Photographer found the negatives after 45 years
Between 1969 and 1973, renowned photographer Michael Friedman took over 1000 photos of famous artists of the time. Most of these photos were developed and published. However, before developing all the photos, Friedman thought he had lost the negatives since he never saw them again.
In 2017, forty-five years later, the photographer found the negatives in the attic of his house. As a result, the California Heritage Museum mounted an exhibition of the never-before-seen photos: “ Rock & Roll Legends: The Lost Negatives of Michael Friedman” .
The photos found feature black and white images of rock icons such as The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, The Band, Todd Rundgren, Gordon Lightfoot, Paul Butterfield, James Cotton, Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, and others.
The exhibition opens on April 14th and is scheduled to remain until July 15th in Santa Monica, California, when it will travel to be displayed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
“Looking back now, I think the late 60s and early 70s were the best time in the history of American music,” declared Michael Friedman. “There were so many talented young songwriters and musicians during that period, and I was very fortunate to be able to work with them early in my career.”
“I always wanted to capture the moment. No one is posing for me in the photos because I wasn’t a hired photographer, but rather part of the team and a friend of theirs ,” Friedman stated.
Check out some of the photos that will be on display:
