McCartney’s Lens Captures Beatles’ Dawn of Fame

Rare Photos Reveal Intimate Moments Before Global Stardom

Unseen photographs captured by Paul McCartney during the Beatles’ ascent to worldwide fame are set to be unveiled in a new London exhibition. The collection offers an intimate glimpse into the nascent stages of global stardom for the iconic band.

‘Rearview Mirror’ Exhibition Opens

“Rearview Mirror: Liverpool-London-Paris” will feature 18 images taken by the legendary musician in late 1963 and early 1964. This period followed the release of the Beatles’ debut album and preceded their groundbreaking journey to the United States.

Joshua Chuang, Gagosian’s director of photography, noted that the photographs capture the Beatles before their overwhelming fame. He stated, “When Paul is most prolific when using his camera parallels the time in which they actually had time. When they weren’t so overwhelmed by being so overexposed and in demand.”

Chuang added that this was a “precious few months in which they’re realising who they are, who they are to other people, and want to participate in that image formation.”

A Defining Period for the Beatles

In 1963, the Beatles released “Please Please Me” and “With the Beatles,” igniting their rise to prominence with their distinctive “northern-flavoured sound.” The following year saw the release of hits like “A Hard Day’s Night” and further albums that cemented their global phenomenon status.

McCartney began documenting this pivotal era with a simple Pentax camera. He primarily used black and white film, with a few colour shots from early 1964. This was long before the band became some of the most photographed individuals on the planet.

Chuang commented, “I think they knew that history was happening. They wanted to capture it, and do it themselves. They picked a camera for the same reason anyone does, to have your own view.”

Personal Reflections and Parisian Moments

The exhibition also includes reflective self-portraits taken by McCartney before live performances and interviews. One such self-portrait was taken in the attic of his then-girlfriend, actress Jane Asher, a place also associated with the writing of “Yesterday.”

Chuang observed, “When life is happening so quickly and changing so quickly, you don’t often have a chance to stop and look at yourself in the mirror. And I really think that’s exactly what he’s doing: looking at himself in the near and wanting to crystallise that moment, not knowing what was going to happen next.”

The exhibition touches upon the band’s early experiences abroad, where they sometimes faced muted receptions. McCartney’s photographs from Paris suggest a less-than-overwhelming response in the French capital. Images depict modest crowds outside the Olympia theatre and a walk down the Champs-Élysées where John Lennon could still move with relative freedom.

Some of these images were previously featured in the 2023 exhibition “Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm,” showcasing photos McCartney rediscovered during the pandemic.