An exhibition of 36 rare photographs taken by Paul McCartney in the early ‘60s is opening this week in Los Angeles.
Rearview Mirror: Photographs, December 1963-February 1964 is opening on Friday (April 25) at Gagosian Art Gallery and will run until June 21.
The collection includes photographs that were recently rediscovered by the Beatles legend and have never been shown before, as well as some that were featured in his 2023 photography book Eyes Of The Storm.
Among them are snaps taken during the band’s stay at the Hotel Deauville in Miami Beach in early 1964 as they were preparing for their legendary breakthrough appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Watch McCartney reflect on the collection below and explore the collection here.
“We didn’t really know how important Ed Sullivan was, we hadn’t heard of him,” McCartney says in the clip. “By the time we got to America, that was the coolest thing. But when we went on this show, we didn’t realize the significance. It’s just another TV show, we thought.”
Following the exhibition, the photos, which are all signed by McCartney, will be going on sale, with expected prices ranging from $15,000 to $90,000 (£11,000 to £68,000). Proceeds will go to benefit efforts for those affected by the devastating California wildfires.
In other Beatles nostalgia news, an early audition tape recorded by the band in 1962 has been discovered in Vancouver store Neptoon Records.
McCartney also recently announced details of a new book titled Wings: The Story Of A Band On The Run. It is described as “a rousing, stereophonic celebration of the songs, collaborations and performances that would shape the soundtrack of the late 20th century”, and it is set to contain countless previously-unseen photographs.
He has also teased that he hopes to finish a new solo album this year and he recently played three surprise intimate gigs in New York City.
