History is rarely the beautiful or logical thing that it’s painted to be. That might be why people are often fascinated and amazed by the reality of history. You don’t have to be a historian to be captivated by the surprising, stunning, and sometimes unsettling photos below — but they demonstrate a reality that you won’t find taught in any history classes, or written about in textbooks. Read the context of these photos and appreciate how far society and celebrities have come!
Tesla, Way Cooler Than Just an Electric Car Company
Nikola Tesla wasn’t your average inventor. In this photo, the electrical engineer (to put it lightly) looks totally unperturbed by the 22-foot long bolts of electricity that are jutting out from his signature coil. Perhaps he was just trying to keep it cool, as this photo was used for advertising purposes, to sell his brand — or maybe he’s just proud!
The ‘magnifying transmitter’ pictured in the photo is capable of producing several million volts of electricity. Imagine that! Later around the turn of the century in Colorado Springs, he managed to light up 200 lamps over 25 miles away, all without wires!
A Nostalgic Photograph Showing How Times Have Changed
Nothing quite compares to the nostalgia of walking down memory lane as you browse through old photographs. Opening an old family album, laughing at baby photographs, and reflecting back on your childhood are special moments. However, nostalgia takes a turn when the pictures involve people that we idolize and moments that are unfamiliar. Let’s dive into a few nostalgic pictures of iconic celebrities, mundane historical moments, and life in the arts.
Kicking off our list is this photograph of a stewardess working for Southwest Airlines of Texas around 1972. Times have certainly changed! Not only is she not wearing a mask, but her outfit is a lot sexier than the usual corporate attire that we see when flying. Considering the kinky leather boots and flirtatious body language, it shouldn’t be surprising that drinks served during the flight have names such as 'Passion Punch' and 'Love Potion'
The Wright Brother’s Fated Flight
Oh, the man hanging from the rafters like a monkey? That’s Orville Wright, who’s brother Wilbur is considered to be the first man to ever fly (after losing out on a coin toss with Orville). This particular picture was not Orville Wright’s first flight, but rather a crash that happened in 1911.
There was another crash with Orville about 3 years earlier that also made headlines. This flight made history because it was one of the first flights to ever have a passenger on it — and to have one of the passengers die. While moving passengers around, a piece of Orville’s propeller fell off and the plane came crashing down to the earth, killing Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge. This meant that Lieutenant Selfridge was the first man to be killed in a plane crash.
A Gas Mask With Two Uses
To many people, gas masks are a frightening image that represents a scarier time. World War I was the first war where chemical warfare was widely used, but this particular photo was taken in 1941 during World War II when chemicals were used far less. This freed up the gas masks for some supplemental duties, like onion peeling! Better than mustard gas, right?
It’s a smart idea, to use gas masks to prevent the vapor-related tearing up that came from cut onions, but we’re not so sure these soldiers are doing this willingly! If you look closely, you can see that the solider on the right is giving the photographer a look of annoyance, which leads us to believe they are being punished. Isn’t wearing those masks punishment enough?
Ronald McDonalds, Senior
The beginning of Ronald McDonald was not as cheerful as one might think, given how popular he is nowadays! The original Ronald McDonald was actually a man named Willard Scott, and his costume featured a paper cap nose, a styrofoam hat in the shape of a happy meal box, and a cheeseburger on his belt. Though his rendition of the happy clown was indeed creepy, Willard unfortunately lost his job because he was too heavy and he wasn’t energetic enough.
This particular version of Ronald McDonald was phased out by the early 1960’s, quite understandably. After Willard lost his job, he claimed “it was the first time [he] was really screwed by the media.” Well, according to this photo, it certainly wouldn’t be the last!
It’s Not A Dance —
Don’t think for a second that this police officer and this woman are swing dancing! Actually, the two are locked in a battle over women’s rights. He is trying to throw her in the paddy wagon, and she’s putting up quite a fight! This photo was take in Chicago in 1922.
Why is this happening? This woman and a few of her friends were wearing short swimsuits, called “abbreviated swimsuits,” which violated the modesty laws that existed at the time. Back then, the only acceptable swimwear was a one-piece that covered most of a woman’s body and was extremely unflattering. It wasn’t limited just to women, though: in Atlantic City, men weren’t allowed to take their shirts off on the beach.
Kicking off a Romance on the Football Pitch
Today, society celebrates sexual preference and equality in various aspects of life, yet it wasn’t always that way. In 1921, when this photograph was taken, the gay culture was only just emerging in popularity and women were fairly new to playing sport.
With this in mind, this photograph of two players from the Lyons girls’ football teams kissing one another during a football match breaks several societal norms, helping to speed the attitude toward acceptance. As far as breaking stereotypes goes, this picture does a brilliant job!
Anne Frank, The Way We Wish We Knew Her
This picture of a happy family guards a haunted future. The family pictured are the Franks, the family that is famous because of their daughter, Anne, and the diary she kept during World War II. The smiling girl is Anne’s older sister, Margot (who is detailed often in Anne’s diary) and the younger reclining girl is Anne herself. The photo is taken in the small Dutch beach town of Zandvoort.
This photo was not taken during happy times, as her smile might suggest. It was taken in 1941 in Anne's school. German forces had invaded the Netherlands a few months before the picture was taken and were actively occupying the country. Two years after this photo, the Frank family would begin hiding in the secret annex. In 1944, Anne rhetorically asked in her diary “Will I ever be able to write something great?” and the answer, we know now, is ‘yes.’ Anne would never be famous in her short lifetime, but her diary has now sold more than 30 million copies in 70 different languages.
Actor Johnny Eck Aka "The Amazing Half-Boy"
John Eckhardt Jr was an American entertainer renowned for his captivating performances in sideshows and his acting career. Born with sacral agenesis, Eck gained fame for his notable role in Tod Browning's 1932 iconic movie Freaks, as well as his appearances as a bird-like creature in various Tarzan films.
On this picture, you can see him making the promotion of Freaks with his co-star Angelo Rossitto.Eck's diverse talents extended beyond the stage and screen. He excelled as an artist, musician, photographer, illusionist, owner of a penny arcade, operator of Punch and Judy shows, and expert model-maker.
Hit By a Meteorite, And Lives to Tell the Tale!
The woman in this picture is named Ann Hodges, and she’s famous for a very interesting reason: she’s the only person in recorded history to have been struck by a meteorite. More importantly, she lived from this experience to see another day! As one can imagine, the chances of surviving the impact of a projectile being hurdles at earth from outer space are slim to none. Ann might be the luckiest woman alive, first to have been hit, but also to have survived!
The fact that Ann survived might be due to the fact that she was not directly impacted by the astral rock. In fact, she was napping on her couch when the rock, weighing in at nine pounds, smashed through her roof, then ricocheted off her radio and then hit her in the side. Unfortunately, Ann didn’t keep the souvenir — the meteorite sold for $7,500 in a 2017 public auction.
Science Fiction Characters Enjoy a Day on the Beach
The Star Wars franchise involves a series of cult classic films that have gone down in history, winning multiple awards along the way. As a result, the characters have become cemented in science fiction and space opera history. While some of the actors playing these roles have recognizable faces, such as actress Carrie Fisher in the role of Princess Leia, others are covered in costume.
The Star Wars cast is living proof that you don’t need to be of the same intergalactic species to share a unique bond. Just look at how Carrie Fisher is spending time with her Star Wars friends - a long way from space!
The Bravest Barrel Roll In History
The tough thing about bravery and stupidity? Oftentimes, on the surface, these look like the same thing. Take Annie Edson Taylor for example: she was not the first person to try to go over Niagara Fall’s 180-foot drop in a barrel, but she was the first person to survive! Undoubtedly an amazing feat, but a dumb and brazen one all the same.
Taylor was no spring chicken when she took part in this crazy daredevil act. She was 63 in 1901 when she took her death-defying drop! Nor was she alone — Taylor also brought her cat with her during the making of the world’s most famous barrel roll… for company, of course! She survived with nothing but a scratch and bump to the head, which almost defies logic for how high the fall was and how many others attempted this feat and failed tragically.
Rich and Hungry (and Alone)
When it's 1904 and you're rich, the Astor Hotel is where you dine. No, you don't need women or children when you're as rich as these people. All you need is money and respect.
The hotel featured the best, most expensive, and rarest delicacies, which include diamondback terrapin and canvasback duck.
Sean Connery: A Bond by Any Other Name…
Everyone has their favorite James Bond, but no one embodies the man quite like Sean Connery. The smooth Scotsman looks right at home surrounded by beautiful women and being part of any action, on or offline, as we see in this photo taken on the set of Goldfinger. Connery was practicing a scene with his stuntman. Connery was quite a bad-ass in rality, too. According to rumors, he beat up five men of the infamous Edinburgh gang, entirely single-handedly.
That’s not where his bad assery stops! In 1958, Connery was filming “Another Time, Another Place” when his co-star and lead actress, Lana Turner, was the victim of a crime. Turner had a jealous and abusive boyfriend, who was also a rising star in Hollywood. He was so jealous of Connery that he arrived on the set and tried to shoot him — but he should have known better. Connery managed to wrestle the gun away before anyone got hurt.
A Circus Performer Playing With Crocodiles
Circus performances and sideshows were extremely popular at the beginning of the 20th century and artists at the time did not hesitate to put themselves in danger to entertain the crowds.
This picture from the year 1993 exhibits a daring circus performer in Berlin closely looking for something in the mouth of a crocodile in an aquarium car while being surrounded by many others. Don't do this at home!
Free Speech Means Dancing With the Devil
Few people are as dedicated to social justice as Joan Trumpauer Mulholland! The woman pictured in this mugshot is Joan, the young freedom fighter herself. Joan sacrificed her own education, family and social life for greater social good, taking all this time and refocusing it into protests and other contributions to causes that she believed in. Joan was the first woman (or man!) to truly challenge the concept of authority and embrace free speech in the United States, before it was acceptable to do so.
Born in 1941, Joan was witness to a shocking amount of the injustices that befell minorities during this and subsequent decades. This fueled her fire and she participated in numerous civil rights demonstrations and sit-ins to support minority communities. Particularly, she was invested in the safety of the African-American students who were attending the University of Georgia. Because of this, Joan spent some time in Jail — and even on death row when she was only 19.
That's a Bad Leak You’ve Got There!
This photo alone inspires some strong reactions, but what if I told you that these torpedos were aimed at making people happy? During the prohibition, smart gangsters tried to smuggle alcohol in some innovative ways. These torpedoes were filled with malt whiskey and an air compartment has been also so that the torpedoes would float and towed.
We can take Detroit as an example. Detroit alone had between 16,000 and 25,000 speakeasies, or illegal bars, operating in 1928 — the true number is impossible to know, due to their secretive nature. Michigan was, not surprisingly, also the first state to ratify the repeal of the law governing prohibition. Still, so much booze… Such a waste!
Don’t Tell Your Mother What You Think of Stalin
Few people automatically associate Stalin with the word “sexy,” but here we are to prove you wrong — but first, you have to forget that the former Premier of the Soviet Union was also one of history’s most prolific mass murderers! During his reign, Stalin successfully widened Russia’s borders and ushered the country into the industrial and nuclear age, for better or for worse.
Before becoming the Stalin we all know by killing thousands of his own people and ruthlessly going after his enemies, Stalin was quite a looker. This photo was taken two decades before Stalin would become the head of the Soviet Union’s Politburo, in 1901. He was 23 years old.
The Beginning of the Nuclear Arms Race
While not the biggest nuclear explosion ever created, this photo signifies something larger: the beginning of a new era of atomic bombs, nuclear warfare, and an arms race the likes of which the world has never seen before. This photo represents the nascence of this arms race, when the United States first began to build nuclear artillery shells. The USA developed a plethora of low-yield and short-range nuclear weapons like the one pictured, but this is the only one they ever tested.
The nuclear weapons developed by the United States quickly grew in size and effect. In 1953, the Upshot-Knothold Grable Test fired a 15-kiloton weapon that was 11 inches long, and flew for a total of 19 seconds. The blast from this missile created a massive radius of 6.2 miles — nearly the same disastrous power of the bomb that fell on Hiroshima just eight years earlier, but in a far smaller area.
“Hanoi” Jane Fonda, Politicial Activist Extraordinaire
When you’re a celebrity, you have two choices when it comes to political activism: abstain entirely or fight, fight, fight! Jane Fonda, actress, model, and every American man’s fantasy, chose the latter. The trip she took to Vietnam and witnessing the destruction of war, would lead her to advocate for the Anti-Vietnam War Movement, Black Panther Party, and Native Americans.
In fact, during this time, Jane was arrested five different times, at five different USA Military bases. She even traveled to North Vietnam again to protest the war! Following backlash, Jane would eventually apologize for her actions years later, but her fans (and anti-fans) would never forget this controversial event.
The Challenger Tragedy
These cold faces of President Reagen and his staff represent the emotional reaction that was left in the wake of Space Shuttle Challenger’s devastating explosion. It occurred on January 28, 1986 — a time when people were loving the idea of space travel and reveled in the amazing discoveries made because of it. These people were the unfortunate live spectators to the tragedy which happened merely 73 seconds into the Challenger’s flight. The spacecraft broke apart, and then exploded in the sky right before their eyes.
All of the astronauts aboard unfortunately perished. Christa McAuliffe was a part of this crew, and she was going to be the first of America’s teachers in space. NASA later investigated the explosion and, in the process, determined that the crew not only survived for several moments after the explosion, but even tried to regain control. The astronaut crew of The Challenger were faithful and dutiful until the very end.
How a Presidency Can Age Someone
There are many amusing photos of United States Presidents as they begin their term and when they eventually leave it, clearly demonstrating how the stressors of a presidential term can age a person. This is especially true for Abraham Lincoln, who had a particularly stressful presidency. In his four years as President, Abraham Lincoln only knew 44 war-free days. At least he was on the right side of history!
The photo on the left is Lincoln when he was 52, at the beginning of his first term. He inherited a mess, with several states already seceding from the union, so his situation did not start out easy. He was re-elected just before he was assassinated. Judging by Lincoln’s last known photo (taken when he was only 55,) we’re not certain he would have made it through a second term!
Nazis Had a Taste For Fine Art
Nazis had a penchant for, well, collecting historical and valuable relics — or perhaps a more accurate word would be ‘stealing!’ Here is a prime example of their unorthodox collections. General Eisenhower, Bradley and Patton file through a stack of Nazi loot, which includes more than several of the world’s most famous paintings.
What had been done with these paintings before they were discovered? Well, they placed the artwork in one of two museums: the first museum featured works from Aryan artists, while works from other famous artists (including Picasso) were placed in the “degenerative art” museum. Not surprisingly, the museum featuring ‘degenerative art’ received four times the visitors as the Nazi one! You just can’t account for good taste.
Mr. President Grumpy Pants
Most people in the United States of America cannot tell you much about John Quincy Adams, except for that he was one of the first Presidents of the United States. They’re not wrong — the grump pictured here was none other than the 6th President of the USA! That might be one of his only claims to fame, as his presidency was particularly unremarkable. In fact, his most famous achievement is being the first president to be photographed. He did the technology justice, don’t you think?
At least Quincy isn’t angry without reason. He’s the son of more well-known President John Adams — not only is he outshined in that way, but he was a third-party candidate that only won by a technicality. The other two primary candidates had tied, and surprisingly the House of Representatives voted him in to serve a single term. On his own, he had only accrued 31% of the popular vote. I think winning the Presidency might make anyone’s day, but Quincy can’t seen to find the upside.
A Memorial Never to Be Forgotten
A photo of Doughboy Joe, like you've never seen him. He can be seen here, aged 86 years, with strong emotion visible in his eyes. He’s wearing the uniform that he used when he served as a soldier in World War I — it’s the Vietnam War Memorial dedication, a not-so-happy event for most people, but especially for Joseph F. Ambrose.
It was in November of 1982 when the Vietnam Memorial was indoctrinated. Joseph Ambrose, better known by the nickname Doughboy Joe, arrived fully-dressed in uniform with a flag in tow. In fact, it was the flag that had been draped over his son’s coffin when he perished in the Korean War. Though Ambrose was a veteran of World War I, he respectfully honored the sacrifice made by all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country; much like his son did nearly 30 years earlier.
The Forefront of Football Helmets
Remember Casimir and Jan, the inventors (and testers) of the first bulletproof vest? Well, welcome to the first testing trials of the American football helmet! It may look silly, but at least this testing process might have been a little more fun (and a little less immediately life-threatening) than bulletproof vests! Actually, football was invented and popularized by the generation that came after Civil War soldiers, in an attempt to match their father’s bravery during these fortunately peaceful times.
Now we know that these football helmets are essential for players and their mental health. We now understand that head injuries from sports can cause brain cell loss and degenerative diseases such a dementia, but even back when this photo was taken, it was understood that football was incredibly dangerous — after all, from 1900 to 1905, 45 people died from playing football.
World’s Most Dangerous Job
Being an inventor isn’t an easy job by any means — but when your job includes testing the world’s first bullet proof vest, it can be downright dangerous! Besides testing it out yourself, how else are you going to prove that your life’s work, well… works? Personally I can think of a few, but Casmir Zieglan and Jan Szczpanick, inventors of the bulletproof vest, opted for the “all-or-nothing” approach.
The bulletproof vest became a priority for Zieglan after the assassination of Carter Harrison, the mayor of Chicago at the time. After working on his design for years, Zieglan reportedly has an appointment with President William McKinley to sell him the protective equipment. However, McKinley missed the appointment — and was killed by two assassin’s bullets on September 6, 1901. Though the doctors successfully removed one bullet, the other would eventually kill him two weeks later. If only President McKinley hadn’t been so “all or nothing” with his appointments!
Ham, The Space Chimp That Lived!
If you thought a woman in a barrel was impressive, pay attention to this: Ham, the Astrochimp! This smiling beauty was America’s first surviving astronaut. Before the USA was launching humans into space, NASA thought it would be better suited to test on monkeys first. On March 31, 1961 all their research paid off when Ham returned from space, alive and well. Ham helped The United States to beat Russia’s Yuri Gagarin by 12 days. He was followed by fellow American Alan Shepard two months later.
Though Ham’s big smile is well deserved, he by far wasn’t the first animal to be tested with space travel. In fact, Sputnik II carried the world’s first space passenger: a lovely dog name Laika. Unfortunately, Laika’s mission was doomed from the beginning, as Russia hadn’t planned for the spacecraft to reenter earth.
Babies Living Dangerously in the 1920’s
Have you ever heard of a baby cage? No? Well, consider yourself lucky that you weren’t placed in one yourself! It’s actually worse than it sounds. A baby cage not only entails an infant child being held in a wire cage, but that wire cage is actually suspended outside of a window — oftentimes in high-rise buildings in cities, where fresh air was often hard to come by.
The idea of baby cages started in London in the 1880’s, but did not come into vogue until the 1920’s when mothers needed to occupy their children while they were cleaning, or to just have a moment alone. If the photo of a baby suspended many stories into the air doesn’t make you uncomfortable, then the thought that the mothers considered this ‘good parenting’ will!
The Unofficial Inspiration For Shrek
The Ogre from Shrek was not entirely a fantastical creation! His likeness to Maurice Tillet, a professional wrestler better known by his ring name "The French Angel," is undeniable — though Universal Studios never confirmed the claim. Tillet is a two-time world champion and one of the leading box office draws in the 1940’s.
Tillet had a hormone disorder caused by a benign tumor on his pituitary gland, which cause his bones to continually grow starting in his 20’s — especially in his face, hands and feet. Though he originally wanted to become a lawyer, a friend convinced him that he would excel at wrestling. Talk about making the best out of a bad situation! His strength is clearly demonstrated here, as he easily picks up supermodel Dorian Leigh in 1945.
Celebrating the End of Prohibition
Those who glorify the 1920’s and early 30’s often glance over the real difficulties that prohibition would have posed — however, the 14-year-long experiment in limiting alcohol consumption came to an end, after authorities finally realized how heavily and freely booze flowed behind closed doors. This photo was taken on December 5, 1933, the night that prohibition was repealed.
Any seasoned parent can tell you that setting a hard and fast rule, as prohibition did with alcohol, only makes your children want to break that rule more than they had before. The people of the United States, rebellious as they were, did not throw the mega-parties to celebrate the end of prohibition (as they did when they were forced to do it in secret). Now that liquor was legal again, bars had to adhere to laws and standards — the lack of which had made people like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano very wealthy. If anything, at least now you don’t have to remember a password in order to grab a pint!
Paying Respect to the Fallen — And the Enemy
The Civil War was one of the first wars that used camera photography to capture its horrors and triumphs; but this photo, taken at the battlefield of Gettysburg, was captured many years later on the battle’s 50th anniversary. The year is 1913, and the aging Union and Confederate soldiers have gathered to display equanimity and mutual respect for one another. It’s a type of peace that one can only find after fighting one of the fiercest battles in American history.
Veterans of Gettysburg found purpose and reckoning while reacting the battle every year; but this year in particular, the Confederate veterans effectively recreated the Picket’s infamous Charge — the culmination of the battle of Gettysburg. Overwhelmed, the Union veterans yielded and surrendered to the Confederates. Though the actual Picket’s Charge eventually failed, this reenactment was a tribute to the bravery of the men who turned the tide and ended the war’s bloodiest and most fatal battle.
A Tender Moment on Film Set
Everyone knows James Dean to be a heartthrob of his generation, and Elizabeth Taylor to be a desirable woman. In this photograph, both elites are seated together, captivated by one another’s company.
The photograph was taken on the set of Rebel Without a Cause, a film directed by Nicholas Ray in 1955. James Dean took the lead role, and strangely enough, he got the part because Elizabeth Taylor fell pregnant and the film had to be delayed.
What a special moment shared between the pair!
What a special moment shared between the pair!
A Nostalgic Photograph Showing How Times Have Changed
Nothing quite compares to the nostalgia of walking down memory lane as you browse through old photographs. Opening an old family album, laughing at baby photographs, and reflecting back on your childhood are special moments. However, nostalgia takes a turn when the pictures involve people that we idolize and moments that are unfamiliar. Let’s dive into a few nostalgic pictures of iconic celebrities, mundane historical moments, and life in the arts.
Kicking off our list is this photograph of a stewardess working for Southwest Airlines of Texas around 1972. Times have certainly changed! Not only is she not wearing a mask, but her outfit is a lot sexier than the usual corporate attire that we see when flying. Considering the kinky leather boots and flirtatious body language, it shouldn’t be surprising that drinks served during the flight have names such as 'Passion Punch' and 'Love Potion'.
Even the Best Need to Practice
The Rolling Stones is an iconic rock band that has remained active for six decades, becoming one of the most popular and enduring bands in rock history - but their success didn’t happen overnight.
As you can see in this picture of the Rolling Stones during a rehearsal in New York in 1978, the legendary band had to put in the hours in order to find success. What a perfect moment captured of Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, and Mick Jagger perfecting their vocals and instrumental sounds!
Licking an Ice Cream to Cool Down in the Heat of the Day
When you think of the James Bond actor's incredible talent, it’s easy to put Sean Connery on a pedestal. But while the Untouchables actor has a long list of successful films to his name, he is just another human, with normal needs. And who doesn’t need ice cream on a hot day!
In 1971, photographer Anwar Hussein snapped this moment of Sean Connery and American actress, Jill St. John, relaxing on the set of the Diamonds are Forever. Judging by their body language, the on-screen romance was translated off-screen as well.
Muhammad Ali Endures Mundane Activities
Muhammad Ali lived a long and successful life before dying at the ripe old age of 74, however, his later years were marked by various conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and spinal stenosis. The boxing legend chose a career that put his health at risk, despite the efforts invested in keeping him safe.
This picture shares a glimpse into the mandatory health checks that boxing professionals had to undergo before stepping into the ring. In this particular picture, snapped in Manila in 1975, Muhammad Ali rolls his eyes while being checked by a Filipino doctor. Once given the go-ahead, he would step into the ring and fight Joe Frazier for the heavyweight championship title - and win!
Even Superman Needs a Break
American actor, Christopher Reeve, has starred in many different films, including Death Trap and Somewhere in Time. Yet his most famous role is undoubtedly everyone’s favorite Marvel character - Superman!
While he may not be dressed in the skintight costume that is normally worn by the comic book hero, this picture of Christopher Reeve, snapped in 1986, still paints him as a swoon-worthy individual. Although he may not be soaring through the sky or ripping open a button-up shirt, we understand that even heroes need a little bit of downtime!
A Moment From the Live Charity Concert
The Live Aid charity concert was hosted on July 13, 1985, in Wembley Stadium in London. The mammoth event was organized to raise money for famine relief in Africa, and it was supported by countless rockstars and festival attendees, raising $127 million for the cause.
Included on the list of performers was renowned English singer, David Bowie, who sang Heroes in a moving performance Sadly, his appearance was overshadowed by the highly publicized appearance of Freddie Mercury and Queen. Regardless, this brief moment shows David Bowie looking dressed to impress, with laser focus.
A Collaboration of Musical Talent
What do you think when you hear the words “blue suede shoes”? Perhaps your mind drifts to a vision of Elvis Presley rocking out a performance on the stage? Did you know that Blue Suede Shoes is also the name of a documentary that details the revival of British rock ‘n roll?
Photographer Dave Hogan captured this moment of Beatles guitarist, George Harrison, and English rocker, Eric Clapton, during the recording of Blue Suede Shoes at Limehouse Studios in London. The moment was prepared in an effort to shine the light on the legendary rocker, Carl Perkins. If you look closely at the photograph then you’ll also spot Slim Jim Phantom and Ringo Starr in the background!
Taking American Rock to Brazil
Everyone knows AC/DC as the hardcore Australian rock band that dresses in traditional rock, grunge attire. What people don’t expect to see is the electrifying group wearing nothing but a pair of revealing swimming trunks - yet here they are
AC/DC members, Brain Johnson, Cliff Williams, Simon Wright, Angus Young, and Malcolm Young were relaxing at the beach in Ipanema in Brazil during a South American tour in January 1985 when they decided to do as the locals do - and let it all hang out. With all of the hard work that the group invested in producing good music, we’d say that they deserved the break!