Sid Vicious grabbed a hot dog, looked at the camera, paused — then calmly smeared mustard and ketchup across his own face. Bob Gruen still wouldn't have done it himself.

That photo now lives in the National Portrait Gallery in London. Bob took it during a sound check, in an empty room, with no idea it would ever leave that building.

In this clip, legendary rock photographer Bob Gruen breaks down the stories behind three of the most iconic images in music history — John Lennon in the NYC t-shirt, Sid Vicious with the hot dog, and Led Zeppelin in front of their plane. None of them were planned. None were recognized in the moment.

And every single one was shot before he even knew if the exposure was right.

This is what it actually felt like to shoot rock and roll on film.

#BobGruen #JohnLennon #SidVicious #RockPhotography #FilmPhotography #ThePlugWithJustinJay

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Have comments, feedback, or guest suggestions?
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About The Plug

The Plug w/ Justin Jay is a long-form arts and culture podcast — unfiltered conversations with the musicians, athletes, photographers, directors, and designers who actually made the things worth talking about.

About The Plug
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The Plug w/ Justin Jay is an arts and culture podcast featuring unfiltered, long-form interviews with the artists, entertainers, and innovators shaping today’s world. Each episode explores career challenges, inspirations, and the stories behind music, sports, design, and politics.

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Follow the audio podcast of The Plug w/ Justin Jay every → https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com

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Topics: music production, New York City history, hip-hop history, creative process, professional surfing, comedy, photography, arts & entertainment

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Subscribe & Stay Connected
• YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNH5UGRKI5E1AUBWAk-OkrA?sub_confirmation=1
• Website → https://www.theplugwithjustinjay.com
• Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-plug-w-justin-jay/id1517322794
• Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3M3BwnadvgbuwtErUHN1pl
• Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinjayphoto/

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• Have comments, feedback, or guest suggestions?
We’d love to hear from you!
Email The Plug w/ Justin Jay → theplugpodcast.jj(AT)gmail.com