Flying under my radar was a fantastic documentary, Rock ‘n’ Roll Exposed: The Photography of Bob Gruen playing on Showtime. Gruen, as Alice Cooper explains, “was part of the entire rock scene…as much as any band.” Certainly that shows; his body of work is basically a history of rock ‘n’ roll. He photographed (and hung out with) Zeppelin, the Stones, Ike and Tina, Aerosmith among many others, as well as becoming the photographer-in-residence for John and Yoko.
This is not a traditional biography, as the author lets us know right up front. It is a deep and fascinating look into this man called Prince, and his life, in a very unique way. Released two years after his death, Joseph Vogel uses interviews from Prince’s past, and organizes them into a series of themes. It is both a bold play, and a wonderful experience for the reader to form their own opinions about who Prince was.
So I’m going to follow that model and make this review a bit different...
"Cat: On The Road To Find Out" by Yusuf Cat Stevens
“Bowie@75” is the first entry into a gorgeous series of music books from publisher Motorbooks that is simply made for your coffee table. These hardcover books come in a slipcase and follow a formula: 75 career highlights, significant events and milestones are presented, including every Bowie studio album, family events, media brouhahas, and touchstones such as sex, drugs and…well…rock’n’roll! Sounds good, eh?
"Ellington At The White House 1969"
Edward Allan Faine
“The Hacienda: How Not to Run a Club”
by Peter Hook
"Leonard Cohen, 'Hallelujah,' and our 2021 Holiday Mashup"
In the late 70s, punk rock music began to evolve into the post-punk and new wave movements that dominated until the early 90s. During this time, prolific photographer and filmmaker Michael Grecco was in the thick of things, documenting the club scene in places like Boston and New York, and getting shots on-and backstage with bands such as The Cramps, Dead Kennedys, Talking Heads, Human Sexual Response, Elvis Costello, Joan Jett, the Ramones, and many others...
