Tony Mott’s love of live music led him to his first break in back in 1983 with a photograph of Divinyls’ lead singer Chrissy Amphlett, taken at the Piccadilly Hotel in Kings Cross where the band had a Monday night residency. The photograph, chosen by the band’s manager Vince Lovegrove, went on to feature on the Divinyl’s next tour poster and Tony went on to become Australia’s leading music photographer.
From candid portraits to awe-inspiring live shots, Mott has a unique ability to connect with his subject. In a career spanning more than three decades, Tony has had over 30,000 photographs published in 20 countries and his images have appeared on the covers of 500 CDs, 400 posters and more than 900 magazines! His incredible portfolio boasts many of the biggest and greatest names in music, including the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Elton John, Nirvana, and Madonna, along with major Australian acts INXS, Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, Silverchair, and the independent Sydney band scene
For the past few weeks, Tony has been digging into his archives to share some “unseen as in unpublished” hidden gems from his colossal collection, via his Facebook account. Almost as good as the photos themselves, are the entertaining anecdotes included, offering unique insight how the magic moments in time he captured came to be – it’s a truly wonderful retrospective of his own truly wonderful career! Check out some of the highlights below, then head over to Tony Mott’s Facebook page to see many more of his amazing shots.
Day 1 Performer/Artist challenge as Nancy Kiel has nominated me to take this challenge I have , I,m going to post...
Posted by Tony Mott on Sunday, March 15, 2020
Day2. photo. Keef pretty sure the corona virus won't go near keef ! touring with the Stones seems a long time ago...
Posted by Tony Mott on Monday, March 16, 2020
A major breakthrough for Tony came in 1992 with the establishment of Australia's first Rock 'n Roll Festival, the Big Day Out. Mott became the festival's official photographer and went on the road as it toured Australia, developing relationships with the bands he shot and capturing classic candid moments like this.
Day2 photo 2. here's a likely couple backstage in Melbourne 1994 at the Big Day Out , I have no idea what Iggy,s up to...
Posted by Tony Mott on Monday, March 16, 2020
Day 3 Photo challenge David Bowie Glass spider tour , the thin white duke , not exactly as brilliant as the spiders...
Posted by Tony Mott on Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Day4 photo challenge. all these photos are unseen as in un published , this is the wonderful Chrissy Amphlett without...
Posted by Tony Mott on Wednesday, March 18, 2020
This story about Boy George is priceless!
Day4 no2 photo challenge. Its Culture Club with Boy George at a press conference at the infamous Sebel Townhouse , Boy...
Posted by Tony Mott on Wednesday, March 18, 2020
You'll also find awesome flashbacks to some of Aussie's finest when they were fresh new (baby!) faces on the local scene.
Day7 no 2 photo challenge. Silverchair London Taken in a London park just behind the Marquee club , they were making...
Posted by Tony Mott on Saturday, March 21, 2020
day 10 no 2. the final photo of the challenge You Am I early you am I. I have teased Tim with this photo for years ,...
Posted by Tony Mott on Wednesday, March 25, 2020
And incredible one-off moments like these.
Day8 photo challenge. Stevie Nicks & Bob Dylan. 1986. I was hired as the photographer for the tour with a warning from...
Posted by Tony Mott on Sunday, March 22, 2020
day11. very spinal tap and so the challenge ends , so I thought I would finish with a published photo and what I often...
Posted by Tony Mott on Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Tony continues to share more photo's daily. Check out the whole collection on his Facebook page – HERE.
