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Brad Elterman is a professional photographer from California, who started his incredible career at the age of 16 when his first image was published. It was a photo of Bob Dylan in concert in 1974 and it was his ticket to the backstage of the rock 'n' roll world.

The artist focused on candid moments of celebrities. "I wasn't a traditional rock 'n' roll photographer because I didn't give a shit about taking a photograph of someone holding a guitar," he told vice. That's what all the other photographers at the time were doing, and I wasn't interested in those generic concert pictures. I photographed backstage—those were the really exciting pictures that told a story; those were the images that the magazines were craving."

Now, 40 years later, Brad Elterman is still an incredibly popular photographer whose style has not changed much. "It hasn't changed at all. Most of the editors today tell me not to change anything and shoot it just like I was back there in 1977 with Joan Jett."

More info: Instagram (h/t)

#3

Chuck Berry And Michael Jackson, 1979

Chuck Berry And Michael Jackson, 1979

Brad Elterman Report

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robbie2499
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Look how handsome MJ was! He's a great example of one "not comfortable in their own skin". Tragic.

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#6

Joan Jett, 1977

Joan Jett, 1977

Brad Elterman Report

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Sabal Minor
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Get those nasty shoes off the sheets! Joan Jett was such the rocker! So put another dime in the jukebox, baby!

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#8

John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, 1978

John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, 1978

Brad Elterman Report

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#9

The Ramones, 1978

The Ramones, 1978

Brad Elterman Report

#11

Gene Simmons And Brooke Shields, 1978

Gene Simmons And Brooke Shields, 1978

Brad Elterman Report

#13

Madonna, 1982

Madonna, 1982

Brad Elterman Report

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Apollo
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A much more interesting shot than what the guys in front of her get.

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#18

John Travolta, 1978

John Travolta, 1978

Brad Elterman Report

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Patti
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So sad he is a Scientologist. They are so brainwashed. It's a horrible cult

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#19

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali

Brad Elterman Report

#20

Ringo, John Lennon And Yoko, 1976

Ringo, John Lennon And Yoko, 1976

Brad Elterman Report

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Missy Finley
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cannot stand Yoko, and I'm sorry but John Lennon was a pretentious prick. Sorry, but it's the truth.

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#22

Iggy "No Photos" Pop, 1980

Iggy "No Photos" Pop, 1980

Brad Elterman Report

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#31

Debbie Harry

Debbie Harry

Brad Elterman Report

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Sabal Minor
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love my Deborah Harry! Gorgeous, fun, and can sing like a m**o! Small tidbit fact: she popularized rap music on her mid 80s album with Blondie. I hated it then and I hate (rap

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#33

Adam Ant, 1978

Adam Ant, 1978

Brad Elterman Report

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Cherie O
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a total cutie. Had a crush on him along with Duran Duran...

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#36

Michael With Tatum, 1982

Michael With Tatum, 1982

Brad Elterman Report

#37

Paul Stanley From Kiss, 1978

Paul Stanley From Kiss, 1978

Brad Elterman Report

#40

Cherie Currie And Secret Twin Sister, 1978

Cherie Currie And Secret Twin Sister, 1978

Brad Elterman Report

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#43

Cherie Currie Of The Runaways, 1977

Cherie Currie Of The Runaways, 1977

Brad Elterman Report

#45

Carly Simon And Husband James Taylor

Carly Simon And Husband James Taylor

Brad Elterman Report

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Sabal Minor
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never realized she was from the wealthy publishing company of Simon & Shutter fame until just a few years ago! She is and was a diva probably way too sophisticated for ol' James. He was cool but his music was so mellow it put me to sleep! Still admire the f**k out of them! Cheers!

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#47

Runaways, 1978

Runaways, 1978

Brad Elterman Report

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#50

Steve Jones, 1978

Steve Jones, 1978

Brad Elterman Report

#53

Debbie Harry, 1978

Debbie Harry, 1978

Brad Elterman Report

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#59

Bob Dylan, 1974

Bob Dylan, 1974

Brad Elterman Report

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Seraina Caflisch
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

as much as I like and respect the songs he wrote, I cannot stand his voice and wish he would have let someone else sing his tunes

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#60

Cherrie Currie, 1977

Cherrie Currie, 1977

Brad Elterman Report

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Fire Bird
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She has a Bowie belt buckle and Joan has a Bowie T-shirt in a pic before this one.

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#61

Mark Mothersbaugh, 1980

Mark Mothersbaugh, 1980

Brad Elterman Report

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Rebekah
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What... what is happening here? Keep your quilted, shiny pants on, goldnipplelady.

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#63

Cherie Currie, 1977

Cherie Currie, 1977

Brad Elterman Report

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Tui Babbington
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love the Marie Currie tagged on the bottom of the poster (was she the secret twin by this time???)...

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#65

Nina Hagen

Nina Hagen

Brad Elterman Report

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Kjorn
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

where's Copen... because... Copen... Hagen... got it?... (blush in shame)

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#67

Mark Mothersbaugh, 1980

Mark Mothersbaugh, 1980

Brad Elterman Report

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#71

Steve Jones From Sex Pistols

Steve Jones From Sex Pistols

Brad Elterman Report

#72

Cherie Currie Of The Runaways, 1977

Cherie Currie Of The Runaways, 1977

Brad Elterman Report

#74

The Industrialists, 1977

The Industrialists, 1977

Brad Elterman Report

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#77

Leif Garrett

Leif Garrett

Brad Elterman Report

#78

Bob Dylan 1976

Bob Dylan 1976

Brad Elterman Report

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Heather Johnson
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I swear he looks exactly the same in every one of these pictures. Same facial expression.

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#79

The Playboy Mansion

The Playboy Mansion

Brad Elterman Report

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TJ
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Amazing man - a HIGH SCHOOL NERD that loved taking pictures of girls... turned his hobby into a revolutionary Billion dollar enterprise.

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#80

Burt, 1977

Burt, 1977

Brad Elterman Report

#82

Bob Dylan, 1976

Bob Dylan, 1976

Brad Elterman Report

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TJ
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this hook-nose can hardly walk and talk, I wouldn't let him drive my little red wagon.

#83

Ian Hunter, 1977

Ian Hunter, 1977

Brad Elterman Report

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#84

Kim Fowley, 1977

Kim Fowley, 1977

Brad Elterman Report

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#85

Cherie Currie Of The Runaways, 1977

Cherie Currie Of The Runaways, 1977

Brad Elterman Report

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