Bob who? Classic rock historians probably know the name from early U.S. tours by The Stones and The Beatles. Bonis worked as tour manager for both bands. What’s just now coming to light are thousands of photographs the road warrior snapped of the budding rock stars.

3,500 photos to be exact, which will go on display at New York City’s Not Fade Away Gallery.

Described as depicting “a private, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the early days of rock ‘n’ roll,” the photos reveal the more candid moments of the days in the life of the two bands that heralded the famed “British Invasion” of the early ‘60s.

There’s the Fab Four lounging by a pool in Key West after a hurricane ruined their yachting plans. There’s another poolside shot of Keith Richards and Brian Jones on the day Mick Jagger and Richards wrote “Satisfaction.” And there’s a downright scary shot of Keith Richards cutting Charlie Watts hair. Why is it scary? Let’s put it this way. Would you let a scissors-wielding Keith Richards anywhere near you?

And the shot of police officers stopping fans from rushing the Stones’ stage in Fresno, Calif., has to be seen to be truly appreciated.

That the negatives and slides were stowed away for over 40 years makes for a story that’s as interesting as the photographs.

Bonis’ son Alex recently discovered the pictures and took them, along with a collection of his father’s memorabilia, to Larry Marion, founder / director of the Not Fade Away Gallery. From accounts it appears the photos were an afterthought and were stuffed at the bottom of a bag filled with other mementos of both bands.

Now the photos make up the gallery’s first exhibit, and Alex Bonis is one of the establishment’s partners.

In addition to pictures of the Beatles and the Stones, the elder Bonis also shot photos of Simon & Garfunkel, The Hollies, Cream, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Buddy Rich and Frank Sinatra, plus several jazz greats. Many of these photographs will be featured in future exhibits at the gallery.

“The discovery of so many never-before-seen photographs of the two most influential bands in rock history, captured at the most pivotal time in their careers, is a once-in-a-lifetime event,” said Marion. “I’ve never come upon a discovery of this magnitude – thousands of extraordinary unpublished photographs of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones – young, innocent and unguarded. This is likely the largest single trove of such important unknown photographs ever uncovered.”

The exhibit runs March 4 through April 4, and for more information please visit the gallery’s Web site at NotFadeAwayGallery.com.

Newsweek is displaying ten photographs from Bonis’ collection. You can view them here.