Rare images of musicians by Henry Diltz unveiled at new exhibition

 
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A rare collection of images by music photographer Henry Diltz — including singer Mama Cass of the Mamas and the Papas dressed Cleopatra-style — has gone on display at the National Theatre.

Diltz, 75, was the official photographer of Woodstock in 1969 and shot album covers for artists including The Doors.

Henry Diltz Corbis

The photographs include one of David Crosby and Joni Mitchell gazing into each other’s eyes in the back of a car (a big yellow taxi?) in 1969. The shot of Cass was taken in the Californian desert a year earlier for a possible album cover, but ended up on a billboard on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip.

Diltz was a folk musician in the early Sixties, and became a photographer “by accident”. He said: “I picked up a camera and started photographing my group. It helped being a musician because I wasn’t seen as a photographer.”

Henry Diltz Corbis

Diltz took the photograph for the sleeve of The Doors’ 1970 record, Morrison Hotel. He said: “The Doors were fun to hang out with, everyone laughing… Jim [Morrison] was a very quiet guy… He would have loved the way he’s been mythologised.”

Both Sides Now is on at the National Theatre until June 14. Free entry. nationaltheatre.org.uk

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