David Warner Ellis Music Photographer
Dave began his career in photography at the BBC in 1961 where he joined the Photography Club whilst working as a set dresser.
In the early 1970s he worked with David Redfern www.redferns.com and Redferns Music Picture Library exhibits many of Dave’s pictures taken during this period.
After leaving Redferns Dave worked as a freelance photographer and has been published in Time Out, Rolling Stone, Time, Newsweek, The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph, The Financial Times, The Sunday Times Magazine, The Observer, Tatler, Vogue, ‘History of the Rolling Stones’, ‘History of the Beatles’, Uncut, Classic Rock, Daily Express, Q Magazine, Guitarist Magazine, Total Guitar Magazine, Mojo and many other publications worldwide. Dave’s photographs appear on album sleeves and posters for The Who, New York Dolls, Nils Lofgren, Vangelis, T-Rex and many more.
He wasn’t a big guy, he was quick, agile, fit and his lack of self-consciousness [or abundance of audacity – I never could quite work out which] could never leave Dave sitting still. He was everywhere – in a concert or small gig – whatever the circumstances – and especially if the music moved him – he was down in the pit, up on the seats, on the stage (in a Steely Dan concert on one of the amps at the side of the stage!), and, whenever he could blag it - and he often could - backstage.
Not for Dave the designer camera bag with matching, multi-pocketed waistcoat filled with every type of film, a dozen different lenses and a tripod roped to his back.
You never “felt” Dave take a picture – he didn’t use flash or noisy automatic - he insinuated himself into places others dare not go and his body was his tripod. Dave was a minimalist and his tools of trade were two cameras, a light meter, a small collection of filters, maybe another lens and just enough film. When the film ran out Dave went home and put his other hat on … that of alchemist.
Dave lived in Clerkenwell for 40 years and in his darkroom produced thousands of black and white prints. He was a free and original spirit who captured the most explosive era in the history of music.
This site is a testament to his work and life.
Dave Redshaw (our writer)
Dave worked on the music press in various capacities from 1965 to 1982 and knew David Ellis as a colleague, friend and neighbour (in Clerkenwell before it became full of loft apartments and idiotically priced restaurants).
He contributed to NME, the trade papers Music Week and Record Business and to the country music magazines. Like Ellis, he had a wide taste in music and an often amused eye for the idiocies of rock ‘n’ roll. He believes that it’s taken way too seriously these days but accepts that it probably was in his day too (roll Woodstock again and watch for the ravings of Arlo Guthrie, Janis Joplin and John Sebastian).
These days he lives in splendid seclusion in Kent and the only rock he experiences is that which he climbs, in the Lake District – a late-life passion giving a Class A adrenaline rush.
About Our Directors
Maggie Rogers
Dave and I met through a mutual friend, Dave Redshaw [our writer], in 1980. So that Dave is responsible ... I say ... for everything that followed.
Ours was one of those relationships which never levels out to the stupefying dullness which cuts through joy. Read between the lines – it was brilliant – it was terrible. It was the best and the worst, but never the bit inbetween.
We have two amazing and wonderful children, Sian and Bethan.
When Dave died on Groundhog Day 2005 the lights went out.
