A NEW photography exhibition will explore 60 years of The SSE Arena in Wembley as London’s iconic music venue.
Heroes – The Exhibition opens to the public on Thursday, November 28, and will feature over 100 photographs of artists at London’s iconic music and live entertainment venue. From The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in the 1960s, to present day chart-toppers Kendrick Lamar, Queens of the Stone Age and The Prodigy, the exhibition will showcase The SSE Arena, Wembley’s rich history and the many famous artists who have graced its stage.
The photography features performances by the genre-defining David Bowie and Leonard Cohen; the first headline rock show performed by T-Rex; the band holding the record for the most rock performances, Status Quo; Alice Cooper, who has so far performed in every decade since the 1960s; the female performer with the most performances, Whitney Houston; American pop superstar Prince, who played 35 concerts at the venue; iconic performances by Queen; and more recent performances by chart-topping acts such as Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Rhianna. Alongside photography of era-defining concerts, the exhibition also showcases behind-the-scenes imagery.
The exhibition features the work of renowned music photographer Michael Putland, who photographed five decades of music, and both former and current Getty photographers Dave Hogan and Brian Rasic. Bringing to life the story behind the images, John Drury, Vice President and General Manager of The SSE Arena, will provide personal stories and anecdotes to add a personal touch to iconic concerts from its historic programme.
Presented in a variety of formats, Heroes – The Exhibition will present the venue’s musical history in a relaxed format enabling music fans to experience concerts in a more in-depth and engaging way. All photography is available to buy from Getty Images Gallery.
Josh McNorton, Cultural Director of Wembley Park, said: “Wembley Park has always been about people coming together to share experiences, and The SSE Arena, Wembley is central to this. Over the past 60 years, it has played an enormous part in the cultural history of the area and in global music history, and Heroes is a great way to celebrate this through the performances of some of the world’s most famous performers. The area has already emerged as a dynamic new neighbourhood, and we continue to build our international reputation for music and entertainment through our ambitious cultural programme.”
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