Keith Richards Lighting a Cigarette, London 1964

Keith Richards lighting a cigarette was photographed by Terry O’Neill in Soho, London, in 1964. The image shows Richards holding a cigarette in one hand as he looks toward the camera. His expression is direct and unguarded.

At the time, the Rolling Stones were emerging as a defining force in British rock music. Their sound and image contrasted sharply with the polished presentation of earlier pop acts. Richards played a central role in shaping that identity.

The photograph captures Richards at an early stage of his career. Fame had not yet fully set in. What comes through instead is attitude and self-possession. The cigarette becomes part of the gesture rather than a posed accessory.

Terry O’Neill often photographed musicians outside of controlled studio environments. Soho provided a fitting backdrop. The area was closely associated with London’s creative and countercultural life during the 1960s.

Rather than emphasizing performance, the image focuses on presence. Richards is not shown with a guitar or on stage. The moment feels observational rather than constructed. This approach was characteristic of O’Neill’s work.

O’Neill documented many artists just before they reached global recognition. His photographs often captured the tension between anonymity and fame. This Keith Richards lighting a cigarette image reflects that balance clearly.

The close framing draws attention to Richards’ face and gesture. Texture and contrast define the composition. The background remains secondary.

As a document of early 1960s music history, the photograph holds lasting significance. It records the formation of a public persona that would become iconic. The image also stands as an example of Terry O’Neill’s ability to recognize cultural shifts as they were unfolding.

This photograph of Keith Richards lighting a cigarette remains an important work within O’Neill’s archive. It captures the emergence of a figure who would shape the sound and image of rock music for decades.