Photo: Miller/Getty

Metallica at the opener of their Death Magnetic Tour; Madonna’s special Hard Candy gig in a New York club; Radiohead’s epic set at Lollapalooza — Rolling Stone’s cameras were there, capturing some of the most arresting rock & roll images of the year. Click below for a gallery of 2008’s most incredible live shots, featuring Paramore, Nine Inch Nails, Prince, Cat Power, Jay-Z, Pearl Jam and many more.

• The Year in Performances: 2008’s Best Live Shots