Johnny Cash flips “the bird” during rehearsal and soundcheck prior to his performance at San Quentin State Prison on February 24, 1969. This photograph, captured by Jim Marshall, became “probably the most ripped-off photograph in the history of the world.”
By 1969, Johnny Cash had already built a reputation for performing in prisons. His legendary Folsom Prison concert in 1968 was a massive success, leading him to perform at San Quentin State Prison on February 24, 1969—a show that was being filmed for a TV special and recorded for the live album At San Quentin.
During the performance, Cash delivered a fiery, defiant set, including the debut of “San Quentin,” a song that directly criticized the prison system. The inmates roared in approval, and Cash’s outlaw persona was further solidified.
The legendary shot was captured by Jim Marshall, one of rock and roll’s most celebrated photographers. Marshall had been given unrestricted access to photograph the event. At one point during the concert, Marshall jokingly told Cash: “John, let’s do one for the warden.”
In response, Cash turned to the camera and flipped the middle finger, delivering a raw, rebellious gesture that perfectly captured his attitude toward authority.
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| During soundcheck, Jim Marshall prompted Johnny by asking him to pose for a shot for the warden, to which he quickly responded by flipping the camera The Bird. That photograph is arguably the most famous photograph of Johnny Cash in addition to being the most widely known photograph by Jim Marshall. This contact sheet captures this fleeting and enormously influential moment across several frames. |
The picture remained relatively obscure until 1998 when he collaborated with the legendary producer Rick Rubin on his American recordings albums. The second American album, Unchained, won the 1998 Grammy for Best Country Album.
However, despite this success, Johnny Cash’s music was absent on country radio. Rubin, perceiving Country Radio as a conservative scene, decided to challenge it directly.
Rubin delved deep and invested $20,000 to place a full-page ad in Billboard magazine. The ad showcased the iconic Cash, defiantly flipping the bird, accompanied by the caption “American Recordings and Johnny Cash would like to acknowledge the Nashville music establishment and country radio for your support.”
