ED finnell

In the early 1970s, as a rock and roll enthusiast living in Los Angeles, teenager Ed Finnell immersed himself in the vibrant music scene. Witnessing his favorite bands in various venues inspired him to document their live performances. Equipped with a Nikon F1 he captured the energy of iconic musicians under changing stage lights.

Ed’s journey began in June 1972 with The Rolling Stones at the Inglewood Forum igniting his passion for concert photography.Over the next few years, he photographed all the major rock bands coming through California like The Who, Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin, Wings, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, and Eric Clapton, often from the very front.

In the mid-1970s, he got the chance to sell his photos to artists at Columbia Motion Pictures’ rehearsal hall in LA, which his friend ran, leading to opportunities as a tour photographer. Ed’s extensive portfolio has been globally featured in magazines, tour programs, books, album liners, and TV shows. His work graced the covers of The Rolling Stones’ Live in Hampton Virginia 1981 and Live in LA 1975 vinyl, CDs, and DVDs in November 2014.