woodward. Fahey left the group in 1988 and was replaced by Jacquie O'Sullivan until 1991, when ...
,
Wham! Wham! were an English pop duo formed in Bushey in 1981 consisting of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. They were one of the most successful pop acts during the 1980s, selling more than 30 million certified records worldwide from 1982 to ...
); '' Sounds'' (
Bryan Ferry Bryan Ferry (born 26 September 1945) is an English singer and songwriter. He became known as the frontman of the band Roxy Music and also launched a solo career. His voice has been described as an "elegant, seductive croon". He also established ...
,
Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained global fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and the piano, and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John ...
) and '' Q'' (a shoot in Brazil with
the Cure The Cure are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Crawley in 1976 by Robert Smith (musician), Robert Smith (vocals, guitar) and Lol Tolhurst (drums). The band's current line-up comprises Smith, Perry Bamonte (guitar and keyboards), Reev ...
, and at the other end of the pop spectrum,
Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet Wet are a Scottish soft rock band formed in 1982. They scored a number of hits on the UK charts and around the world in the 1980s and 1990s. They are best known for their 1994 cover of the Troggs' 1960s hit " Love Is All Around", which ...
). He also shot on the sets of TV shows like ''
Top of the Pops ''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British record chart television programme, made by the BBC and broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show. For most of its histo ...
'' adding the
Bee Gees The Bee Gees were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothers Barry Gibb, Barry, Robin Gibb, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was especially successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in ...
,
Traffic Traffic is the movement of vehicles and pedestrians along land routes. Traffic laws govern and regulate traffic, while rules of the road include traffic laws and informal rules that may have developed over time to facilitate the orderly an ...
,
Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. His music and showmanship have had a significant, lasting impact on the music industry, and his songwriting partnership with l ...
with T. Rex,
The Who The Who are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup (1964–1978) consisted of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. Considered one of th ...
,
Duran Duran Duran Duran () are an English pop rock band formed in Birmingham in 1978 by singer Stephen Duffy, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and guitarist/bassist John Taylor (bass guitarist), John Taylor. After several early changes, the band's line-up settled ...
and
Elvis Costello Declan Patrick MacManus (born 25 August 1954), known professionally as Elvis Costello, is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, author and television host. According to ''Rolling Stone'', Costello "reinvigorated the literate, lyrical ...
to his archive in the 1970s and 1980s. But it was his first client, ''Disc and Music Echo'' that set him out on the varied road of music photography by giving him his very first shoot. Other images that have become iconic and were shot for ''Disc'' include
David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer, songwriter and actor. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, pa ...
and
John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer-songwriter, musician and activist. He gained global fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon's ...
.


Select album covers

*''
Son of Schmilsson ''Son of Schmilsson'' is the eighth album by American singer Harry Nilsson, released in 1972 by RCA Records. Background Nilsson was being pressured to produce a follow-up album similar to his 1971 breakthrough, ''Nilsson Schmilsson'', but inste ...
'' –
Harry Nilsson Harry Edward Nilsson III (June 15, 1941 – January 15, 1994), sometimes credited as Nilsson, was an American singer-songwriter who reached the peak of his success in the early 1970s. His work is characterized by pioneering vocal overdub experi ...
*''
Rarities 1971–2003 ''Rarities 1971–2003'' is a compilation album by The Rolling Stones that was released in 2005 worldwide by Virgin Records – as well as by the coffee-chain Starbucks in North America – and features a selection of rare and obscure material ...
'' –
The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...
*''
Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert ''Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert'' is a live album by Eric Clapton, recorded at the Rainbow Theatre in London on 13 January 1973 and released in September that year. The concerts, two on the same evening, were organised by Pete Townshend of the ...
'' –
Eric Clapton Eric Patrick Clapton (born 1945) is an English Rock music, rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Clapton ranked second in ''Rolling Stone''s l ...
*'' The Very Best of Curtis Mayfield'' –
Curtis Mayfield Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Dubbed the " Gentle Genius", he is considered one of the most influential musicians of soul and socially conscious Afric ...
*''T. Rex BBC Sessions'' – T. Rex *''Vintage'' –
Rod Stewart Sir Roderick David Stewart (born 10 January 1945) is a British singer and songwriter. Known for his distinctive raspy singing voice, Stewart is among the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling music artists of all time, having sold ...
*''Chronicles'' –
ABBA ABBA ( ) were a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. They are one of the most popular and successful musical groups of all time, and are one of the List ...
*''
High Voltage High voltage electricity refers to electrical potential large enough to cause injury or damage. In certain industries, ''high voltage'' refers to voltage above a certain threshold. Equipment and conductors that carry high voltage warrant sp ...
'' –
AC/DC AC/DC are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1973. Their music has been variously described as hard rock, blues rock and Heavy metal music, heavy metal, although the band calls it simply "rock and roll". They are cited as a formativ ...
*'' Sweet Dreams: The Anthology'' –
Roy Buchanan Leroy "Roy" Buchanan (September 23, 1939 – August 14, 1988) was an American guitarist and blues rock musician. A pioneer of the Telecaster sound, Buchanan worked as a sideman and as a solo artist, with two gold albums early in his career and t ...


Notes


References


External links

* Leo Benedictus,
Michael Putland's best shot
, ''The Guardian'', 6 December 2007. Putland considers that his best shot is one of
David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer, songwriter and actor. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, pa ...
. *
The Photographers
, Retna Music. Retrieved by the Wayback Machine on 16 April 2008. *
Michael Putland
, Rock Archive. *

, Redferns Music Picture Gallery, 2006. Retrieved by the Wayback Machine on 20 January 2008.
NY Times
{{DEFAULTSORT:Putland, Michael Photographers from London 1947 births 2019 deaths