Rare Stones images go on display at the Zebra Gallery

HAMPSTEAD is set to find its inner rock God next month when an exhibition of rare Rolling Stones images from the 1960s goes on show.

Zebra Gallery in Perrins Court is launching a display of original photography from two of the Stones’ biggest selling records – Between the Buttons and Beggars Banquet.

Director of the Zebra Gallery Gabrielle du Plooy said: “It’s going to be fantastic. Hampstead doesn’t usually do this kind of thing. It’s especially exciting because the photographs were taken in the 1960s and they have such wonderful stories behind them.”

One of the featured photographers, Gered Mankowitz, is unveiling previously unseen images taken for the cover of the Between the Buttons album in 1967.

The shots, which he named ‘Behind the Buttons’, were taken just before dawn on Primrose Hill.

“It was very early on a beautiful morning after an all-night recording session,” Mr Mankowitz said. “The Stones always recorded through the night and I thought that their ‘look’ after one of these gruelling sessions might capture an image that would be right for the time.

“The band’s manager and producer Andrew Loog Oldham agreed, as did the band, and at about 5.30am we all set off in a procession of limousines for Primrose Hill.”

Mr Mankowitz recalled building “a rather clumsy” filter of black card, glass and Vaseline, which he hoped would create a strange, ethereal and slightly “stoned” look to the photos.

He added: “In spite of Brian Jones being rather unhelpful some of the time and all of us feeling the bitter early morning chill, the photos turned out better than I could have wished for.”

The other photographer featured in the exhibition is Michael Joseph, who shot the iconic Beggars Banquet cover in an historic listed building, Sarum Chase, in Hampstead.

Joseph directed his cast, which included a cat, three dogs, a sheep and a goat, using a megaphone.

Reflecting on his brief involvement in the music business – having gone on to forge a hugely successful career in commercials – he said: “The Stones shoot was extraordinary, wild and hugely memorable. It was the swinging 60s and art director Mike Peters, in the pre-Polaroid era, gave me carte blanche. At times I had over 80 extras on shoots but luckily never so many animals.”

Both Mr Joseph and Mr Mankowitz are now planning to attend the private viewing of their exhibition – The Rolling Stones: from Primrose Hill to Hampstead – on April 30.

The show, which features 10 exclusive prints, officially opens to the public the following day and then runs until May 14.

It is produced and curated by Raj Prem Fine Art Photography and sponsored by Hampstead estate agents TK International.

For more information go to www.zebragallery.co.uk.