Photo: Jim Marshall
I like this Jim Marshall quote: “I worked hard but I never really considered it work. I always enjoyed myself and only took an assignment if I had complete control and access. My reputation was such that managers didn’t f*ck with me. I had the trust of the artist. I would work with them and they knew I wouldn’t f*ck around or do anything they didn’t like.” What a badass. Click through the tabs above to see some photos from this legendary photographer.
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Marshall passed on in 2010, but his work lives on: a spectacular collection of his photos opens today at New York’s Steven Kasher Gallery. His pictures demonstrate intimate access with a roster of game-changing artists ranging from jazz greats like Miles Davis, to folk legends like Bob Dylan and larger than life rock ‘n’ roll stars such as Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix.
The guy owned his art with a fierceness that we can all aspire to. Extreme? Perhaps. But it’s that attitude that won the trust of his subjects and made these incredible images possible. Most of these shots are not staged. Trust is the most valuable currency when working with your subjects – especially fellow artists. I have experienced this in my own work with my Songs For Eating and Drinking project. No crowd, no managers, just artists at a table sharing good food and music.
It’s only rock’n’roll – but I like it.
(via Flavorwire)
Some great shots, and yes, I wish I could get that kind of access (I’m working on it, and I’m building some relationships) but I also think it’s good that it’s hard to get. If everyone was given that access, the dressing rooms would get kinda full, there’s be no room left on stage for the band, and the tour buses would smell even worse…
What I’ve found interesting recently, which show up in these shots too, is that often, with film shots, minor technical issues such as focus not being quite right, or shadows in the eyes, are tolerated, or possibly even ignored. With digital, they’re not, and shots are thrown away because of them. (No real point to that speech there, but I thought it was interesting)
You’re quite right. But Marshall wasn’t a fine art photographer and it might be inappropriate to apply fine art rules and standards to his body of work.
That by any means should not mean, that any of it has a higher value than the other.
EMP will have some previously unseen Jim Marshall photos of The Rolling Stones starting in August for a few months.
These are some great photos, they capture a great time in music too!
You should also check out another great photographer of this time, Douglas Kent Hall. http://www.douglaskenthall.com/
Thanks for sharing this Chase!
I wonder if it’s possible that in 30 years we’re going to look back on the music photography now and think any of it is legendary. I have to think not. The reason so many iconic photographs were made of these musicians is because it was everyone working together to build something. These days artists restrict access so much that everyone gets basically the same shots. Not to mention that when you’re shooting live you’re kicked out of the barricade before the show really even gets started.
Certainly not, the days in the 70s were totally epic, in their own way.