Blog
January 9, 2023
Happy New Year!!!
Here we are at the beginning of another year and I hope it's a good one for all of us.
I'm officially announcing that I am retiring from photographing music and rock and roll! Started music photography when I was 17 years old in high school, with the Bugle American newspaper here in Milwaukee. Then, I worked 52 years of Summerfest on and off, promotional photographer for Columbia records and many other publications. Plus, I worked with several bands as their photographer.
A lot of books have been published with my work, most notably friend and best guitarist in the world (to me) Jeff Beck's beautiful book, BECK01. Jeff Beck was one of my first big shows in 1972 and last October I photographed Jeff and Johnny Depp in Chicago. That was the finish line for me.
Prints of mine are all over the world and it's been an honor and pleasure, but the politics and bs to photograph a show at all have gotten so complicated. I'm done.
I will however continue as a racing photographer of Indy Car, IMSA and more at Road America and the Milwaukee Mile. I'm 68 but ya can't get rid of me yet!
Now, I get to edit the archives of my work and I plan to compile a nice coffee table book. That should take about 3 years I figure! I will also have more time to spend with my beautiful wife Claudia.
Been trying to catch up with the past year of Summerfest to put into my website and blogs.
So, today we have Todd Rundgren from Summerfest on June 30th 2022. Todd is a musician I've always wanted to see and photograph.
Enjoy a look at Todd Rundgren and his band on a beautiful night at Summerfest.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
December 26, 2022
Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas or whatever holiday your celebrate!
This blog is about my friend and musician, Keith Pulvermacher, who passed away from cancer (multiple myeloma) on July, 30, 2022 at the young age of 49. A year earlier he lost his father to cancer... Keith was a father leaving behind his wife and two adorable daughters.
A tribute concert was held recently for Keith at Turner Hall which unfortunately I was unable to attend. My little tribute is here on this terrific man.
I first met Keith when he was in a band called The UnXpected in the 1990's. He later played in Chasin' Mason and The Love Monkeys. He was a great song writer, guitar player and guitar teacher and did a wonderful solo act for years.
Keith had a very generous heart his whole life, but in 2019 Givesong was created with Keith's plan of contributing to nonprofit organizations. In the first six months he had corporate sponsors donating $5000 each through Givesong to different nonprofits.
Two of Keith's download songs, "45 Story" and "Always Be Here for You" started the Givesong donation process and he got other Wisconsin artists such as Them Coulee Boys and 7000apart to join in. His work with Givesong will continue on. That is the kind of guy Keith was even as the cancer was taking him away from us.
In 2013, I had the pleasure of photographing Keith and Johnny Calarco with their families for the "Can't Wait For Christmas" CD with K-Nation Entertainment. We did a photo shoot in two locations over two days. One day in downtown Waukesha and then on a really cold day at a Christmas tree lot in Brookfield. Cold as it was we had fun with their families in the snow. Nice little four song CD with friends Jason Klagstad, Joe Hite, Grace Weber and Dave Adler.
I had a little skin cancer battle this past summer and had been talking for years with Keith. We talked more as he was in Froedert hospital on and off and I was on the other side of the cancer center of Froedert with my little skin cancer procedure. NOTHING like what Keith went through. He went through a lot but his heart and mind were always there and open to talk. His charity work continues on and he's looking down on his family and all of us I'm sure. Probably wishing he could tell us a joke or something which he was always good at.
The world is missing a great soul and prayers to his family and friends.
Enjoy a look back to 2013 when I photographed Keith, Johnny "Cee" Calarco and their families. The last three photos are the photos used for the CD cover, back and the CD itself.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
December 12, 2022
On November 30th, we lost musician Christine McVie from the band Fleetwood Mac. I was fortunate enough to photograph Christine with Fleetwood Mac three times through the years. She had such a great voice and was a talented artist. She even did the album cover artwork for their album "Kiln House". That album is one of my personal favorites, especially the song "Station Man".
In my very early photography days back on October 20th 1971 at the Milwaukee Arena, I photographed Rory Gallager, Frank Zappa and Fleetwood Mac with Christine. Also playing in the band was guitarist and vocalist Bob Welch who passed in 2012. Rhythm guitarist, Danny Kirwan, also played that night. He passed away in 2018.
Maybe there is a new Fleetwood Mac band upstairs having fun and playing music again. Christine and Bob Welch really worked well together with their awesome vocals. Christine has been quoted saying that she really enjoyed working with Bob.
These black and white photos shown here are not the greatest photos I've ever taken but I was just getting started at 17 years old!
The next time I photographed Fleetwood Mac was on September 11th, 1977 at Milwaukee County Stadium. I wasn't allowed to photograph the show but had fun backstage taking a few photos and then listened to the band play to a very large crowd. One of the photos shows Christine backstage with a large boombox! Kenny Loggins and his band opened up for Fleetwood Mac that night.
Then in 1987 as a house photographer for Alpine Valley Music Theater, I was allowed to take a few photos and one of Christine is included here as the last photo.
Enjoy a look at Christine, Bob Welch, Danny Kirwan and a couple of Mick Fleetwood.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
