Through the Lens: Michael Zagaris

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the San Francisco music scene was thriving, and photographer Michael Zagaris was at the heart of it. His intimate images captured some of the biggest names in rock and roll, from Led Zeppelin to the Rolling Stones to the Grateful Dead. Now, more than 50 years later, Zagaris’s work remains a testament to an era of music and cultural rebellion.

Zagaris’s photographs evoke a raw energy and a deep sense of intimacy with his subjects. He captured musicians both on stage and off, revealing their humanity and the grittiness of their lives. His images of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, in particular, capture the tension and camaraderie of their long-standing creative partnership.

Zagaris’s work continues to be celebrated and exhibited today, offering a window into a time when music and counterculture were inextricably linked. His photographs have a timeless quality, capturing not just the music, but also the spirit of the era that produced it.

Through Zagaris’s lens, we see not just the famous faces of rock and roll, but also the complex and sometimes chaotic world they inhabited. His work invites us to reflect on a pivotal moment in cultural history, and to remember the people who made it all possible.