The latest special exhibition at the Walker takes a look at the life work of infamous celebrity photographer Terry O’Neil, giving Liverpool a rare glimpse into the innocent pre-fame lives of some of the best known stars, as well as snap shots of the celebs’ at their peak. Terry O’Neill was one of a small group of London-based photographers who helped to define the 60’s as we know them - producing some of the best known images both in Britain and America as he travelled to Hollywood at 24 and famously working for publications like Life magazine photographing scenes such as Frank Sinatra filming on Miami Beach.
 | | Terry O'Neill, National Portrait Gallery |
The exhibition is narrated with O’Neill’s personal memories and stories behind the photographs, a black and white photo of David Bowie holding Elizabeth Taylor closely round the waste has a quote that reads “David was two hours late for his first meeting with Liz, which I had arranged at George Cukor’s house. He arrived dishevelled and out of it. Liz was pretty annoyed and on the verge of leaving, but we managed to persuade her to stay…” With others it’s the insight into the timing of the pieces on the plaques which lure the onlooker into a time when rock and roll was new, such as a photo taken when the Beatles’ were about to release their first single, and a similar group photo of the Rolling Stones only two years after they had formed and before they released their initial single and massive hit ‘Come On’. | "David was two hours late for his first meeting with Liz, which I had arranged at George Cukor’s house. He arrived dishevelled and out of it..." | | Terry O'Neill |
These early photographs are some of the most insightful, as you compare the images of professional polished celebrities that we’re accustomed to seeing today with the innocent and amateur-like poses of some of the stars in this exhibition. In one photo a relatively unknown Twiggy stands sheepishly next to her mother in the doorway of her house, a year before she became the world’s first supermodel, launched by the famous haircut and eventually shaping the 60’s look. The faded reds, oranges and blues in the photographs are reminiscent of photo albums from the 60’s and 70’s and appear to effortlessly capture the essence of the moment - which is perhaps the reason why the onlooker feels they identify with the subjects. Scenes such as the ‘Wedding of Ringo and Barbara Bach’ taken in 1981 show the band with their wives and children huddled around a two tier wedding cake laughing and joking - settings which could be the backdrop to your own photo album, only without the superstars! Other impressive images include Frank Sinatra photographed with his entourage arriving to film on Miami Beach, Florida back in 1968. A photo of Fred Astaire in a pristine suit next to his swimming pool taken in 1980 and Bettie Davis in a beautiful red gown sat at a desk surrounded by photos of her family, taken in 1986.
 | | Terry O'Neill, National Portrait Gallery |
More recent photographs taken by Terry O’Neill include ‘Tony Blair and Family’ taken in 2001, and a photo of ‘Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth II’ complete with corgi standing to attention obediently on its hind legs. Perhaps these have been chosen almost as a reminder that he’s not finished just yet - and of what’s yet to come. The title of the show ‘Terry O’Neill: Celebrities’ seems perfect as the exhibition really does capture what it was and is to be a celebrity both on and off stage, but to quote O’Neill “I should have called it superstars… I mean these are the really true celebrities and stars”, so maybe that just isn’t enough. | 
