Some were released decades after they were first written
Pete Townshend, Keith Moon, and John Entwistle backstage at Wimbledon Palais on May 13, 1966, in London.
Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley backstage with Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, and Keith Richards in London, 1965.
Glen Campbell and Carl Wilson backstage in 1965.
The band relaxes backstage at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London, UK, in 1963.
Barbra Streisand in her dressing room, in October 1965.
Maurice Gibb, Barry Gibb, Colin Petersen, and Robin Gibb backstage with DJ Mike Quinn at the Romford Odeon, UK, in May 1968.
The singer backstage at Newark Symphony Hall, New Jersey, in 1969.
Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel backstage at Wembley Studios.
Robert Plant and John Paul Jones backstage at the Fillmore East in New York City.
The singer-songwriter backstage at The Troubadour in Los Angeles, in 1970.
David Blue, Lainie Kazan, Bob Dylan, Robert De Niro, Sally Kirkland, Ronee Blakley, and Martine Getty backstage at the Roxy in LA, on August 18, 1976.
Joan Jett with radio DJ Rodney Bingenheimer backstage at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, California, in 1977.
Michael Jackson and his brother Randy Jackson backstage at the Inglewood Forum, California, on August 26, 1973.
The band walks backstage at the Forum in Los Angeles in 1977.
The "Godfather of Soul" backstage in London in 1973.
Makeup artist Pierre La Roche and David Bowie backstage in 1973.
Stevie Wonder backstage at the Rainbow Theatre in London, UK, in 1974.
Ron Wood and Keith Richards backstage during the band's Tour of the Americas in 1975.
Dennis Wilson and Carl Wilson after an outdoor show in 1975.
Mick Jagger backstage during the group's Tour of the Americas in 1975.
The singer backstage during The Rolling Stones' 1975 Tour of the Americas.
Elton John and music journalist Lisa Robinson after The Rolling Stones' show in 1975.
Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons backstage circa 1975.
Stevie Nicks and her dog backstage in New Haven on October 1, 1975.
Eric Clapton backstage during his US tour in 1975.
Bob Marley of The Wailers and Aston "Family Man" Barrett backstage at the Odeon in Birmingham, UK, July 18, 1975.
Gene Simmons and Larry Harris from Casablanca Records backstage in Detroit, May 1975.
Neil Young, Frank Sampedro, Ralph Molina, and Paul and Linda McCartney backstage at the Kuip stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in 1976.
Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, and Brad Whitford backstage at Madison Square Garden in New York on May 10, 1976.
Freddie Mercury takes a photo backstage.
Joan Jett, Jackie Fox, Lita Ford, and Sandy West backstage at CBGB in New York, 1976.
Steven Tyler backstage at Madison Square Garden, New York, in 1976.
Debbie Harry backstage in Philadelphia in 1978.
Mick Jones, Joe Strummer, and Paul Simonon backstage during the band's White Riot tour.
Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, and John McVie backstage at the Los Angeles Rock Awards on September 1, 1977.
George Benson, Valerie Simpson, Nickolas Ashford, and Stevie Wonder backstage in New York circa 1978.
Freddie Mercury backstage before a concert in the US, in January 1977.
The British band backstage during their US tour in 1977.
The band backstage at the Old Waldorf club in San Francisco, California, in 1978.
Linda and Paul McCartney with Ronnie Wood backstage at the Palladium in New York in 1978.
Joey Ramone backstage at the Paradise Theater in Boston, Massachusetts, in March 1978.
Bruce Springsteen backstage at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, Georgia, in October 1978.
The artists backstage at the Berkeley Jazz Festival, at the Greek Theater in May 1979, in California.
David Bowie with The Clash's bassist Paul Simonon, at Shea Stadium in Queens, New York City, circa 1982.
Paul and Linda McCartney backstage with Mick Jagger and Bill Wyman at The Palladium, New York City, June 19, 1978.
The artists backstage at the Madison Coliseum in Wisconsin on February 18, 1982.
The "Man in Black," Rosanne Cash, and journalist Andy Slater backstage at The MoonShadow Saloon Atlanta, Georgia, in 1982.
King Charles (then Prince Charles) meets the band backstage at the Dominion Theatre in London.
Izzy Stradlin, Axl Rose, Duff McKagan, Steven Adler, and Slash backstage at Fenders Ballroom on March 31, 1986 in Long Beach, California.
The rappers backstage at the U.I.C. Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois, in October 1984.
Bono backstage at the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium, London, on July 13, 1985.
Jimmy Page and Robert Plant backstage at Madison Square Garden, New York, on June 10, 1977.
Phil Rudd, Bon Scott, Malcolm Young, Angus Young, and Mark Evans backstage in the UK.
Dave Grohl, Kurt Cobain, and Krist Novoselic backstage in Frankfurt, Germany, in November 1991.
The singer backstage in Aylesbury, England, in February 1980.
Phil Collins backstage at the Rosemont Horizon, Illinois, during Genesis' Invisible Touch Tour, in October 1986.
Prince backstage at Paradiso, Amsterdam, in May 1981.
Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards backstage during the band's Tour of the Americas in 1975.
Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood backstage in New York, circa 1968.
Patti Smith backstage before the event "Arista Records Salutes New York with a Festival of Great Music" at City Center in September 21, 1975.
The "Prince of Darkness" backstage on an exercise bike, circa 1985.
The iconic guitarist backstage at the Fifth Dimension Club in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1967.
The artist backstage at Free Trade Hall Concert, in Manchester, England, in 1966.
Rick Wright, David Gilmour, and Nick Mason backstage in Germany, on November 14, 1970.
The artists backstage after a performance at Madison Square Garden, New York, in 1975.
Robert Quine, Elvis Costello, and Richard Hell backstage at the CBGB in New York, in 1978.
With social media, artists now share images of their lives behind the scenes more often than ever. But what about back in the '60s, '70s, and '80s? Well, luckily some photographers were there to capture those iconic moments.
Ready for some nostalgia? Browse through the gallery and check out some iconic photos of famous artists backstage.
Rare vintage photos of artists backstage
Iconic musicians behind the scenes
MUSIC Images
With social media, artists now share images of their lives behind the scenes more often than ever. But what about back in the '60s, '70s, and '80s? Well, luckily some photographers were there to capture those iconic moments.
Ready for some nostalgia? Browse through the gallery and check out some iconic photos of famous artists backstage.