Looking Back at Linda McCartney’s Photographic Work on Her Birthday
Linda built a successful career as one of best Rock photographers during the 60’s
Looking Back at Linda McCartney’s Photographic Work on Her Birthday
Linda McCartney is better known as being the wife of Beatle Paul McCartney, with whom she got married in 1969, but Linda had already built a successful career as a Rock photographer during the 60’s. Through her camera lens she photographed iconic names such as The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Grace Slick, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Eric Clapton, Simon & Garfunkel, the Who, the Doors, the Animals, John Lennon and Neil Young among many others. We celebrate her life by looking at some of her best photographs.
Linda McCartney, born Linda Eastman on September 24, 1941, in Scarsdale, New York, grew up in an affluent family. Her father was a successful entertainment lawyer, but despite a common misconception, Linda had no connection to the Eastman Kodak family. She developed a passion for the arts and attended the University of Arizona, where she studied art history.
Linda’s interest in photography blossomed after college, and she moved to New York City, where she worked as a receptionist at Town & Country magazine. There, she found opportunities to photograph musicians and performers, which ignited her career as a rock photographer.
Linda gained recognition in the 1960s as one of the first women to photograph rock and roll stars. Her candid portraits of artists such as Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan appeared in leading magazines. Her work was notable for its intimacy, often capturing musicians in unguarded moments. In 1968, she became the first female photographer to have her work featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, with her iconic shot of Eric Clapton.
Linda met Paul McCartney of The Beatles in 1967 while photographing the band in London. They married on March 12, 1969, and their partnership became one of the most famous in rock history. After The Beatles disbanded in 1970, Linda and Paul formed the band Wings, where Linda played keyboards and provided backing vocals. While Linda faced criticism for her musicianship, she developed her skills over time and remained an integral part of Wings, contributing to the band’s success throughout the 1970s with hits like “Band on the Run” and “Live and Let Die.”
Linda’s involvement in music alongside Paul reflected their deep personal and professional bond, which endured through the highs and lows of both fame and personal life.
Beyond her music career, Linda was a passionate advocate for animal rights and a vegetarian lifestyle. In the 1970s, she and Paul became committed vegetarians, and she authored several vegetarian cookbooks, including “Linda McCartney’s Home Cooking” (1989). She also launched Linda McCartney Foods, a successful line of vegetarian and vegan products, which remains popular today.
Linda was also dedicated to raising awareness for animal welfare and environmental issues, becoming an influential voice in both movements.
In 1995, Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer, which later spread. She passed away on April 17, 1998, at the age of 56, at the McCartneys’ ranch in Tucson, Arizona. Her death was a profound loss for her family and fans.
Linda McCartney’s legacy lives on through her photography, music, and activism. Her work as a pioneering photographer of the 1960s rock scene and her commitment to animal rights and vegetarianism remains influential.
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