Please allow them to introduce themselves. Hosted at London’s Dockside Vaults Rolling Stones Unseen 63′ will give audiences insight to the early days of the band until 10th September 2025. Immortalised by Gus Coral, the shots have finally found their stage after the documentary they were snapped for went unfinished over 60 years ago. Before the tragic death of Brian Jones in 1969, before the iconic Tongue and Lips logo, these never seen before images are true Rock n’ Roll treasures.
The Rolling Stones formed in 1962, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones and Charlie Watts are seen on the very edge of worldwide fame during their first tour in 1963, it’s described by Coral in one of the four interview clips played around the exhibition that American performers, Bo Diddley, The Everly Brothers and Little Richard were brought on tour with the new comers to help create buzz around the shows. The photographs show intimate conversations between musicians in-between performances as well as quiet moments alone when the 250 million records they’ve now sold worldwide, was just a dream.
I particularly enjoyed the shots from De Lane Lea Studios in Holborn, seen from the POV of the producer, they transport you back in time to imagine the flashing lights of the sound boards and tuning of the guitars, however my favourite image is one of Jagger with nothing but his mic on stage, his face has a subtle whisp of movement that’s almost ghostly, its as thought there’s nothing left in the world but his soul and the music.
London’s Dockland Vaults serve as a fitting setting for the exhibition; the space is sparsely decorated and dimly lit so nothing distracts from the large prints hung throughout. It’s a stark difference from what you might expect from the band if you’ve been to their shop on Carnaby Street, which is all bright lights and logo smothered. It’s equipped with a bar serving cocktails inspired by some of the band’s hits, ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ ‘Brown Sugar’ and ‘Satisfaction’, I went for the 11am slot as they opened and couldn’t quite justify drinking that early on a Sunday, but I was served a great cup of tea. I can imagine it being a great setting for a first date of an evening, with lots of space to sit with a drink, along with plenty of talking points providing you’re both music lovers.
Tickets start at £15, regrettably only available through Ticketmaster, you can also pick up a print to take part of the experience home with you. A must see for any music lover, an opportunity to look in down the lens of music history.
‘My brother, who was six years older than me, during the war was mixing with some of the American forces that were here and being given records of some of the early blues people and playing them in his room. I could hear it and that started this whole thing // Frank Sinatra? No thank you.’ – Gus Coral – Photographer.