Fin Costello
Brought up in Cork and trained as a sail maker in London’s docks, Fin Costello started in photography in 1968, when he was invited by a friend to come and snap some shots at a gig. He tried covering different kinds of camera work, including sport, before settling back with bands in 1971.
Gradually, better opportunities came his way. “My ‘break’ was the Stones’ ‘Exile On Main St’ tour,” he says. Another of his pictures was also used for the cover of ‘Made In Japan’ by Deep Purple, following which he was invited to work with other big names such as Kiss and Aerosmith. Before long it was Rush’s turn. “I met Rush in the USA in 1975 when they were supporting Foghat,” he explains. “I shot their show and had the pics published in Circus.” Based on that experience, Geddy asked Fin to work with the band some more. Fin contributed the liner photos for ‘A Farewell To Kings’, and the inner sleeve and poster photography for ‘Hemispheres’. Later, he took the photos of the girl and the man waving for the cover of ‘Permanent Waves’, at Deborah Samuel’s studio in Toronto and Morin Heights respectively. His final contribution was to ‘Moving Pictures’, though his images have been used frequently since then, for example on the ‘Different Stages’ live album.
There are few rock bands that Fin has not taken pictures for, and his name will always be associated with some of the best.