Blog
November 12, 2018
I am frequently asked what is the best rock show I have ever seen.
It was asked again this past summer when my wife and I saw Alice Cooper with a group of friends. That was a really great show!
I have been photographing shows since 1971 (junior year of high school) for various publications and record companies. So there have been a lot of really good shows.
I think my favorite show is still The Rolling Stones, June 18,1972 at the Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington, MN. That show amazed me!
The stage had a huge dragon on the floor and the some stage lights were behind the band and then shot up to mirrors that bounced the light back onto the band. Nicky Hopkins played piano. Bobby Keys played saxophone and Mick Taylor played guitar. That combination of musicians is best version of the Stones to me. Stevie Wonder opened up the show. Even being on the side, seemingly a mile away, the sound was great and of course it was loud!
So yes, the Rolling Stones in 1972 was my favorite show but there are soooo many others that were just as awesome!
Here is my top ten after the Rolling Stones from 1971-
Queen-Uptown Theater in March of 1975. Just incredible and when they fogged the stage I fell off of a crew case in the pit where I was shooting from! Moved a few inches to get the shot I wanted and down I went! No one saw it and I got back up and kept shooting.
David Bowie-Milwaukee Arena October 1974. Even the rehearsal was amazing!
Joe Walsh with James Gang and Barnstorm. 1973 Summerfest. Also at the Milwaukee Arena and the Riverside Theater. He is a master at his craft.
The Everly Brothers at Pius grade school in Milwaukee in 1971. Unbelievable harmonies!
Steely Dan at Humpin Hanna's-Milwaukee 1972. The 14th show they ever played and we had drinks together after the show.
Pink Floyd-Milwaukee County Stadium 1977. Big, big show and the rehearsal was good too. During the actual show, it rained so hard but nobody left early.
The Who-Madison, WI 1975. Almost got crushed waiting to get in the doors. It was general admission and I wanted to be right up front.
Babe Ruth-Riverside Theater. Janitta Haan, Alan Shacklock and the rest of the band dazzled me!
Robert Palmer-Park Avenue club in Milwaukee. Very nice guy and the band was so good.
Metallica-2018 WorldWired tour-Madison and Milwaukee, WI. The stage and show design with a great band was something to see. Drones flew above the crowd! Cubes moved around from the ceiling with graphics and coming up from the stage turning into four drum sets!
I almost forgot my personal favorite photo from 1971 of Linda Ronstadt playing for Ramblin' Jack Elliott after she kicked the beer cans off the locker room bench and put her leg up to play! I was 17 and in a dressing room with Linda, Jack, Kris Kristofferson, Richie Havens, Earl Scruggs, Rosalie Sorrels and more. Learned about tequila that night with Kris Kristofferson!
There are many more I could list but these are pretty good choices I think.
What is the best show you have ever seen?? Let me know please.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
October 29, 2018
After many hours of work and after making many decisions, the 2019 Rich Zimmermann Photography calendar is done and ready to ship!!
It is a fun but tough project for me. I feature the musician of the month on his birth month. It's not as easy as it sounds because I don't duplicate artists. Also, I have so many photos of each musician from which to choose.
The cover artist is the attached photo of Metallica at the opening of their 2019 U.S. tour in Madison, Wisconsin a few months ago.
That is all you get to see! Inside, the calendar photos go from Jeff Beck in 1972 to Metallica this year.
The calendar is printed by Shutterfly so all photos are on thick board that you could frame at the end of the year. Shutterfly does a wonderful job and they donate a lot of money to charitable causes.
Forty dollars includes shipping anywhere in the U.S. and they are available now! Just email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I'll send you one or twenty!
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
October 15, 2018
This blog is about one of the first shows I ever photographed. It was at the UWM Union in Milwaukee on December 4, 1971.
I used black and white, color negative and infrared slide films!! Used them all that night, so see if you can pick out which is which!
There are two bands called Gypsy and this is the band formed in Minneapolis, MN not the British version.
I remember this show being very loud and very good but it was one of my first shows so they were all good and loud!
The band was the house band at the Whiskey A Go Go in California in 1969 and 1970.
Enjoy!
The 2019 calendars are almost done. My next blog will have a preview!
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
