Taking Mick Jagger’s Photo

An NYC Story (August 1981)

Mick Jagger in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC, 1981

In late August of 1981, I was doing my laundry across the street from my local bar, Amy's, on Ninth Avenue near 55th Street, in Hell's Kitchen, New York City.

I noticed there were two teenage girls jumping up and down while talking to a couple of guys in front of the bar. I squinted through the hazy July sunlight, and saw one of the guys was Mick Jagger. Start Me Up, the first single from the Rolling Stones album Tattoo You had been playing on the radio for a few days, on WNEW. When I moved to New York City in late May of 1978, Miss You, the hit single from Some Girls was the soundtrack of that summer in NYC, blasting out from boom boxes and portable radios on hot summer afternoons, as I walked through Central Park during my first few months in the city.

Since I happened to have my pocket-sized Olympus camera with me, I decided to see if Mick would be open to me taking a photo of him.

I walked across the street and went into Amy’s. Inside the cool and empty bar, where there were no other patrons besides Mick Jagger and Bill Graham (Fillmore West and East, legendary rock promoter) who were having lunch. I sat and ordered a beer at the bar, and waited for them to finish eating.

I went up to Mick and said, "Pardon me, I couldn't help noticing you're Mick Jagger."

He looked up at me and nodded.

I pulled my camera out of my pocket and said, "Would you mind if I take your photo when you go outside?"

Pause. Mick glances over at Bill Graham. Bill Graham offers no reaction.

I said, "I'm not a professional photographer, or anything like that."

Mick said, "I didn't know there was such a thing."

I laughed, and started to turn and walk away. Figured it was worth a try.

Then Mick shrugged and said, "All right, all right."

Outside on Ninth Avenue, in the early afternoon heat, I pointed the camera at Mick Jagger and he reached over and touched my hand, while saying, "You've got your finger on the lens."

I said, "Oh, thanks."

Then I took this photo.