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Brad Elterman is a professional photographer from California, who started his incredible career at the age of 16 when his first image was published. It was a photo of Bob Dylan in concert in 1974 and it was his ticket to the backstage of the rock 'n' roll world.

The artist focused on candid moments of celebrities. "I wasn't a traditional rock 'n' roll photographer because I didn't give a shit about taking a photograph of someone holding a guitar," he told vice. That's what all the other photographers at the time were doing, and I wasn't interested in those generic concert pictures. I photographed backstage—those were the really exciting pictures that told a story; those were the images that the magazines were craving."

Now, 40 years later, Brad Elterman is still an incredibly popular photographer whose style has not changed much. "It hasn't changed at all. Most of the editors today tell me not to change anything and shoot it just like I was back there in 1977 with Joan Jett."

More info: Instagram (h/t)

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    #3

    Chuck Berry And Michael Jackson, 1979

    Chuck Berry And Michael Jackson, 1979

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    robbie2499
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Look how handsome MJ was! He's a great example of one "not comfortable in their own skin". Tragic.

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    #6

    Joan Jett, 1977

    Joan Jett, 1977

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    Sabal Minor
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Get those nasty shoes off the sheets! Joan Jett was such the rocker! So put another dime in the jukebox, baby!

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    #8

    John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, 1978

    John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, 1978

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    #9

    The Ramones, 1978

    The Ramones, 1978

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    #11

    Gene Simmons And Brooke Shields, 1978

    Gene Simmons And Brooke Shields, 1978

    Brad Elterman Report

    #13

    Madonna, 1982

    Madonna, 1982

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    Apollo
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A much more interesting shot than what the guys in front of her get.

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    #18

    John Travolta, 1978

    John Travolta, 1978

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    Patti
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So sad he is a Scientologist. They are so brainwashed. It's a horrible cult

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    #19

    Muhammad Ali

    Muhammad Ali

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    #20

    Ringo, John Lennon And Yoko, 1976

    Ringo, John Lennon And Yoko, 1976

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    Missy Finley
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cannot stand Yoko, and I'm sorry but John Lennon was a pretentious prick. Sorry, but it's the truth.

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    #22

    Iggy "No Photos" Pop, 1980

    Iggy "No Photos" Pop, 1980

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    #31

    Debbie Harry

    Debbie Harry

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    Sabal Minor
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love my Deborah Harry! Gorgeous, fun, and can sing like a m**o! Small tidbit fact: she popularized rap music on her mid 80s album with Blondie. I hated it then and I hate (rap

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    #33

    Adam Ant, 1978

    Adam Ant, 1978

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    Cherie O
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What a total cutie. Had a crush on him along with Duran Duran...

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    #36

    Michael With Tatum, 1982

    Michael With Tatum, 1982

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    #37

    Paul Stanley From Kiss, 1978

    Paul Stanley From Kiss, 1978

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    #40

    Cherie Currie And Secret Twin Sister, 1978

    Cherie Currie And Secret Twin Sister, 1978

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    #43

    Cherie Currie Of The Runaways, 1977

    Cherie Currie Of The Runaways, 1977

    Brad Elterman Report

    #45

    Carly Simon And Husband James Taylor

    Carly Simon And Husband James Taylor

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    Sabal Minor
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Never realized she was from the wealthy publishing company of Simon & Shutter fame until just a few years ago! She is and was a diva probably way too sophisticated for ol' James. He was cool but his music was so mellow it put me to sleep! Still admire the f**k out of them! Cheers!

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    #47

    Runaways, 1978

    Runaways, 1978

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    #50

    Steve Jones, 1978

    Steve Jones, 1978

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    #53

    Debbie Harry, 1978

    Debbie Harry, 1978

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    #59

    Bob Dylan, 1974

    Bob Dylan, 1974

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    Seraina Caflisch
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    as much as I like and respect the songs he wrote, I cannot stand his voice and wish he would have let someone else sing his tunes

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    #60

    Cherrie Currie, 1977

    Cherrie Currie, 1977

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    Fire Bird
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She has a Bowie belt buckle and Joan has a Bowie T-shirt in a pic before this one.

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    #61

    Mark Mothersbaugh, 1980

    Mark Mothersbaugh, 1980

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    Rebekah
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What... what is happening here? Keep your quilted, shiny pants on, goldnipplelady.

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    #63

    Cherie Currie, 1977

    Cherie Currie, 1977

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    Tui Babbington
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Love the Marie Currie tagged on the bottom of the poster (was she the secret twin by this time???)...

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    #65

    Nina Hagen

    Nina Hagen

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    Kjorn
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    where's Copen... because... Copen... Hagen... got it?... (blush in shame)

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    #67

    Mark Mothersbaugh, 1980

    Mark Mothersbaugh, 1980

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    #71

    Steve Jones From Sex Pistols

    Steve Jones From Sex Pistols

    Brad Elterman Report

    #72

    Cherie Currie Of The Runaways, 1977

    Cherie Currie Of The Runaways, 1977

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    #74

    The Industrialists, 1977

    The Industrialists, 1977

    Brad Elterman Report

    #77

    Leif Garrett

    Leif Garrett

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    #78

    Bob Dylan 1976

    Bob Dylan 1976

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    Heather Johnson
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I swear he looks exactly the same in every one of these pictures. Same facial expression.

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    #79

    The Playboy Mansion

    The Playboy Mansion

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    TJ
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Amazing man - a HIGH SCHOOL NERD that loved taking pictures of girls... turned his hobby into a revolutionary Billion dollar enterprise.

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    #80

    Burt, 1977

    Burt, 1977

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    #82

    Bob Dylan, 1976

    Bob Dylan, 1976

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    TJ
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this hook-nose can hardly walk and talk, I wouldn't let him drive my little red wagon.

    #83

    Ian Hunter, 1977

    Ian Hunter, 1977

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    #84

    Kim Fowley, 1977

    Kim Fowley, 1977

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    #85

    Cherie Currie Of The Runaways, 1977

    Cherie Currie Of The Runaways, 1977

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    #86

    Christiane F. 1978

    Christiane F. 1978

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    #87

    Ron Gallela, 1976

    Ron Gallela, 1976

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    #88

    Dog Den, 1977

    Dog Den, 1977

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    #89

    Bebe Buell And Stiv Bators, 1978

    Bebe Buell And Stiv Bators, 1978

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    Robert Maybeth
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Liv Tyler's mom (with Steven Tyler). Clearly we know where Liv got her good looks. Lucky for her.

    #92

    Jerry Schneider, 1980

    Jerry Schneider, 1980

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