"Here I was, a photographer, with my own little car, living that sort of carefree artist's life with my friends"
Astrid was born in Hamburg, Germany, 1938. After surviving the bombing of Hamburg during World War Two Astrid decided to become a fashion designer. Whilst at university she was encouraged by the photography teacher, Richard Wolf, to pursue black and white photography. She worked as Wolf's assistant for five years and dated artist Klaus Voormann. She became interested in French existentialism and she and her friends dressed primarily in black. In 1960 Klaus came across The Beatles playing in a seedy part of town known as the Reeperbahn. Amazed by this new music, he and Astrid soon became regulars at the English bands gigs. Astrid was fascinated by The Beatles and was determined to become as close to them as she could. She began photographing them and took thousands of images, including a famous series taken in a fairground, they became some of the first 'professional' pictures taken of the band. Astrid also fell in love with bassist Stuart Sutcliffe. A fellow artist Stuart left the band and moved in with Astrid where he rediscovered his love for painting. Stuart asked Astrid to marry him and they became engaged in November 1960. The following year they travelled to Liverpool where Astrid was introduced to Stuart's family. Around this time Stuart started suffering from intense headaches and frequently collapsed. In April 1962 he was rushed to hospital in an ambulance but he tragically died of a brain haemorrhage in Astrid's arms before they arrived, he was only twenty-one. Astrid was devastated, and was supported through her grief by the other Beatles, particularly John Lennon who had been Stuart's best friend. She continued to visit with them and their girlfriends throughout the sixties and worked as a free lance photographer, but she found that people were only interested in her old work so she eventually stopped photographing in 1967.
In 1968 she married English drummer, Gibson Kemp, but they divorced seven years later. She worked in a variety of jobs including a barmaid, fashion designer, and as a music publisher, and married again, though that relationship also ended in divorce. Astrid has since published several books of her photographs of The Beatles and has been featured in galleries throughout the world. She remains a presence at fan conventions and in her photography shop K&K where she sells vintage prints and books.
Astrid was a woman in a man's world during the 1960s, she struggled to make her voice heard in the photography world but her striking imagery remains inspirational to this day. Her images of The Beatles are a perfect capsule into their pre-fame world and her stark black and white images were the inspiration for the cover of their second album, With the Beatles. Her bohemian lifestyle also provided the young Liverpool lads with inspiration, she and Voormann influenced their hairstyles and clothing choices. She also believed in the group, especially Stuart, and encouraged him in his art. Astrid was also a 'motherly' figure for the group, especially George Harrison, who as the youngest was often homesick.
Pete Best once described Astrid and Stuart's relationship as being like a 'fairy tale' and to this day she refers to him as the love of her life. Their story is one of great tragedy but also of great love. Astrid remains dedicated to his memory and her portraits of him give us a fascinating look into the life of the forgotten fifth Beatle.
As a talented photographer in the 1960s Astrid paved the way for many women who came after her. In the face of immense sadness she has remained a kind and thoughtful person. She is equally as fascinating and enigmatic as her subjects, and her beautiful photographs provide not just a glimpse into the lives of her friends, but also provide a glimpse into her own soul and the things she was passionate about.
"My whole life changed in a couple of minutes. All I wanted was to be with them and to know them"
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