23/06/2026
1966 (and All That)
Perhaps no year in England’s recent history is more fondly remembered than 1966.
While cultural evolution and social change progressed unevenly across the country, the music, film, sport, art and fashion emerging from Swinging London – with Abbey Road, Carnaby Street and the King’s Road at its epicentre – moved at an explosive speed that made waves across the globe.
I will be exhibiting several of my key photographs from this era as part of Iconic Images Gallery Chelsea’s new show, 1966 (and All That) at 402 King’s Road, from 26th June - 15th August.
At the time, 1966 felt marvellous! I felt very much part of what was going on, “Swinging London” and all that. I was busy shooting with a lot of different and important artists, including the Stones and Andrew Loog Oldham’s fantastic Immediate Records label, Island Records and other “happening” labels and artists. My studio was a hive of activity and Mason’s Yard, where it was situated, was becoming one of the “in” places with the discotheque The Scotch of St James on one side of my studio and the famous Indica Gallery on the other!
Of course, looking back, one can see that change was in the air, but when you are immersed in it, when it is your life, you’re just part of it and carry on having fun.
Although I was aware of the World Cup it wasn’t a major part of my culture at the time, and I don’t remember the TV coverage being any good. TVs were tiny anyway, I wasn’t a pub person and would have stayed away from anywhere that attracted crowds of football fans, but I was conscious of the teams’ success and eventual victory against Germany at Wembley. Like everyone else in the country I was delighted by it!
📸 by Gered Mankowitz / Iconic Images
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