Jürgen Vollmer recounts taking cover shot for Lennon's Rock'n'Roll" album

On the 40th anniversary of John Lennon's Rock'n'Roll covers LP, Goldmine magazine catches up with Jürgen Vollmer, the Hamburg pal who supplied the cover shot.

Vollmer took the photo of Lennon leaning in a doorway at Jagerpassage 1, Wohlwillstrasse 2 in Hamburg in 1962.
“Before I even started taking any pictures, I said to John, ‘You just lean there and look arrogant, like you always do,’” Vollmer recalled with a laugh. “And I wanted the other three out of focus.”
The other three in the shot were Paul McCartney, George Harrison and the group's then-bassist Stu Sutcliffe.

Year's later, Lennon's girlfriend called Vollmer out of the blue, asking if John could use the photo on the cover of his new LP. Vollmer said yes, but earned only $750 for the shot.


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