On Saturday 4 May 1963, Rolling Stones Manager Andrew Loog Oldham arranged for the band's first professional publicity photo shoot, which was done with celebrity photographer Philip Townsend.

Townsend had met Oldham by chance in Monte Carlo just before ALO began managing The Stones.

According to Townsend, “He told me ‘I'm going to back to England, I'm going to find a rock and roll band and I'm going to turn them into the greatest rock and roll band in the world.

“We asked what they were called. He said: 'I don't know yet, I haven't found them. But when I go back to England I'm going to find them - and you can photograph them if you like.'”

On the day of the shoot, Townsend drove the five Stones around London in his four-seat Ford Capri Mark I to be photographed at various locations.

Shown below is the first photograph taken on that day, in the middle of Ifield Road with a No Parking sign looming behind them.



Full story and quotes from Townshend at: [www.mirror.co.uk]

Outside the Australian Pub in London. (Philip Townshend)

London, 1963. (Philip Townsend)

(Philip Townsend)

(Philip Townsend)

(Philip Townsend)

(Philip Townsend)

(Philip Townsend)

(Philip Townsend)

(Philip Townsend)

(Philip Townsend)

(Philip Townsend)

(Philip Townsend)

I always liked the Michael Joseph pictures, they're really fun and cool.

This is the first picture of The Stones I remembered seeing, as I was contemplating investing in Hot Rocks as my first Stones purchase...



And of course I like the others from the session

(Philip Townsend)

(Philip Townsend)

Quote
stonehearted

(Philip Townsend)

Who the hell thought it would be a good idea for Bill to do the "Calendar Girl" pose?

Mick Jagger. (Philip Townsend)

Signing some of their earliest autographs. (Philip Townsend)

Peeking in from the wings of stage left at Mick and Keith in performance. (Philip Townsend)

Mick and Keith onstage. (Philip Townsend)

View from the wings of stage left of all five Stones in performance. (Philip Townsend)

Brian Jones in performance (left) with Bill Wyman seated (right). (Philip Townsend)

Great Photo's !!! thanks for posting

Brian Jones backstage. (Philip Townsend)

Keith Richards backstage. (Philip Townsend)

(Philip Townsend)

Andrew Loog Oldham holding his aspirations up high. (Philip Townsend)

Brian Jones signs an autograph. (Philip Townsend)