Graeme Webber's portrait of AC/DC's Bon Scott.

AC/DC's smiling frontman Bon Scott unzips his jeans to reveal a tattoo creeping across his groin.

It's a blunt invitation to a photographic exhibition of rock stars including Kurt Cobain, Mick Jagger and Tex Perkins.

The curator of The Kids are Alright, Ray Jennings, said rock photographers had generously opened their catalogues for the charity event, finding rare shots not seen for decades.

"I've basically asked all these guys to give me their superannuation … and they have," he said.

"Some of (the photographers) are teachers now, others are art directors. They're everywhere."

Graeme Webber's revealing black-and-white shots of Scott and AC/DC guitarist Angus Young are on the walls, as are Stephen Sweet's portraits of Nirvana and Kylie Minogue.

The exhibition is raising money for the Mirabel Foundation, which helps children who have been orphaned or abandoned by parental drug use. The music industry has been a strong supporter of the foundation, which was formed in 1998.

An auction of rock memorabilia on Friday night raised more than $20,000, with one bidder paying $3500 for a vinyl copy of Led Zeppelin II signed by the British rock band. Killing Heidi's Ella Hooper paid $200 for a book and drumsticks signed by Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst.

The exhibition runs until July 30 at Lab X, 40 Pakington Street, St Kilda.

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Lab X Gallery