42 | Rolling Stone | RollingStoneAus.com May, 2016
Run DMC Meet Their
Smallest Fans, 1986
Photographed by Ebet Roberts
CL ASSIC SHOT
“I fi rst photographed Run DMC in July 1986 for the
legendary Creem magazine,” says Ebet Roberts. “I met up
with them at Darryl’s house in Hollis, Queens, New York.
They had just released their third album, Raising Hell, and
were on their way to a crossover hit with Aerosmith
guesting on their song ‘Walk This Way’. I was in the yard
with Darryl (DMC) waiting for Run and Jam Master Jay to
arrive. I was getting ready to start taking photographs
when the kids showed up on their bikes asking Darryl for
autographs. They were really excited to see him. I think
kids that young wanting autographs surprised him and he
kindly obliged them. He said he was used to older rap fans
but kids this young were totally a new experience for him.
The members of Run DMC grew up in the area and were
on their way to becoming rap music’s fi rst superstars.
We then walked around taking photographs in the
neighbourhood that they eventually made famous.”