Mick Rock’s Rocky Horror: A Behind the Scenes Look at the Cult Classic
There are cult films—and then there’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Fifty years after its 1975 debut, the world’s longest-running theatrical release is still pulling us into its glitter-drenched, fishnet-clad orbit. And now, just in time for the golden anniversary, Harper/Pop is dropping a book that feels like a time capsule cracked wide open: Mick Rock’s Rocky Horror: A Behind the Scenes Look at the Cult Classic (on sale September 30, 2025).
This isn’t just another coffee-table book—it’s a fever dream captured on film. Legendary photographer Mick Rock (1948–2021), “the man who shot the seventies,” was the only lens allowed to roam the set at Bray Studios. What he brought back is an explosion of glam, grit, and glorious chaos. Across 256 pages of four-color brilliance, Rock’s archives give us Tim Curry slipping into the delicious madness of Frank-N-Furter, Susan Sarandon wide-eyed as Janet, and the unfiltered joy of a cast who had no idea they were creating a phenomenon that would redefine queerness, camp, and cult cinema forever.
“Frank-N-Furter, mad scientist, self-obsessed, narcissistic exhibitionist, obviously adores to be admired, and for him the seductive clicking shutter of a Hasselblad camera was like a bell to Pavlov’s dogs…” Richard O’Brien teases in the book’s foreword.
The result is both decadent and intimate: candid moments, rarely-seen ephemera, and commentary from Rocky devotees like Joan Jett, Courtney Love, Juliette Lewis, Jinkx Monsoon, Anna Sui, Betsey Johnson, Trixie Mattel, Norman Reedus, and Cassandra Peterson (Elvira herself). It’s a mashup of rock ’n’ roll energy and cinematic mischief that proves why Rocky Horror is not just a movie—it’s a movement.
Let’s not forget, Rocky Horror wasn’t an instant hit. It flopped in ’75, only to resurrect itself through midnight screenings that morphed into ritualistic call-backs, costuming, and unapologetic self-expression. From Vivienne Westwood’s SEX boutique to RuPaul’s Drag Race, the legacy still pulses in fashion, nightlife, and music culture. Mick Rock’s archive bottles that electricity at its source.
“This book was created in conversation with Mick—his eye present in every photograph, his spirit guiding the choices along the way,” shares Pati Rock, who now stewards his estate. “I believe he would be proud to see how his art, his memories, and the voices of those he photographed continue to speak here.”
The September 30 release also coincides with special anniversary exhibitions in New York and Los Angeles (the LA event syncing with Mick’s birthday). Expect rare prints, unseen contact sheets, and appearances by cultural icons who still keep Rocky’s candle burning bright.
ROCKY HORROR: A Behind the Scenes Look at the Cult Classic is more than a collector’s item. It’s a glittery, punk-glam love letter to a film that blurred gender, rewrote the rules of performance, and showed us that sometimes the most radical thing you can do is simply give yourself over to absolute pleasure.
Mick Rock_Still taken from SHOT! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra Of Rock, Directed by Barnaby Clay
Photo credit (c) Estate of Mick Rock 1974, 2025
Michelle M. Mitchell is the Publisher of OMG Culture Magazine, a global multicultural online news publication. With a passion for storytelling and a keen editorial vision, she leads the magazine’s coverage of culture, society, and luxury lifestyle. As a contributor, Michelle brings her expertise in high-profile events, entertainment, and community features, offering readers a distinctive and engaging perspective.
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