By JRS
Tina Turner, Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, California October, 1985. Photo by Henry Diltz.
October 30th marked the opening of “Who Shot Rock and Roll” at the Brooklyn Museum, the first major museum exhibition that focuses on the photographers who have been chronicling the genre’s ascension over the past six decades. The exhibit thrusts those behind the lens out into the limelight to acknowledge their creative and collaborative role in the history of rock music. From the first days of rock and roll photography, these artists have helped to romanticize and immortalize the musicians they were capturing, creating a visual identity that eventually blended into a revolution and a culture.
The exhibit features some of the industry’s paramount talents (Richard Avedon, David LaChapelle, Bob Gruen, Chris Stein, Albert Watson) and is a very adept representation of the many different spectrums inside the world of rock and roll. The exhibition is in six sections: rare and revealing images taken behind the scenes; tender snapshots of young musicians at the beginnings of their careers; photographs of live performances that display the passion, style, and sex appeal of the band on stage; powerful images of the crowds and fans; portraits revealing the soul and creativity, rather than the surface and celebrity, of the musicians; and conceptual images and album covers highlighting the collaborative efforts between the image makers and the musicians.
Madonna, Danceteria, New York City 1983. Photo by Maripol.
The exhibition is accompanied, as most exhibitions are, by a show catalog, this one in particular released by Knoph. Author Gail Buckland, who also curated the show at the Brooklyn Museum, brings the images to life with visceral narration, though in most cases the photos speak for themselves and need no introduction or explanation. Perhaps more surprising than this supposed-monograph’s profusion of text is the small trim size (10.5 x 9.8). As a show catalog, this book is very effective, providing readers with a substantial amount of background information about photographers that they may or may not be previously familiar with. However, as the first book of its kind to act as a definitive guide to the history of rock and roll photography, while calling to attention the impressive body of work of some of photography’s most-talented artists, it falls short of antecedent expectations.
Grace Jones performing at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London October 10, 1981. Photo by David Corio.
“Who Shot Rock and Roll” is on display at the Brooklyn Museum until January 31, 2010. Who Shot Rock and Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present is now available from Alfred A. Knoph for $40.
