Rock

March 15th, 1983 in Rosemont, Illinois. This was taken during his first arena show in Chicago. I had been photographing him throughout his career and watched him and the band become one of the tightest bands in Rock and Roll. After this tour he took off into the rock stratosphere.

May 18th, 1985 in Chicago. This was taken during her first major tour of America. Everyone in the building knew when they left that night that they had seen a future superstar.

November 1st, 1984 in Hartford, Connecticut. I had been photographing them through their entire career. They flew me to Connecticut to shoot new publicity shots for the tour. It was great to see them play, and to hear a great touring band, led by G.E. Smith.

July 30th, 1981 in Chicago. I was working for a Chicago music festival called Chicagofest (a series of stages along a pier jutting out into the lake). One morning I was wandering up and down the pier seeing what was starting up when I came across the rock stage and saw a couple of cute girls sunning themselves outside a dressing room. I asked them if they were in a band and they told me they were performing in about 30 minutes. I asked if I could take some pictures of them- they led me inside and gathered the band together and I took one of the most enduring pictures I have ever taken!

March 10th, 2005 in Seattle, Washington. For many years, I volunteered for Farm Aid- Willie Nelson’s yearly charity event to raise awareness for the family farmer. In 2005 I proposed to them that we produce a book about the movement, which would include interviews with the four musicuan board members (Willie, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews). So Dave Hoekstra (the writer) and I traveled to Seattle to interview and photograph Dave. We arrived at his house and he led us to his yard where I did this picture and Dave interviewed him. Then he told us where to go to get organic donuts and we were off to the airport!

March 21st, 1985 in Chicago. I still remember when someone from Warner Brothers Records called me and told me that I had to see this new band that was playing at a club in Chicago. I went, and HOLY CRAP!! they were great. I started photographing them every time they came to town, and even out of town (I still remember Bono sitting on my lap in the van going back to the hotel after their performance at the US Festival in California). They have remained true to their roots, despite outgrowing them years ago.

April 7th, 1990 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Neil Young at the 4th Farm Aid concert. This was the day that Neil finally found his Farm Aid voice and started railing against the establishment! It was great to hear.

July 12th, 1998 in St. Charles, Illinois. This was an assignment for the New York Times. I went out to Brian’s house in the suburbs and did a shoot with him. Little did I know that a year later I would become his road manager and spend two years traveling around North America (and Japan) with him and his band.

April 8th, 1990 in Chicago. In 1989, I was the tour photographer for the Rolling Stones Steel Wheels tour of America. One night backstage I was having dinner with Chuck Leavell (Stones keyboard player) and he told me that I should go and see a new band on who’s record he had just played. About 5 months later I read in the paper that they were coming to town, and set up a photo shoot. I brought my friend Keith Van Horne (Former Bears player, also known as the worlds largest photo assistant) and did this shoot out behind the club. After the show (they were great) we went backstage and the band asked me to take them to a Blues club. That started a life long friendship that continues to this day.

May 23rd, 1997 in Chicago. I went to a small club to do a photo shoot with a new band. The club was kind of crowded so I took them outside. They were incredibly bored with the idea of being photographed, so I tried to get a different angle by lying on my stomach in the middle of the alley. After taking a few pictures, I joked that If I had to lay down in the dirt they should too! So they did.

October 22nd, 1998 in Chicago. I have photographed her many times, and every time she looks completely different! Lighting and staging is always great, and she can sure sing!

April 12th, 1998 in Chicago. This photograph was taken for an ad for www.rollingstone.com. The dot in dot com was meant to be her navel. So the client hired a stylist, who went to a store and bought three t-shirts that showed her stomach. The stylist made more money than me! Guess I choose the wrong line of work.

February 21st, 2005 in Bloomington, Indiana. While working on the Farm Aid book, we ventured down to Indiana to interview and photograph John in his painting studio.

October 26th, 1980 in Chicago. David has always been one of the most expressive artists that I have photographed, whether with the Talking Heads (shown here) or during his solo career.

May 19th, 1990 in Chicago. A remarkable voice and a remarkable stage presence. Absolute joy to photograph!

February 8th, 1984 in Rockford. Illinois. During a cover shoot for RIP Magazine, the guys prove that wherever they go- fun follows.

August 23rd, 1983 in Chicago. Halfway through his set, David put on a cape, grabbed a skull and rose and sat down, looked right in my camera and posed for me. I knew I had gold the minute I clicked the shutter.

March 2nd, 1994 in Chicago. This photograph was taken during the last event ever booked at the old Chicago Stadium. Eddie grew up in the Chicago area and was always a big Bulls fan, and wanted to play once on their home court.

May 3rd, 1980 in Chicago. Pete Townshend, going with my theory that when someone climbs up on something, at some point they have to come down!

November 7th, 1985 in Chicago. In 1985, Tipper Gore and some other Washington wives decided to start an organization called the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) to place warning stickers on CD’s with explicit lyrics. In response, several musicians spoke out against the perceived censorship. One was Frank Zappa- who testified in front of Congress on the subject. I was assigned by Playboy to illustrate an article showing what would happen if the PMRC “won.” Frank with milk and vanilla wafers seemed to do the trick. (Also, see my portrait of Ice Cube in the Rap/HipHop section.)

August 23rd, 1986 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. An assignment for Rolling Stone, I drove to the suburbs to photograph Elton in all of his understated glory. He didn’t disapoint!

April 8th, 1985 in Athens, Georgia. Just as REM was starting to break big, their publicist offered me a day in their home town shooting whatever we came up with. I flew, to Atlanta, rented a car and drove to Athens, where I met up with their manager who jumped into my car and directed me to Michael Stipe’s house where I met the band. We shot some pictures in his yard, then jumped in two cars and started driving around the area for about 6 hours, doing about 10 different photo shoots. A lot was accomplished that day!