An intimate shot of the Beatles backstage at the Cavern Club in 1963, featuring Neil Aspinall - a childhood friend of Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Aspinall was their road manager in the early days prior to becoming an executive at Apple Corps.
This image was captured in December 1963, a pivotal moment just before the Beatles achieved worldwide fame. Just a couple of weeks afterward, they would perform 40 concerts over 18 days in Paris before heading to America for their landmark appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Hatami, a seasoned photojournalist whose important work had appeared in major news magazines like LIFE and Paris Match, was sent to document the band the French media was buzzing about ahead of their visit. During his brief time with them as they enjoyed a moment of relaxation between two events in their hometown, Hatami captured a unique series of color photographs, in addition to black and white.
Hatami's extraordinary images are the earliest color photographs we've seen of the group, certainly inside the legendary Cavern Club.
An example from this edition is in the permanent collection of The Beatles Story Museum in Liverpool, England.
Release Notes:
This photograph was published in 2007 in two sizes, each in an edition of twenty-five pieces plus proofs. The entire edition in both sizes were printed, signed, and numbered by Shahrokh Hatami prior to his death in 2017.
This archival pigment print features a soft matte finish and is printed on soft white paper.
Collector's Notes:
Hatami printed, signed, and numbered this limited edition (plus proofs) in full in both sizes. There are no unsigned or estate-stamped posthumous prints.
NOTE: Limited quantities remain in both sizes. Please contact us with questions!
Buyers will receive a certificate of authenticity following the delivery of their new artwork.