La Villa by Dominique Tarlé

50 years ago, the biggest rock band in the world, the Rolling Stones, landed in the south of France. Following various tax woes in England, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor decided to come and seek shelter in France. The young photographer Dominique Tarlé who had known the band for a few years in London and on tour, came to join his favorite musicians in order to immortalize them in this new environment...

He began with the now-famous Villa Nellcote, rented by Keith Richards, overlooking Villefranche-sur-Mer harbor... He came to spend the day with the guitarist and his family, and will only leave 6 months later, following Keith's invitation to enjoy this special moment in their lives. How do you refuse such an offer, when you are a fan of photography and rhythm and blues?

Dominique Tarlé then became the only photographer ever to live with this legendary band, at the height of their career, during the creation of the no less legendary album Exile on Main Street, going in the same day from the simplest daily events to the pure musical moments between professionals.

This unforgettable summer would forever leave its mark on the photographer's life and the history of rock'n'roll; the trust the band gave Dominique Tarlé still holds even today and is testimony to the sincere friendship that bound him to these artists..
Julia Gragnon