Kieron “Spud” Murphy (August 24, 1946 – April 16, 2020) Photographer Profile
“The quiet lens behind rock’s loudest moments.”
Kieron “Spud” Murphy (August 24, 1946 – April 16, 2020) was an Irish rock photographer whose candid, unobtrusive style captured the intimate side of 1970s glam and classic rock. Best known for iconic images of Marc Bolan and T. Rex —including the Electric Warrior cover and poster photograph—Murphy’s work defined the visual tone of the era.
Murphy’s archive includes photographs published in Sounds and other UK music magazines, featuring Marc Bolan, T. Rex, John Lennon, The Pretty Things, and other 1970s acts.
His Electric Warrior cover image was taken at the Nottingham concert in 1971, alongside the poster photograph packaged with the album.
Surrounding Dates:
• 1971
– Photographs Marc Bolan and T. Rex at Nottingham concert (Electric Warrior cover)
• 1970s
–Works for Sounds magazine and other UK music publications
• 1980s
–Continues documentary‑style photography of rock artists
Chronicle Note:
Murphy emerged as a distinctive voice in UK music photography during the 1970s and 1980s.
His unobtrusive, documentary approach captured musicians in relaxed, unposed moments, revealing personality and humanity behind the glam and rock personas of the era.
His clear, intimate, and honest style helped shape the visual identity of glam rock and remains widely circulated in retrospectives and archival collections.
All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
Comments