Harper/Pop will release Mick Rock’s Rocky Horror: A Behind the Scenes Look at the Cult Classic on September 30, 2025, just in time for the 50th anniversary of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The 256-page volume presents rarely seen images and archival material from legendary photographer Mick Rock (1948–2021), the only photographer granted full access to the film’s production at Bray Studios in 1974.
(c) Estate of Mick Rock 1974, 2025
Rock, known as “the man who shot the seventies” for his iconic portraits of David Bowie, Queen, and Lou Reed, captured candid moments of Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Richard O’Brien, and the rest of the cast as they created what would become the longest-running theatrical release in history. Alongside Rock’s images, the book features interviews, production ephemera, and reflections from artists influenced by Rocky Horror, including Joan Jett, Billy Corgan, Courtney Love, Jinkx Monsoon, Cassandra Peterson, and more.
Mick Rock_Still taken from SHOT! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra Of Rock, Directed by Barnaby Clay
Richard O’Brien contributes the foreword, recalling Curry’s Frank-N-Furter as a performer who thrived under the click of Rock’s camera. The book also includes Rock’s personal notes, highlighting the joy and energy on set that helped shape the film’s enduring legacy.
(c) Estate of Mick Rock 1974, 2025 (1)
Though The Rocky Horror Picture Show struggled at its initial release, it went on to gross nearly $225 million worldwide, becoming a cultural movement through midnight screenings that continue today. With Mick Rock’s Rocky Horror, fans gain an intimate visual archive of the moments that defined a phenomenon blending camp, horror, and glam.
The book’s release will be accompanied by exhibitions in New York and Los Angeles, showcasing rare prints and unseen contact sheets. The Los Angeles exhibition will coincide with Rock’s birthday, further celebrating his impact on music, cinema, and pop culture.
