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by parinè

    London 1968

    Relaxing after the flight from Rome in the cheapest room I could find.

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    Julie against the light

    In this situation, the face or body are no longer completely legible: what catches the eye is the contrast, the shape, the silhouette that emerges from the shadows like a silent poem. The details of the clothes, hair, or gaze dissolve into a diffuse brightness, while the energy of the light transforms the scene into a suspended, almost metaphysical moment.

    1974 referendum on divorce

    The 1974 referendum on divorce in Italy was a crucial moment in the country’s social and political history. It was called to confirm or repeal Law No. 898 of 1970, which had introduced the possibility of divorce, an absolute novelty for a country strongly influenced by Catholic tradition.

    Mia Martini, Cat Stevens e David Zard

    Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) and Mia Martini represent two very different musical and cultural worlds, but both are deeply expressive and emotional. David Zard was the concert promoter who let me take photos from below the stage or backstage

    Christian De Sica e Loredana Bertè

    Loredana Bertè and Christian De Sica together at a Ricordi event evokes a meeting between two worlds of Italian entertainment: music and cinema, theatrical rebellion and comic charm.

    A movie set

    A crowded film set: a place where every detail is both essential and chaotic, and where the magic of cinema comes from the combination of a thousand seemingly disordered elements.

    May 1st in Italy in the 1960s

    A demonstration on May 1st in Italy in the 1960s evokes an intense atmosphere, charged with political tension and collective participation. Those years were marked by social conflicts, workers’ mobilizations, and cultural unrest, and Labor Day often became a time when trade union and political demands found space in the streets.

    (Click here or the image to view the gallery)

    Black-and-white collage of John Mayall performing live with guitar and microphone at Palasport Roma.

    John Mayall

    John Mayall’s concert at the Palazzo dello Sport in Rome on May 13, 1974, took place during one of the most interesting periods of his career: the post-“classic” Bluesbreakers era, when he was exploring more jazz, funk, and rock sounds.

       Tour Context

    In 1974, Mayall was on a European tour following the release of albums such as:

    Ten Years Are Gone (1973)

    The Latest Edition (1974)

    At that time, his band had a larger lineup, often featuring horns and arrangements that were less “pure blues” compared to his years with Eric Clapton or Peter Green in the Bluesbreakers.

       What the live shows were like

    Those who attended those concerts recall:

    long improvisations

    a mix of electric blues, jazz, and funk grooves

    Mayall as a multi-instrumentalist (harmonica, keyboards, guitar)

    The setlist varied greatly, but often included:

    “Room to Move”

    “The Laws Must Change”

    extended jams typical of the period

    Vintage street musician playing acoustic guitar on a busy town street with onlookers and a vintage car.
    Vintage cyclist on a city street, wearing a World Road Championship Zurich 1929 shirt beside a bicycle.
    Black-and-white street photograph: elderly man in a cap with a shoulder strap talks to a woman in a plaid blazer.
    Older man in a cap and dark coat carries a decorated portable street organ strapped to his chest among a crowd.
    Monochrome image of a woman in a cloak sitting alone on a park bench.
    Elderly woman in a light coat walking through a park beside a large tree; black-and-white photograph.
    Street musicians busking outside a pub, with guitarists and a violinist as a crowd watches; vintage black-and-white scene.
    Black-and-white street performance: barefoot dancer spins as a guitarist plays while spectators watch.
    Black-and-white street flea market stall filled with vintage silverware, glassware, and brassware; shoppers browse antiques.

    London 1968

    These pictures capture the broader vibe—street markets, travelers, and everyday people. The late 1960s in London were known for a mix of music, fashion, and social change, often called “Swinging London.”