After the success of the exhibition at the International Museum and Library of Music in Bologna, OTTO Gallery is pleased to present It’s (NOT) Only Rock’n’Roll. Photos by Mark Allana large retrospective on the work of one of the greatest living music photographers, edited by Pierfrancesco Pacoda.
The exhibition welcomes 48 of Mark Allan’s most iconic shotsofficial photographer of the Barbican Center in London and author of portraits of all the great protagonists of international music, taken between the 1980s and 2000s, over a 30-year career.
Extraordinary photographer of the contemporary music and art scene, Mark Allan has immortalized some of the most legendary artists with a unique, special, at times intimate gaze. From U2 to Tina Turner from Madonna ad Alice Cooperuntil Foo Fighters and Metallica, but also Lady Gaga posing regal with Elton John, Amy Winehousei Rolling Stones, Freddie Mercury at the presentation of Live Aid and the friend David Bowie who asked Allan to join him in Roskilde in Denmark, where he was to perform at a festival, to be photographed on the beach while playing with a bucket and sand.
This incredible portrait gallery tells the story of rock and pop music and also reveals the author’s great passion for multiple musical genres, ever since he was a young art student at Goldsmiths College: “there is as much drama and excitement in a classical performance at the Barbican as there is in a rock concert at Wembley“.
In the exhibition the most representative faces of the world rock scene are filmed during their performances, at the moment in which the artist reveals himself in his context, or in unofficial backstage situations, in the studio, or during recordings. What always strikes everyone is the intensity and intimacy with which Mark Allan’s shots capture the authentic humanity of the artists, providing an unprecedented look at their lives.… read the rest of the article”
Mark Allan has worked for over 30 years in the field of music and entertainment photography for all sectors of the English and international press. He has also collaborated with many broadcasters, including BBC, ITV, Channel 4, MTV, HBO and NBC on specials and series (Most Wanted, The White Room, TOTP, Sound, Maestro, Let’s Sing and Dance). He not only photographed performances, but took portraits on location and in the studio of all types of personalities for print and broadcast organizations. He proved his versatility when he covered major national events such as the royal wedding and the London Olympics, most recently the coronation of King Charles III.
He currently covers the BBC’s Maida Vale sessions, including Radio 1’s Live Lounge, the Zane Lowe Show, the Huw Stephens Show, Radio 2’s Jamie Cullum show, Radio 3’s Late Junction, In Tune and other classical music programmes, as well as numerous 6Music programs for BBC Online.
He is also the official contemporary and classical music photographer for the Barbican Centre, broadcast rights organization BMI and songwriting organization BASCA, for which he covers all of the annual awards, including the ‘Ivors’.
 Only Rock’n’Roll. Photos by Mark Allan){kind=link}