The Rolling Stones 'Ghost Town' Video Hauntingly Depicts Life in Lockdown

The Rolling Stones latest single ‘Living in a Ghost Town’ is The Stones’ first original song since 2012. The track is the Stones’ lockdown anthem which hauntingly comments on our current predicament.

Director Joe Connor curated a network of photography talent from around the world in 9 different locations from Los Angeles to Margate in order to help him shoot the video.

This global collaboration shows how the power of creativity and human relationships can overcome challenges during these tough times. 

Due to the current production restrictions Joe was forced into finding creative ways to create the images necessary for the film - he circumvented traditional filming production by collaborating with a global network of photographers around the work to source material in the form of stopframe still photographs of empty urban landscapes, the majority of which were shot with 180 degree fisheye lenses to capture the emptiness and stillness of the locked down streets. Intertwined with this the band provided us with self shot material of their performance captured from an iPad, which then required extensive re-processing by Black Kite to give the whole piece a uniform stop frame aesthetic and appear to have been filmed through a uniform 180 degree lens. It was great to be involved in such a special project, channeling creativity around the world, at a difficult time, along with a great track from the legends of rock! 

Richard Fearon, colourist said: The creative challenge from a grade point of view was integrating the different DSLR cameras shot from across the world, while coming up with unique looks for each of the cities. Joe and I spoke before the session about creating a photographic feel across the video, trying to add texture and depth to the images. Having Joe Connor and the Rolling Stones with me in my spare room will be something I will never forget. 

Everyone at Black Kite was thrilled to be working with (and for) such Rock and Roll royalty - and working with a director Joe’s caliber on such an unusual project was as rewarding and creative as ever.