Linda McCartney: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Photographer Who Captured Music Legends (and one heck of a groovy synth player too!)
In the vibrant music scene of the 1960s, Linda McCartney (formerly Eastman) made a name for herself as a talented photographer with a knack for capturing the essence of musicians and entertainers. Starting her career at Town & Country magazine, she quickly gained a reputation for her ability to wrangle even the most unruly rock stars.
One fateful assignment to photograph the Rolling Stones at a record promotion party on a yacht changed the course of her career.
“I was the only photographer they allowed on the yacht. I just kept clicking away with the camera, and they enjoyed it and I enjoyed it, and suddenly I found that taking pictures was a great way to live and a great way to work” – Linda McCartney
From there, she found herself backstage at iconic venues like Shea Stadium, documenting legendary performances by the Beatles and other rock icons.
As the unofficial house photographer at New York’s Fillmore East, she became a fixture in the music scene, ultimately capturing many unforgettable moments through her photographs of artists including Todd Rundgren, Aretha Franklin, Grace Slick, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Eric Clapton, Simon & Garfunkel, The Who, The Doors, The Animals, Neil Young and many others.
She made history as the first woman to have a photograph featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Her self portrait of husband Paul and herself appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone on January 31, 1974, making her the only person to appear on the magazine’s cover who was also the photographer.
In spite of all her success, Eastman’s life took an unexpected dark turn shortly after marrying Beatle Paul McCartney.
In the aftermath of The Beatles break up, husband Paul sank into a deep, solitary depression fuelled by excessive amounts of whisky and marijuana.
“We had been married for just seven months. What was I supposed to do with that?” – Linda McCartney
Linda stood up and took charge. She helped steer a mastless ship and, by doing so, put her own reputation, her own identity, on the line, opening herself up to endlessly cruel ridicule as the punchline to mean spirited musician jokes.
Linda’s unwavering dedication and selflessness shone through in a moment of desperation when she suggested that Paul form another band. Despite his initial hesitation, he made it clear that he wouldn’t pursue music without her by his side. Determined to support him in his passion, she agreed to learn singing and piano, even if it meant starting from scratch. He promised to teach her himself and believed in her potential as a songwriter.
In a true display of sacrifice and love, Linda convinced him to take a giant leap of faith and restart his music career. She inspired him to begin writing songs again, collaborating with him on the writing and recording of the album Ram. Following that she helped him muster up the courage to form a new band, Wings, hit the road, and embrace a back-to-basics approach. Her unwavering support and willingness to step out of her comfort zone played a pivotal role in reigniting McCartney’s music career. Linda’s selflessness and determination set the stage for a remarkable comeback that is still going strong over half a century later.
If that’s not Rock N Roll as fuck, then I don’t know what is.
Linda McCartney: Rock N Roll As Fuck