Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band in Detroit, 1977. Photo courtesy of Wayne State Press.
As any music journalist will tell you, the best kind of Rock N Roll photography manages to capture a side of musicians most people don’t know exists. Whether it’s backstage, at home or during a moment of quiet privacy, the images that truly stand out are the ones that show our idols as we’ve never seen.
In the new book Travelin’ Man: On the Road and Behind the Scenes With Bob Seger, former roadie photographer Tom Weschler offers up over 150 photographs of the music legend, many of which have never been seen by fans before. The book chronicles the meteoric rise of Bob Seger, from clean-shaven small-town hero in the late ’60s to bearded international superstar ten years later. Needless to say, there are many pictures of Seger that will amaze fans.
“The baby-faced pictures are priceless,” says Weschler. “I think people are gonna look at this book and say ‘My God, did that guy ever really look like that?’
Of an estimated 20,000 photos Weschler has of Seger and his bands, 161 of the best make up the collection in the book. Included are big, glossy pictures of them playing in front of thousands, goofing around while on tour and during more intimate settings backstage and on the road. Along with the photographs are personal stories from Weschler, written by music journalist Gary Graff, that provide a unique insider’s perspective into what it’s like to live around a Rock N Roll band.
“The book and the photos put some real flesh on it,” Graff says. “Those days did exist and here’s what they looked like.”
So whether you’re a fan of Bob Seger or just always wanted to see what it’s like to go backstage with an American music legend, check out Weschler and Graff’s new book for some entertaining shots.