“In our world, love, sex, music and dance are all integrated into one experience,” writes paparazzo Ron Galella in the introduction to POP, ROCK & DANCE. “Love, and the arts of music and dance go together.” Over a span of 50 years, Galella photographed over 1,000 artists from the genres of big band, jazz, blues, R&B, hip hop, pop, rock, folk, alternative, metal, disco, country and more of every race, creed and orientation. Gathered together in POP, ROCK & DANCE, this collection of photos presents a rich and impressively comprehensive visual history of contemporary music.
Undaunted by body guards, barricades and security checkpoints, Galella sought out the stars—as he famously did with Jackie Kennedy—to create some of pop culture’s most-recognized images. “When I’m in New York, I have to watch out for Ron Galella!” Mick Jagger famously exclaimed in the ‘80s.
Within the pages of this pictorial encyclopedia lie some of the most iconic images of contemporary music history. The famous group shot of David Bowie, Art Garfunkle, Paul Simon, Yoko Ono and John Lennon. Mötley Crüe celebrating their gold record with Ozzy Osborne. Debbie Harry and Andy Warhol backstage at Meadowlands Arena. Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. on stage at Madison Square Garden. In these moments, Galella has captured the charisma, energy and uniqueness of music’s most important figures.
This three-volume, slip-cased set contains 1,800 images, including hundreds of never-before-seen photos. Rounding out the book are written contributions from Glenn O’Brien, Debbie Harry, Michelle Phillips, Suzanne Somers and Glenn Belverio.
