John Rowlands
The Music Photo Gallery · Represented Photographer
Active since 1960

John Rowlands

B. Oshawa, Canada ·Active since 1960
John Rowlands
Portrait of the photographer
Biography

John Rowlands was born in Oshawa, Canada, in 1947. He took his first concert photographs at thirteen, at a Brenda Lee show in 1960, and met the singer afterwards. While still in high school he was selling prints and publishing in 16 Magazine.

He studied photography at Ryerson in Toronto. From the late 1960s through the 1980s he worked on the road with many of the leading performers of the period, among them David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, The Who and Bob Marley. He also photographed Queen, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Johnny Cash, Elton John, Rush and Michael Jackson, and RCA Canada hired him to photograph Elvis Presley in performance. His pictures were published in Time, Newsweek, Life and Rolling Stone.

Rowlands toured with David Bowie over several years. His photograph of Bowie at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, taken on February 26, 1976 and known as The Archer, was included in the Victoria and Albert Museum's 2013 exhibition David Bowie Is.

In the mid-1970s Rowlands was separated from most of his original negatives and transparencies, and stayed that way for more than four decades. The archive has since been returned to him and is being scanned from the originals.

The Music Photo Gallery presents a selection of photographs from the John Rowlands archive.

In the artist's
own words
I trust you. I like the way you see. I like the way you think.
David Bowie, to John Rowlands
Selected career exhibitions & projects

Career Exhibitions & Selected Projects

A selected record of museum and gallery presentations, publications, assignments and significant projects from John Rowlands's career.

Type
Title
Venue
Year
Exhibition
David Bowie Is
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK
2013
Exhibition
David Bowie Is
MAMbo — Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bologna, Italy
2016
Moving image & archive

Films, Interviews
& Television

Documentaries, recorded interviews and television appearances from the archive.

John Rowlands (Rock N Roll Photographer) - London Lights S1E11 | Rogers tv
TV

John Rowlands (Rock N Roll Photographer) - London Lights S1E11 | Rogers tv

TV2021

In this London Lights episode, host Dan Mailer interviews John Rowlands about photographing The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, and working closely with David Bowie.

Photographer John Rowlands
TV

Photographer John Rowlands

TV2013

John Rowlands presents his David Bowie exhibition on CTV Morning Live.

Interview with John Rowlands - Part 1
Interview

Interview with John Rowlands - Part 1

Interview2019

An in-depth interview with John Rowlands about his early career and stories involving Elvis Presley, Conway Twitty, KISS, B.B. King, The Rolling Stones and The Who.

Rockburn Presents - John Rowlands
Interview

Rockburn Presents - John Rowlands

Interview2014

Ken Rockburn interviews John Rowlands in Ottawa about his photography career, from early photographs of Brenda Lee to work with The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones and David Bowie.

Selected Press

In the press.

Oxford Today

John Rowlands’ Shooting Stars captures rock’s golden era through the lens

Feature on Rowlands’ five-decade career and the memoir Shooting Stars: Telling Tales Behind the Lens with John Rowlands (September 2025).

Global News

Global News Morning chats with renowned photographer John Rowlands

11-minute television interview about his career and Rock N Roll Memories, May 16, 2022. Includes video.

The Johnny Rogers Show

Lost Rock & Roll Archive FOUND After 45 Years

John Rowlands and Bob Klanac discuss recovering the photographer's archive and their book; filmed/podcast interview, 2026.

Victoria and Albert Museum

David Bowie Is — Press Release

The V&A names John Rowlands among the photographers whose Bowie portraits featured in the 2013 exhibition.

The Wire Megazine

Interview: Iconic John Rowlands Photographer to the Stars

An extended interview with Rowlands about his early career, touring with major musicians and the stories behind his photographs.

Hot Press

Details for David Bowie Festival 2019 announced

The festival announcement features Rowlands and his planned visual presentation and discussion of his years photographing Bowie.

Billboard Canada

Music Biz Headlines, Jan. 24, 2020

Billboard Canada highlights a London, Ontario presentation and exhibit featuring Rowlands and his rock photography.

Toronto Mike'd

John Rowlands: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1632

Rowlands discusses photographing Bowie, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and other musicians; Bob Klanac joins the conversation about Shooting Stars.