March 30, 2015

First of all, I must thank Larry Widen for helping me with last week's blog about Steve Miller. He helped me to get the year that the photos were taken all straightened out! The show that was pictured in last week's blog of Steve Miller with Leslie West at Summerfest was 1977. I wasn't sure, so I asked all of you for some feedback and thanks to Larry, who was at the show, it's all figured out now! Love feedback from you and please know that I read and respond to every comment.

This week's blog came about because of a photograph of mine that appeared on a Facebook page without my knowledge. I was like, I think that is my photo!! So, I got home, checked it out and it is my photo!

It is one of seven images of boat racer Tim Seebold, racing in the SST 140 class race during the St. Louis Grand Prix weekend in 1991. Tim Seebold and his family is probably the most famous family of boat racers. His father Bill, brother Mike, and grandfather Bill senior, all race boats.  They usually win every race they participate in!

So, in the race shown here, Tim Seebold didn't win. Going into the turn, Mark Miller driving the boat on the inside of the turn, trimmed down a little bit, then Tim did, and then Mark straightened out and ran under Tim's boat forcing it into the air. This lifted Tim's boat and then it just forced him up, up, up into the air!  It was amazing.

I watched it all in the viewfinder of my Nikon and just let the motordrive do it's job until it ran out of film! Remember film? Wow, do I wish this was a digital situation and I could have just kept on shooting. But back then, there were only 36 shots to a roll. I wish I could have gotten a few more photos of the landing of Tim's boat.

Well, Tim walked away from this but the boat didn't! It was broken up pretty good and I never did hear what happened to it after the accident. If anyone knows, let me know about the boat repair job and if it ever raced again.

One last interesting fact for you- in the last frame you can see a fellow photographer without his shirt on running away! He is the official Mercury Racing photographer and he got a few great shots of Tim coming directly at him before he ran away!

Have a great week.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Tim Seebold, getting a little air at the St. Louis Grand Prix on 8-11-1991.

March 23, 2015

These photographs are from a few things that I have found in my closet lately!

Good seeing Steve Miller playing a beautiful and rare vintage Ibanez Artist 2623 guitar!

This period of Summerfest, was when the good old mainstage existed with the two big top tents and grass in front of the stage. It was a good time, except when it rained and turned Summerfest into Mudfest!

Steve Miller, on this particular evening was awesome and his band with Norton Buffalo was so good to listen to. The added benefit of Leslie West coming out to play was a great surprise.

Some of these images are not in the best of shape and if you know me, I don't Photoshop until purchased, due to theft on the web of my images. They are still good to look at to see Norton Buffalo, Steve Miller and Leslie West rockin' and rollin'.  I could listen to Norton Buffalo all day long!  If you don't know who Norton Buffalo is, he is pictured here in the first photo. He is a great harmonica player and a great all around musician.

Enjoy and let me know if you were there!

Please join me on Facebook at Rich Zimmermann Photography if you haven't already.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Steve Miller and Leslie West at Summerfest in Milwaukee in 1977?

March 16, 2015

Recently, I discovered a few sleeves of negatives in the closet that I didn't know existed! This blog is about one of those negative sleeves.

Carl Palmer, of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, had one of those massive drum kits, long before anyone else. Tiny little cymbals, and all kinds of percussion toys surround him. It's a very impressive drum set and he used everything, from what I recall.

Also, you can see that the band had an orchestra with them, including a conductor!

About a month ago, I was contacted by a school teacher on the east coast about blog number 125. That blog was about Emerson, Lake and Palmer in 1973.

This school teacher told me about how nice Carl Palmer, the drummer, was and that he visited their school and chatted with the class. So, even though I only have four photos here, I send this blog out to him and his class. Hope you guys enjoy a better look at Carl Palmer's drum kit.

Have a nice week everyone and Spring is coming. It's supposed to be 71F here in Milwaukee today.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Carl Palmer, of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, performing in Milwaukee in 1975.

March 9, 2015

This blog is different from blog #58 which is also labeled Loggins and Messina 1974. Blog #58 was about a show at UW Oshkosh and this blog is about a performance that was in September of 1974 at Milwaukee's Performing Arts Center.

Some of these photos were taken from right in front of the stage. Others were taken from my favorite secret spot at the Performing Arts Center, or the PAC as we called it! The PAC was a beautiful performance hall. My secret spot is now presently locked up and you can't take photos from there anymore. It was so cool because you would walk through this door and you had a little spot about ten foot square with a railing. I would sit on the floor usually and photograph the show and then just sit and enjoy the show alone in my little secret spot. There were actually four secret spots with two on each side of the stage at the second and third levels. The sound was a little weird because you were off to the side but the view made up for it.

Loggins and Messina, was a great band and I was very sad when they broke up. They were so good and the whole band had a lot of good energy and sound. I photographed them several times through the years.

Enjoy a look at the band from my secret spots and have a great week.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Loggins and Messina, at Milwaukee's Performing Arts Center in 1974.

March 2, 2015

In June of 1973, I photographed Foghat at Milwaukee's Performing Arts Center. Being a lover of Savoy Brown, I had to see these guys who left Savoy Brown and formed their own band, Foghat.

They had a little bit harder of a rock sound than Savoy Brown. "Lonesome Dave", otherwise known as Dave Peverett, was an awesome leader of the band.

Roger Earl, is still the drummer and continues touring with a new lineup of players. Foghat, has toured the world since 1970 and they continue to this day to keep rockin'!

Have a great week and take a look at the band in 1973.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Foghat, in June of 1973 at Milwaukee's Performing Arts Center.