Brian Jones: Butterfly in the Park

“Art in all its forms makes this world a better place.” — Michael Cooper

Michael Cooper (1941–1973) was one of the defining photographers of the creative explosion that transformed London during the 1960s. Beginning his career as a fashion photographer for British Vogue, Cooper captured the energy, individuality, and changing cultural landscape of the Swinging Sixties before becoming deeply immersed in the worlds of art, music, and underground culture.

Through his connection with influential art dealer Robert Fraser, Cooper entered a remarkable creative circle that included many of the most important artists, musicians, and writers of the era. His photographs captured defining personalities including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Andy Warhol, Cecil Beaton, Twiggy, Jean Genet, and Allen Ginsberg.

Cooper’s closest creative relationship was with The Rolling Stones, whom he photographed extensively throughout the 1960s. As a trusted friend and confidant, Cooper was given unprecedented access to the band’s world, capturing intimate moments at home, in the recording studio, and throughout one of the most transformative periods in popular music. His photographs reveal not only the public image of The Rolling Stones, but also the friendships, personalities, and creative environment that surrounded them.

In 1967, Cooper was involved in creating two of the most influential album covers associated with the era: The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and The Rolling Stones’ Their Satanic Majesties Request. These projects helped define the visual language of a generation and established Cooper as one of the most important photographers documenting the intersection of music, art, and popular culture.

Among Cooper’s closest relationships was his friendship with Brian Jones, the founding member and original creative force behind The Rolling Stones. A visionary multi-instrumentalist and one of the most innovative figures in rock history, Jones helped shape the band’s early identity while continually exploring new sounds and artistic influences.

Brian Jones: Butterfly in the Park presents a remarkable collection of rare photographs by Michael Cooper, many of which have never before been published. Through Cooper’s camera, Jones appears not only as the legendary musician remembered by history, but as an artist, individual, and creative spirit during one of the most influential periods in modern music.

The book combines Cooper’s intimate photography with personal reflections from those who knew Jones best, offering a deeper portrait of the musician beyond his public image. Contributors include a foreword by Donovan, along with essays and recollections from Linda Lawrence, Prince Stash Klossowski de Rola, Andee Nathanson, Brian Jones’ son Julian Leitch, grandson Joolz Jones, Rolling Stones road manager Sam Cutler, and renowned music journalist Paul Trynka.

Among the book’s most significant discoveries is a previously unpublished poem written by Brian Jones to his partner Linda Lawrence shortly before his death. This rare surviving example of Jones’ writing is presented here for the first time, offering a personal glimpse into the thoughts of an artist often defined only by public mythology.

Brian Jones: Butterfly in the Park was created by editor and art director Dagon James in collaboration with Michael Cooper’s son Adam Cooper and his wife Silvia Cooper. Together, they carefully examined Cooper’s extensive photographic archive, selecting images that reveal Jones both as a musician and as an individual — from moments in the recording studio with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Bill Wyman to quieter, more personal glimpses of the man behind the public image.

The book is produced as a fine art photographic publication, printed on heavyweight 200gsm acid-free paper using a six-plate printing process with spot varnish, gold-screened photographs, and gold page-edge gilding. Each edition is housed in a premium dusk blue soft linen clamshell box with gold foil accents, full-color interior printing, and a silk lift ribbon. The hardcover binding features ultra-soft linen, gold accents, and tipped-on photographs on the front and back covers.

Editions

Limited to 100 signed and numbered copies + contributor copies lettered A-Z.

Contributor Edition

Letters A–Z

Signed by Donovan, Linda Lawrence, Julian Leitch, Joolz Jones, Prince Stash Klossowski de Rola, Adam Cooper, Silvia Cooper, and Dagon James.

Includes a numbered, estate-stamped 8 × 10 inch archival pigment print of Michael Cooper’s photograph from Their Satanic Majesties Request.

Deluxe Edition

Numbers 1–50

Signed by Donovan, Linda Lawrence, Julian Leitch, Joolz Jones, Prince Stash Klossowski de Rola, Adam Cooper, Silvia Cooper, and Dagon James.

Includes a numbered, estate-stamped 8 × 10 inch archival pigment print of Michael Cooper’s photograph from Their Satanic Majesties Request.

Collector Edition

Numbers 51–100

Signed by Adam Cooper, Silvia Cooper, and Dagon James.

Every edition includes two exclusive 5 × 7 inch postcards featuring color and black-and-white variants of Michael Cooper’s iconic “11 Hands” photograph of The Rolling Stones.

Brian Jones: Butterfly in the Park
Photographs by Michael Cooper
Edited by Adam Cooper, Silvia Cooper & Dagon James