“The Ramones” by Ian Dickson (1977). Photo: Ian Dickson
In a new exhibition of rock and roll photography in New York City, the focus falls not on the rock stars, but on the photographers.
The Brooklyn Museum’s “Who Shot Rock N Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present” offers up almost 200 photographs from over 100 of the most influential music photographers of the last half-century. The collection includes everything from simple black-and-white images to colorful, multi-paneled spreads of singers, rappers, guitarists and showmen.
The exhibit itself is split up into six sections: rare behind-the-scenes snapshots; iconic musicians like Elvis and Bruce Springsteen at the beginning of their careers; images that capture the energy of live performances, like Jimi Hendrix playing alongside Wilson Pickett, or Johnny Cash giving the finger at San Quentin; pictures of die-hard fans and massive crowds; intimate portraits of artists like LL Cool J; and conceptualized images from album covers, where musician and photographer work together to create art.
According to curator Gail Buckland, who is also the author of a companion book by the same name that was published last month, photography has been an essential component of the evolution of music in the past century. “This is only the beginning of the conversation about the importance of images in rock and roll,” she said.
“The images have been like the step-children of its cultural history, and I wanted them to be part of the pantheon,” Buckland said.
So whether you’re a fan of rock’n’roll or you just want to learn more about the bloodlines that run between photography and the last 50 years of popular music, pick up the book or check out the exhibit. The photographs are on display at the Brooklyn Museum through January 31st, then make their way to Memphis, Tenn., Worcester, Mass., Akron, Ohio and Columbia, S.C.