You ain’t giving me no quarter / I’d rather drink sea water / I wish I’d never brought you / It’s gonna be the death of me.
Soul survivor, soul survivor / Soul survivor, soul survivor / Soul survivor, soul survivor / Soul survivor, soul survivor / Gonna be the death of me / It’s gonna be the death of me.
© Dominique Tarlé
© Ethan Russell
From the very first notes of Soul Survivor, Keith Richards’ crazy voice sings in witness voice on this pre-release and lays down lyrics that are more mumbled than spoken in Mick Jagger’s absence. A little later, Keith’s guitar will split the air and will take the title in another dimension in full rhythmic verve. This version of Soul Survivor is from the reissue ofExile on Main Street, one of the best Rolling Stones albums.
© Dominique Tarlé
© Dominique Tarlé
On May 10, 2010 a new edition of Exile on Main Street was released with 10 new tracks. This album, lukewarmly received at its release in 1972, became over the years one of the favorite albums of the rock critics but also of the fans of the English band. First and only studio album of the Rolling Stones, Exile on Main Street explores all the facets of American popular music: rock’n’roll with Rock Off, blues through Ventilator Blues, soul and gospel with Stop Breaking Down… Since then, this album has become a classic of the band and has left its mark as a symbol of the “Stones way of life” but also of the Keith Richards style.
© Ethan Russell
© Ethan Russell
In the early 70’s, the Rolling Stones left England to escape the taxman and settled on the French Riviera in the famous Villa Nellcôte which quickly became the temple of heroin, girls and rock’n’roll. From the very first notes, all the wetness of Louisiana and Tennessee surrounds us and takes us gently towards transgression, so strong is the presence of Keith Richards. The multi-millionaire artist, in his huge property, burns dollars in illicit substances, spends his time in the sun with his friends and groupies during the day and records his rock at night.
© Dominique Tarlé
© Dominique Tarlé
To celebrate the reissue ofExile on Main Street, the Galerie de l’instant presents until September 22, 2010 the work of two photographers, witnesses and friends of the group: Dominique Tarlé and Ethan Russell. Dominique Tarlé came to greet his friend Keith and spend a day at the Villa. He was invited to stay and share the life of the artists for more than six months, thus witnessing their family life, their daily life and the recording of the album. He made a series of images that have since become cult and is known by all fans as the only photographer to have lived with the Rolling Stones!
As for Ethan Russell, he started photographing the band in 1969, following them on many tours, living with them the terrible concert in Altamont in 1969 or the huge American tour in 1972, when the album was released.
© Dominique Tarlé
© Dominique Tarlé
His black and white images are presented in France for the first time in a two-part exhibition. Beyond a simple exhibition on the greatest rock band of all time, these photos are above all a conversation between two artists recalling and confronting their vision of the band, sharing intimate moments and approaching their truth of the Rolling Stones. And it works admirably as the photos complement each other and give us a semblance of an answer to the mystery of Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, the two emblematic members of the band.
© Ethan Russell
© Ethan Russell
These snapshots of life are emotional, powerful and we don’t feel any photographer’s ego but the benevolent and respectful glance of two witnesses of an era. Introduced into the extraordinary daily life of a mythical group, the group becomes even more endearing. A true return to the past, we penetrate the backstage and the depths of a world rarely explored so closely. Marianne Faithfull smiles on one of the photographs while we catch ourselves watching Jimmy Hendricks in the locker room.
© Dominique Tarle
© Ethan Russell
Technically perfect, these photographs bring us closer to the myth of the Rolling Stones. Taken by two exceptional photographers whose humanity is palpable even in their smile, these memories make me feel like a time machine, as I felt so close to the group and these moments they agreed to share with us, poor mortals ….
Photo credit: with the courtesy of Galerie de l’Instant
LA GALERIE DE L’INSTANT
46 rue de Poitou 75003 Paris / tel: 01 44 54 94 09
www.lagaleriedelinstant.com
Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11.00 to 19.00
Marie-Odile Radom
Cette publication est également disponible en : Français (French)
