<P> The album cover photograph was taken at Osterley Park , west London , on 28 October 1973 by photographer Clive Arrowsmith . It depicts Paul , Linda and Denny plus six other well - known people dressed as convicts caught in the spotlight of a prison searchlight . They are Michael Parkinson , Kenny Lynch , James Coburn , Clement Freud , Christopher Lee , and John Conteh . Arrowsmith detailed that the eventual cover was one of the four he found acceptable in the 24 attempts he took . The spotlight 's low potency meant everyone had to stand still for two seconds for proper exposure , which was made difficult by the photographed reportedly being in a `` substance haze '' following a party held by Paul , making it harder for them to hold the pose . The golden hue of the picture is due to Arrowsmith using a regular daytime film instead of a Tungsten film , which would be better suited for night - time photographs . </P>
who 's on the cover of band on the run
Paul Linda Denny Michael Parkinson Kenny Lynch James Coburn Clement Freud Christopher Lee John Conteh