The sixties were the peak of the rock and roll era. Groups like The Rolling Stones and The Beatles made waves worldwide, earning prestige and gratitude for their talent. They were also the ones who defined rock and roll, with many groups such as AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi, and The Police following in their footsteps. While there are many era-defining photographs available today, there is not a definitive look at the sixties rock and roll scene. Or, at least, that’s what I thought until I came across one spell-binding photobook by legendary photographer Michael Cooper: Blinds & Shutters. If you are wondering why it is such an important publication, especially the Andy Warhol edition, then read on to find out more.
Michael Cooper And His Iconic Photobook
So, who was Cooper, and how did he get access to the stalwart bands? Born in 1941, Cooper’s encounter with Robert Fraser, an art dealer in 1964, led him to associate with popular artists of the period. It was during this initial era that Cooper became close to The Rolling Stones and The Beatles and continued to work with them until his untimely death in 1973. Since the bands were still gaining fame, Cooper utilized his relationship with the artists to forge an exceptional connection, which enabled him to capture the most powerful reportage images of the bandmates. In fact, his photographs are some of the earliest glimpses into the private life of the members before they shot to stardom a few years later.
The subjects of my book are not just faces I have photographed but people I have worked with, or become involved with on a very personal level. This is why I prefer to think of this book not just as my own, but a collective work.
Michael Cooper
Since the early 1960s, Cooper has been known as Rolling Stone’s “court photographer” and, at one time, even lived with Keith Richards and Anita Pallenberg. In his black-and-white images, one can see the comfort Cooper brings to the artists, with each simply being unguarded of the camera. As a result, what you see are some truly emotional moments: funny, joyful, or despondent. It was also this relationship that led him to capture the most esteemed covers of the bands: Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper ́s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and The Rolling Stones Their Satanic Majesties Request album covers. But that wasn’t all; he also worked with artists like Francis Bacon, Andy Warhol, Peter Blake, and David Hockney, as well as writers such as William Burroughs, Jean Genet, and Allen Ginsberg. It was the latter collaboration that also resulted in the publication of his book.
The Launch of The Limited Andy Warhol Editions
The Blinds & Shutter photobook was conceived during Cooper’s final year of life. Cooper expressed that the images should be published with the help of his friends. As a result, 93 individuals, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Andy Warhol, came together to create the photobook of 600 images and the text, which includes anecdotes and stories. In fact, it was Keith Richards who wrote in the publication: “Michael had that perfect ability to take all those pictures without annoying anybody. It would be accepted by whoever was around – people wouldn’t know they were having their picture taken.”
According to Genesis Publication, the publisher of the photobook, the rarest copies are those signed by Andy Warhol. Warhol was involved in the project but passed away before the photobook came to fruition. To commemorate the 35th anniversary of Blinds & Shutters‘ first production, Genesis released four signed copies of the publication by Warhol. What differentiates it from other editions is that the book features a Warhol-inspired case and a multiple-exposure Giclée print of the artist’s portrait. The print is one of the 25 editions known around the world.
Genesis has also published several more editions, such as Andy Warhol’s. However, they are signed by Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. The books also have personal portraits of the musicians inside, are quarter-bound in leather with foil blocking, and feature silkscreened page edges.
Blinds & Shutter Andy Warhol Edition is not just a photobook but a cornerstone in rock and roll’s vibrant history. The publication offers insight into an era gone by while also allowing us to look at those who defined music and culture for us. Blinds & Shutter is not a book; it is a capsule where photography and music combine to reveal our past and present.
The Andy Warhol-signed copies have been sold out. For more information, visit Genesis Publication’s website.