Between the Madrid Book Fair and a major exhibition in the capital, the author of *Soundtrack* is experiencing one of the most important moments of his career
Official poster for the “Soundtrack” exhibition at the Eduardo Úrculo Cultural Center.
There are photographers who document music.
And then there’s Juan Pérez-Fajardo.
Because after more than two decades of photographing the biggest names in national and international rock, his work can no longer be viewed solely as music photography. What he has created is an emotional archive of Spanish popular music from the past few decades.
Now, coinciding with the release of his new book , *Soundtrack*, Pérez-Fajardo is taking center stage at two of the most notable cultural events of early summer in Madrid: a book signing at the Book Fair and a major retrospective exhibition featuring some of the most iconic images of his career.
A photographer who was always a musician at heart
Few definitions describe Juan Pérez-Fajardo better than the one Coque Malla offers in the foreword to *Soundtrack*:
“Juan isn’t a photographer who likes rock and roll; Juan is a rocker who likes photography.”
The phrase perfectly captures the essence of an artist who has never photographed music from the outside.
He’s been through it.
He has breathed it in.
And above all, she has understood it.
For more than twenty years, he has photographed artists who have shaped the history of Spanish and international rock and pop: Rosendo, Bunbury, Leiva, Amaral, Miguel Ríos, Loquillo, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, Mick Jagger, AC/DC, ZZ Top, Steve Van Zandt, C. Tangana, and Ara Malikian, among many others.
Juan Pérez-Fajardo in his role as a musician
“Soundtrack” and a book to understand a musical generation
Published by Sílex Ediciones, *Soundtrack* brings together decades of work behind the camera.
But it’s not just a book of photographs.
It is a visual record of contemporary Spanish music.
A journey through dressing rooms, stages, tours, and once-in-a-lifetime encounters with artists who have shaped the popular culture of several generations.
The publication also features two heavyweights of Spanish rock:
- Foreword by Coque Malla.
- Afterword by Fito Cabrales.
Two voices that help put into context the significance of a photographer who has been part of the very history he documents for years.
A must-see event at the Madrid Book Fair
Fans of Juan Pérez-Fajardo will have a unique opportunity to meet him this June.
The photographer will be signing copies of *Soundtrack* at booth 139 of Sílex Ediciones at the Madrid Book Fair.
A perfect opportunity to discover some of the stories behind his most famous photographs and get to know one of the great visual chroniclers of our music.
Juan Pérez-Fajardo will be signing copies of “Soundtrack” at the Madrid Book Fair.
A unique exhibition where you can “listen” to photographs
But June brings a second must-see event.
The “Soundtrack” exhibition opens on June 20 at the Eduardo Úrculo Cultural Center in Madrid and will run through July 18.
The exhibition is part of the Vermúsica cultural series and will feature some of the most representative photographs from the artist’s career.
The opening will also feature side events, concerts, DJ sets, panel discussions, and a new book signing.
More than just a photography exhibition, it will be a celebration of music as cultural heritage.
Much more than just a photographer
Juan Pérez-Fajardo’s career also includes highly significant audiovisual works.
He has directed music documentaries such as:
- Tarque: The Birthplace of Rock and Roll.
- M-Clan: Side Roads.
- Rise and Fall: The Garlic Phantoms.
He was also nominated for a Goya Award for the animated short film *Hasta la muerte*.
His work has achieved something very difficult:
To become a go-to resource for both musicians and photographers.
LoffMusic’s opinion
There are photographers who can capture a moment.
And then there are those who manage to capture an era.
Juan Pérez-Fajardo falls into that second category.
His photographs don’t just feature artists.
They perform songs.
They tell stories.
They reflect the sentimental memories of several generations of music lovers.
The release of *Soundtrack*, his appearance at the Madrid Book Fair, and the opening of this major exhibition make June 2026 one of the most significant moments of his career.
It is also a unique opportunity to discover the work of an artist who is essential to understanding the recent history of Spanish music.
