Legendary musician and former Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney, is set to unveil a deeply personal side of the band’s early history with the launch of Paul McCartney: Rearview Mirror, an exclusive photography exhibition opening at the Gagosian gallery in London on August 28, 2025.
The exhibition will feature over 30 black-and-white photographs personally taken by McCartney during the early 1960s, a pivotal period when The Beatles were transitioning from a popular Liverpool act to the world’s most influential rock band. These images, many of which have never been seen by the public, offer rare behind-the-scenes glimpses of the group before their meteoric rise to global fame.
Among the highlights are intimate snapshots from The Beatles’ landmark appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, candid backstage moments, and personal images of McCartney’s friends, family, and fellow bandmates—John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Far from the staged publicity photos of the era, these pictures reveal the youthful energy, camaraderie, and authenticity of the band before Beatlemania became a worldwide phenomenon.
Speaking about the project, McCartney said he felt compelled to share the photographs after rediscovering them in his personal archive. “They’re moments in time, frozen before the madness truly began. Back then, I was just another guy with a camera, trying to capture what I saw and felt,” he explained.
The Gagosian gallery has confirmed that the exhibition will run until October 5, 2025, allowing fans and art lovers alike the chance to experience these rare images in person. The display not only caters to Beatles enthusiasts but also to photography collectors and cultural historians who wish to see a different side of one of the world’s most documented bands.
This exhibition follows a growing trend of musicians delving into their personal archives to share unseen aspects of their lives with the public. For McCartney, however, this is more than nostalgia—it is an artistic expression that blends his musical legacy with his eye for visual storytelling.
Industry insiders note that the timing of Rearview Mirror coincides with renewed interest in The Beatles, following the recent success of Get Back, the Peter Jackson-directed documentary series that reignited public fascination with the band’s history.
Tickets for Paul McCartney: Rearview Mirror are expected to sell quickly, with Beatles fans from around the world anticipated to flock to London for the experience.
As McCartney himself puts it, “These photographs are not just about the music—they’re about friendship, creativity, and a moment in time that changed everything.”
