PORTLAND, ME.- Rock and Roll provided the soundtrack to American culture in the late 20th century. Drawn from the largest private collection of photographs of rock musicians in the United States, Backstage Pass: Rock & Roll Photography captures the intimate relationship between photographer and musician. Featuring 300 photographs—many rarely seen by the public—the exhibition will include studio portraits and candid outtakes of famous rock and roll stars from Elvis Presley and Jimi Hendrix to Madonna and Courtney Love. Backstage Pass: Rock & Roll Photography is on view January 22 through March 22, 2009 at the Portland Museum of Art .

The relationship between Rock and Roll and photography is intimate and profound. A rock musician’s career is predicated on a cult of personality—the ability to strike a pose and live the life—just as much as command of an instrument. Photographers have flocked to rock musicians for the fleeting opportunity to capture celebrity both on and off stage. Backstage Pass will feature images taken of famous musicians including Elvis, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Janis Joplin, The Who, Patti Smith, John Coltrane, Chet Baker, Grace Jones, Madonna, U2, Moby, Courtney Love, and Kurt Cobain, among many others. These classic images were captured by more than 50 photographers including Lee Friedlander, Kate Simon, Laura Levine, Baron Wolman, Bob Gruen, Jim Marshall, and Lynn Goldsmith.