The Who’s sleeper hit

Art Kane’s The Who

Throughout his career Art Kane created some of the most epic imagery in rock ‘n’ roll. His subjects include Dylan, the Stones, and the Doors. But Kane was more than a rock ‘n’ roll photographer. And Art Kane is more than a collection of rock ‘n’ roll photography. He captured images of celebrity, fashion, nudes and war through his unique lens. He was political and irreverent. He was rock ‘n’ roll.

When you think of The Who images of guitars breaking come to mind, microphones flying high, Townshend’s arm swinging through the air. The fact that they were such an animated force makes this photo all that more amazing. Art Kane’s shot of the Who under the Union Jack is one of the band’s most memorable. Pete and the boys loved it so much they used it as the cover of 1979’s The Kids Are Alright. Not one to fawn over the rock stars he shot, Kane directed his subjects, positioning and posing them to craft the shot he wanted. His work is less about catching the moment and more about creating a statement.

Art Kane is the first time an exhaustive collection of the photographer’s work has been placed between two covers. See it here.