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)

Leif Garrett

Image credits: Brad Elterman

Freddy Mercury

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Paul McCartney

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Anna Nicole Smith

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Brooke Shields

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Abba

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Debbie Harry

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Steve Jones (Sex Pistols )

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Carly Simon and husband James Taylor

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Joan Jett, 1977

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Joan Jett, 1977

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Bob Dylan, 1974

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The Ramones, 1978

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Ringo, John Lennon and Yoko, 1976

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Debbie Harry, 1977

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Robert Plant, 1978

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The Runaways, 1979

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Travolta & Olivia GREASE PARTY, 1978

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Dog Den, 1977

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David Byrne Of The Talking Heads UCLA, 1976

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Bebe Buell And Stiv Bators, 1978

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Duran, 1982

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Norman Vane, 1980

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Matt Dillon, 1980

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Cherie and her twin, 1977

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Travolta & Olivia GREASE PARTY, 1978

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Adam Ant, 1978

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Mark Mothersbaugh, 1980

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KISS, 1978

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Burt, 1977

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Bob Dylan, 1976

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John Taylor, 1981

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Cherrie Currie, 1977

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Ian Hunter, 1977

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Chuck Berry and Michael Jackson, 1979

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The Farmers Market, 1975

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Bob Dylan 1976

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Joan Jett and Jackie Fox, 1977

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Runaways, 1978

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Kiss and Brooke Shields, 1978

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Mark Mothersbaugh, 1980

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John Travolta, 1978

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Kim Fowley, 1977

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The Industrialists, 1977

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Lita For of The Runaways, 1978

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Alice Cooper & Vincent Price, 1978

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Kim Fowley, 1977

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Madonna, 1982

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Tom, Todd & Bebe, 1978

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Michael Jackson, 1978

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Norman Vane, 1980

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Kim Fowley

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The Ramones, 1978

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Rod Stewart, 1976

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Frank Sinatra, 1980

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Phil Spector, 1976

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David Bowie, 1975

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Debbie Harry, 1978

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Cherie Currie and Secret Twin Sister, 1978

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Bob Dylan, 1976

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Joan Jett, 1977

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Joan Jett, 1977

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Joan Jett, 1977

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Joan Jett, 1977

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Leif Garrett, 1980

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Runaways, 1976

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Muhammad Ali

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Cherie Currie of The Runaways, 1977

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Cherie Currie of The Runaways, 1977

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Christiane F., 1978

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Christiane F. 1978

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Cherie Currie of The Runaways, 1977

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Duran, 1982

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Bob Dylan, 1976

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Christiane F. 1978

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Ryan & Farrah, 1980

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The Playboy Mansion

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Iggy “No Photos” Pop, 1980

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Michael Jackson

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Michael And Liza, 1980

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Joan Jett, 1977

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Joan Jett, 1977

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Joey Ramone, 1979

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Valley Chicks, 1977

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Michael With Tatum, 1982

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Nina Hagen

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Jerry Schneider, 1980

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Peter Frampton, 1978

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Rodney And Backstage Pass, 1977

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Ron Gallela, 1976

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Sid Vicious, 1978

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Steve Jones, 1980

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Cherie Currie, 1977

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Steve Jones, 1978

Image credits: Brad Elterman