It's only rock 'n' roll: Extraordinary memorabilia collection from Elton John to David Bowie

...but when you're a hopeless devotee of the monsters of classic rock, no scrap of memorabilia can go uncollected

Letting everyone see how much of a nerd you are is a little scary,' admits Rob Roth.

The theatre director is obsessed with the artworks of his favourite bands, and his collection has just been compiled into a book, The Art Of Classic Rock.

Roth lives surrounded by his artistic haul, which has taken 15 years to assemble and now includes over 3,000 items. It's won him some important friends - including Elton John and Alice Cooper, who wrote the foreword to the book.

Tragically, Roth lost his childhood collection during a house move.

'I had to start again from scratch, really. I've no idea how much I've spent, but it's really not about the money.'

It's not all album art - there are posters, mobiles, passes, pins and inflatable pencils. The sheer range reminds us how much we've lost in the download age.

There's no need for this stuff any more,' says Roth. 'As scary as it is putting this book out there, I'm proud to be playing my part in preserving an art form that's on its last legs.' 

'The Art Of Classic Rock', Goodman Books, £30

Rob Roth and his collection which has taken 15 years to assemble and now includes over 3,000 items

The Art Of Classic Rock

Left to right: A poster for the 1975 Earl's Court Zeppelin Express concerts; and an advert for Pink Floyd's Animals album that appeared in the UK

Left to right: A poster for Pink Floyd's best-of album, Echoes; and an Elton John gig poster, Berlin, 1974

Rare stand-up shop display for the Rolling Stone's Some Girls; and a 3-D montage for Pink Floyd's iconic pig-over-Battersea Power Station Animals cover

ACCESS ALL AREAS

Even the exclusive backstage passes used to keep out the riff-raff have been saved...

From left to right: Queen The Game U.S. tour laminate pass, 1980; Rolling Stones Steel Wheels Japanese tour laminate pass; and Elton John's 60th birthday show TV backstage pass

From left to right:  Serious Moonlight tour laminate pass;  pass, 2000; and David Bowie Heathen tour, laminate pass, 2002