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Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present
June 26-September 26, 2010
Curated by Chief Curator Marina Pacini
Galleries 2, 3, and 4
Organized by the Brooklyn Museum
Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present is an exhibition about the men and women who have photographed one of the most important cultural revolutions ever, rock and roll. The music needed images to communicate its message of rebellion, freedom, and personal reinvention. The best photography of rock is skillful, sensual, sexy, creative, compelling, and underrated. It provides not only documentary evidence of cultural change but parallels the energy and potency of the music itself.
Rock photographers see themselves as going to the front lines and not returning until they capture the frenetic energy, euphoria, and freedom that is rock and roll. They say, correctly, that no one would believe in the revolution unless there were pictures. Who Shot Rock & Roll will provide an opportunity for the public to see many of the original prints and to learn the names of the photographers who shot some of the world’s most iconic images. For, like the musicians they photographed, they, too, changed the world and how we see it.
The exhibition comprises behind the scenes images of artists such as R.E.M. at a lunch counter; live performances including the complete series of Jimi Hendrix burning his guitar at the Monterey Pop festival, which has never before been exhibited or reproduced; shots of teenagers pushing British bobbies at Buckingham Palace to glimpse the Beatles; a range of portraits including Philip Townsend’s photographs of The Rolling Stones before they had a record deal; and finally the original source material for album covers taken by artists such as Andy Earl, Bob Whitaker, Jean-Paul Goude, Bruce Weber, David LaChapelle, and Storm Thorgersen. Among the many artists captured are Tupac, Kiss, Fugazi, Bjork, Salt ‘n’ Pepa, The Ramones, Prince, Amy Winehouse, and Metallica.
Roberta Bayley (American, born 1950)
The Ramones, New York, 1976 (printed 2007)
From left: Johnny Ramone, Tommy Ramone, Joey Ramone, and DeeDee Ramone
Gelatin silver print
Courtesy of Roberta Bayley
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