Amy Winehouse poses for a portrait shoot during a concert honouring Nelson Mandela 90th birthday in Hyde Park, London, June 27, 2008. Sporting her signature beehive, the then-24-year-old singer belted out renditions of her hit songs “Valerie” and “Rehab” for a crowd of almost 50,000 fans.

Behind the Lens: Terry O'Neill's Story:

Amy Winehouse was scheduled to perform at Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebration in Hyde Park in 2008.

“I was there, photographing everything. I spent five or six days trying to get pictures of everyone who came by to wish him well and all the performers at his incredible Hyde Park birthday celebration. Amy Winehouse was scheduled to appear and I was hoping she was going to be there. I had never taken a photo of her before and she was one of the few modern performers I really wanted to capture. She had this great look about her, a big beehive, the likes of which I haven’t seen since the 1950s, with a bunch of sailor-type tattoos – she looked like she had a raw attitude and a lot of sass. How she looked aside, I thought she had a real, genuine talent.”

“Apparently, she came out of the London clinic to do the concert then went back. She was in the middle of rehab.

I only had a few minutes with her at best – so I just asked her to stand still for a second and I got a few shots in before she had to dash off somewhere.”

“She was really gifted. Another one, like Brian (Jones), Keith (Moon), Janis (Joplin) – the list is too long – it’s a real shame what drugs and alcohol can do. Who knows what she could have gone on to do, to record. I loved her voice – still do.

I don’t really go for the modern singers; they are too produced and manufactured. Amy was special.”

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