Rockstars
This fascinating Rock Stars exhibition by professional photograhpers Brian Aris, Doug Corrance, Peter Hince, Chris Close, and John Claridge will provide a glimpse into another world that most of us look on with a mixture of admiration, jealousy and sometimes horror.
Some of the greats from the world of Rock and Roll - Blondie, Bowie, Kate Bush, The Stones, Annie Lennox and Queen, to name but a few, are the main protogonists shown in their pomp.
Peter Hince was Queen’s chief roadie for over a decade and knew the band well. He was persuaded to stay on for what turned out to be the band's last tour (with Freddie at the helm) before embarking on a career in photography. Peter went on to become an award winning photographer with his underwater images receiving great critical acclaim. He refers to Freddie as Fred and one day Fred called him in to say: “you must take a picture with the robes and crown".
“Being Queen the robes and crown was made well and was actually quite heavy," recalls Peter. "He was not the arrogant persona that the press liked to portray.
This image would have been taken when he knew he was ill."
Brian Aris first shot Blondie in the 70s from his East End studio in London. He said: "The East End at that time was the East End of grit and grime and not the gentrified desirable district it is now. People did not want to go there but it never fazed Blondie. She was a New Yorker." This picture became the first of many Brian was to shoot over the years.
Brian also shot David Bowie's wedding to Iman in Italy. To stop the press getting access they rigged up big drapes but during the ceremony one guest tried to sneak a picture. Bowie approached Brian afterwards and promptly threw out the person who had taken it.
Doug Corrance was a press photographer working on a local newspaper in Inverness when he was asked to photograph Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin.
Jimmy owned Aleister Crowley’s former house near Loch Ness. Aleister was a notorious figure, sometimes portrayed as a devil worshipper and there is even a song by Black Sabbath entitled Mr Crowley. Bowie too references Crowley in his song Station to Station. The house has now gone, it burnt down appropriately enough, and Doug's pictures of Jimmy have taken on a historical significance. Doug used to spend a lot of time in the area and got to know Jimmy and is still in touch.
Gallery owner Chris Close recalls how, when shooting Johnny
Rotten of the Sex Pistols, Johnny had had a few beers and started taking his clothes off.
Chris said : "He was over 50 at this stage and his body was not ‘beach ready’. He looked at one of the pictures and snarled 'look at that, I’m disgusting . . . that’s great'.
"Most people are so worried about looking their best, so it was refreshing to have someone whose attitude was the polar opposite.”
Gallery-Close is now selling work by Lynn Goldsmith, the New York based rock photographer. Lynn has "been there and shot that", publishing several books on the people she has photographed including, Springsteen, U2, The Stones, Patti Smith, Zappa and the inimitable Debbie Harry. She is one of the world’s most prominent Rock and Roll photographers.
Gallery-Close is one of the only photography galleries in Scotland.
Although small it represent a number of photographers and offer a bespoke service always looking to help clients from across the UK and beyond.
All work is for sale and is signed and editioned.
Venue: Gallery-Close , 4B Howe Street, EH3 6TD
21 March to 13 April, free.
Opening Times : Wed-Saturday 10am-6pm and by appointment.