"…the first amazing photos of the Rolling Stones – capturing the look, the hope, the ambition, the lust – that first virgin look before knowingness crept in."

There was life before The Beatles and Swingin’ London, and living it was Philip Townsend. I was begging my way around the South of France in 1961, having fun as a pavement artist, window dresser and Jacques of all trades, when I decided to whiz down to Monte Carlo. There Philip was holding court, and what a swell party it was. He was on assignment snapping the likes of Somerset Maughan, actors Alec Guinness, Glenn Ford and David Niven, Aristotle Onassis and the smart, droll, dull and moneyed crew that called the Côte d'Azur their home from home.

Philip and I pal’d up and have remained just that for all these years. He was already a lad of the world and took me under his wing. Back in London I returned the favour when I became the manager of the Rolling Stones and he favoured me back with the first amazing photos of the band

– capturing the look, the hope, the ambition, the lust – that first virgin look before knowingness crept in.

He came to the gigs, we went to his. We were all part of the fortunate ones having fun, getting it done. Philip and his amazing "portraits vérité" captured the time of the wonderful heady world he let us into...

And now it's your turn...

(Andrew Loog Oldham, pictured right, is the author of two volumes of autobiography, STONED and 2STONED. The third volume, UNDER THE INFLUENCE, will be published next year).