I had a discussion the other day about the notion of “music photography”. I was trying to explain the impact that Jim Marshall’s photos had on me. I used to gaze at the album covers and read Rolling Stone magazine and, time and time again, I would notice that Jim Marshall’s name was under a great photo.
Anyway, after this conversation, I made a mental note to look up Jim Marshall and maybe do a post. It’s funny, all roads seem to be leading back to Wolfgang’s Vault these days. The Vault has a whole section devoted to Jim Marshall, where you can view photos and buy art prints of them-very cool.
Regarded by many as “THE rock and roll photographer,” Jim Marshall’s career has always been focused on the documentation of people. A son of San Francisco, Marshall’s favorite subjects were musicians, and his 40-years of extraordinary photography include very special shots of Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles Janis Joplin and other stars in the rock music hegemony. Unlimited access to the musicians coupled with an inviolate sense of trust between subject and photographer allowed Marshall special opportunities: he was chief photographer at Woodstock and was the only photographer allowed backstage at the Beatles final concert. Since he demanded total access, Marshall lived 24-7 with his subjects, and his pictures reflect affection for the artists as they describe the musicians’ character. Marshall has said that it’s no accident if his pictures seem musical because, “I see the music.”
Here are a few I have my eye on for the rumpus room.
Mud…
Mingus…
I remember way back seeing this one of Duane Allman…
This shot was taken in the bathroom of the Holiday Inn before Duane, my ex-wife Rebecca, and I ate dinner at my mom’s place - the rest of the band ate in the hotel and got sick.
To me, the soul of the Allman Brothers Band died when Duane passed away. The day he died, I walked the streets of San Francisco for about 14 hours.
He was just one of the guys. He’s been gone over 25 years now, and his music is still as fresh as it was the day he wrote it.
- Jim Marshall
When you are in a hotel room and playing an electric guitar unplugged, to practice or warm up, if you go into the bathroom, you can hear it better. I think it’s great that Marshall was close enough, yet unobtrusive enough to get a shot like that.
Nice stuff.
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Tags: allman brothers, art, duane allman, Guitar, jim marshall, mingus, Muddy Waters, Music, music photography
Sans Direction wrote,
That Duane pic is a fine, fine pic. Thanks for the pointer. Now to find the $1000 to drop on wall art.
Sans Direction’s last blog post..Just call it a Stir-Fry, Waka-Waka, Vaguely Insulting Post
Link | May 21st, 2008 at 7:42 pm
J wrote,
Didn’t know about Mr. Marshall’s photos, I like his amps (j/k). Thanks for the post. Speaking of great photos, I really like Annie Leibovitz’s book: “American Music” . Maybe the wife will buy it for me for Christmas.
Link | May 21st, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Pribek wrote,
Sans-I saw that Duane picture a long, long time ago and since then I’ve warmed up before gigs in the hotel bathroom thousands of times. Every time, I think of that shot of Duane. If I’m not mistaken, Marshall did the Fillmore East pictures.
J-Annie Leibovitz is another one takes photos that get under your skin, she’s great. Both of them have the knack of capturing something extra.
Link | May 21st, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Pat Darnell and Friends wrote,
:American photographer of influence for me… hmmm got to sort that one out. Did I notice these are mostly B&W photos? Well, yes I do.
Probably Alfred Eisenstadt and the Leica/Life magazine group….
http://www.life.com/Life/eisie/eisie.html
Because of this sentiment:
These you have shown me are in that vein …a great example of our working class ethic, even if it is all wishful thinking….
http://img.timeinc.net/Life/covers/1948/cv122048.jpg (Title: Teen Fun Cover LIFE.)
Pat Darnell and Friends’s last blog post..Heath Ledger Love Child and Pribek.net
Link | May 22nd, 2008 at 5:28 am
Ovidiu - GuitarFlame.com wrote,
A photo is good when it tells a story… There are people able to catch such photos which are actually pieces of life. It’s a form of art so it can not be very far away from music, right? A song must transmit emotions, a story, something…The same way a photo should do.
Ovidiu - GuitarFlame.com’s last blog post..How you can earn money from your guitar blog - Tip 1
Link | May 22nd, 2008 at 7:42 am
axe victim wrote,
Yes I love the Skydog picture best. There’s soemthing about it that haunts me.
Totally digging ‘Munk’ that is playing as I write this. Vibes.
Link | May 22nd, 2008 at 11:20 am
Pat Darnell and Friends wrote,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuZCKgr4-sQ
I would like to add one more “moving” photo session to this group, as it defines much of my youth in the deep south. Mama Thornton ‘65 Harp Jam…. line up. I was ten in that year, starting to listen and look.
Gulf Coast South has a matriarch structure, maybe a lot of us don’t know that. It is why Bill Cosby’s family life stories back in the 1960’s are so funny to us in the deeper south salt grasses.
Matriarch is to me a childhood learning of “hosting and entertaining.”
Happy to share with all, and willin’ to have all over someday.
Pat and Family
Pat Darnell and Friends’s last blog post..Do you ever get one of those Weepy Moments??
Link | July 19th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Pribek wrote,
That’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen P.D.
Link | July 19th, 2008 at 12:46 pm