21 Candid Pre-Show Pics of Musicians Backstage

Carly Tennes Published 05/17/2024 in wow

While we as fans may only see the final product of our favorite artists' work — the Grammy Award performances, the concerts, and the music videos — a whole lot more goes on before and after the show. Just ask the photographers who managed to capture stars in the moments before and after hitting the stage at pivotal moments in their careers.

From Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley — literally — kickin' it, to Beyoncé getting a big hug to what Kieth Moon actually got up to between shows, here are 21 stunning photographs of artists backstage.

List View
Player View
Grid View

1. “The Runaways backstage with Robert Plant, 1976.”
2. “Johnny Cash and Prince Charles backstage in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, 1976.”
3. “Elvis Presley and Sammy Davis, Jr. backstage in Las Vegas, 1970. Photo by Michael Ochs.”
4. “Patti Smith and John Belushi backstage at Saturday Night Live, 1976 by Allan Tannenbaum.”
5. “Jimi Hendrix filming Janis Joplin backstage at Winterland, 1968. Photo by Jim Marshall.”
6. “These two handsome devils, Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon backstage, I miss Joe.”
7. “Eminem backstage with a fan in 1999 VMA awards.”
8. “K-pop girl group TWICE waiting backstage for their concert to start.”
9. “Never shared this photo I grabbed of [Snoop Dogg] during an interview backstage after a concert in 2010.”
10. “Guns N' Roses backstage.”
11. “Jay-Z hugging Beyonce backstage after her performance.”
12. “Spice Girls photographed backstage at the Brit Awards in February 1997.”
13. “Ann Thomas, Tina Turner, and a lucky fan backstage in 1965.”
14. “Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix playing soccer backstage before a show.”
15. “Michael Jackson bad tour backstage.”
16. “David Bowie and Freddie Mercury backstage at Live Aid.”
17. “Keith Moon Backstage '76.”
18. “Nirvana backstage at the ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ set.”
19. “Jay Weinberg, Slipknots drummer, saying hi to his puppy backstage.”
20. “Britney Spears backstage Saturday Night Live 02/02/2002.”
21. “A young Blink 182 and Foo Fighters backstage.”

1. “The Runaways backstage with Robert Plant, 1976.”
2. “Johnny Cash and Prince Charles backstage in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, 1976.”
3. “Elvis Presley and Sammy Davis, Jr. backstage in Las Vegas, 1970. Photo by Michael Ochs.”
4. “Patti Smith and John Belushi backstage at Saturday Night Live, 1976 by Allan Tannenbaum.”
5. “Jimi Hendrix filming Janis Joplin backstage at Winterland, 1968. Photo by Jim Marshall.”
6. “These two handsome devils, Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon backstage, I miss Joe.”
7. “Eminem backstage with a fan in 1999 VMA awards.”
8. “K-pop girl group TWICE waiting backstage for their concert to start.”
9. “Never shared this photo I grabbed of [Snoop Dogg] during an interview backstage after a concert in 2010.”
10. “Guns N' Roses backstage.”
11. “Jay-Z hugging Beyonce backstage after her performance.”
12. “Spice Girls photographed backstage at the Brit Awards in February 1997.”
13. “Ann Thomas, Tina Turner, and a lucky fan backstage in 1965.”
14. “Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix playing soccer backstage before a show.”
15. “Michael Jackson bad tour backstage.”
16. “David Bowie and Freddie Mercury backstage at Live Aid.”
17. “Keith Moon Backstage '76.”
18. “Nirvana backstage at the ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ set.”
19. “Jay Weinberg, Slipknots drummer, saying hi to his puppy backstage.”
20. “Britney Spears backstage Saturday Night Live 02/02/2002.”
21. “A young Blink 182 and Foo Fighters backstage.”