I’m reliably told that photographs are polysemous—that is they have multiple meanings which can change depending on mood or understanding of what the image represents. Seems legit.

So let’s take, for example, the picture posted above of three long-haired guys hanging around some city street in the 1970s. It kinda looks like a regular snap of buddies hanging together. But, as soon as we realize its a pic of John Deacon, Roger Taylor, and a rather cool-looking Freddie Mercury of Queen, this picture takes on a whole new meaning.

Now that we know who it is, we probably want to know where this picture of Freddie and co. was taken. The trio was photographed standing outside 143 Wardour Street, Soho, London, in 1974. Next, I suppose we might ask, What were they doing here? Well, from what I can gather, it was taken during a break in the recording of the band’s second album, Queen II at Trident Studios directly opposite. Then we might inspect the image to glean what feelings these young nascent superstars are showing.

Photographer Watal Asanuma beautifully captured the personalities of these three very different individuals (and to an extent their hopes and ambitions) in a seemingly unguarded moment. Queen was on the cusp of their chart success with the “Seven Seas of Rhye” and the imminent release of “Killer Queen.” This photo now has a historical importance because of what we know this trio (and Brian May) went on to achieve.

I guess some of us might even want to go and visit the location to see where exactly Freddie or Roger or John stood and maybe even recreate the photo for the LOLs. It’s a way of paying homage and drawing history into our lives.

For those who can’t make it all the way to London, Music History, the Twitter presence of Rock Walk London, has been compiling selections of such pictures and making composites of the original image with a photo of what the location looks like today. Okay, so it saves the airfare but more importantly It’s a fun and simple way of bringing to life London’s rich history of pop culture in a single image.

If you like this kinda thing and want to see more, then follow Music History here.
 

 

 

 

 
Mick Jagger gives details to a policeman of incident involving his car, a blue Aston Martin, on Great Titchfield St., London August, 28th 1966. Model Chrissie Shrimpton is sitting in the passenger seat of the car.
 

 

 

Can’s Holger Czukay taping street sounds and atmos. at the Notting Hill Carnival, Ladbroke Grove, London 1978.
 

 

 

Richard Wright of Pink Floyd taking a break from recording the band’s album ‘Wish You Were Here’ on the steps of the Abbey Road Studios, 1975.
 

 

 

Mick Jones of the Clash photographed by Virginia Turbett, outside of the Electric Cinema, Notting Hill, London, 1983.
 

 

 

Probably the most famous photograph of a band in London—The Beatles walk across a zebra crossing outside Abbey Road Studios, London 1969.
 

 

 
A couple of other examples of teh same technique culled from another site.
 

The Beatles wander Soho, circa 1963.
 

Paul McCartney with singer Mary Hopkin and a gaggle of schoolgirls outside Trident Studios after The Beatles’ sessions on ‘Dear Prudence’ for ‘The White Album,’ 1968.
 
Perhaps even better, the same effect can be easily achieved just by using Google Streetview and some iconic album covers.
 

Oasis album ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory’ shot on Berwick Street, London, 1995.
 

Bob Dylan with girlfriend Suze Rotolo walk down Jones Street in the West Village, New York, for the cover of The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, 1963.
 

PJ Harvey crossing Times Square, New York, for the cover of her album ‘Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea’ in 2000.
 

The cover of The Beastie Boys’ ‘Paul’s Boutique’ featured the popular clothing store on the corner of Ludlow and Rivington on New York’s Lower East Side, 1989.
 
Via Music History the Guardian, and Kenwood Lennon.