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

May 13, 2013

Where would rock'n'roll be without the Everly Brothers? As a duo, Phil and Don Everly, probably influenced every musician by what they did in the 1950's and 1960's.

Phil and Don's music career started in Iowa in the 1940's with their father Ike's radio show. Their mother Margaret, was also a part of the radio show and the family performed as the Everly Family in and around Iowa in the early years.

Family friend, Chet Atkins, helped the boys out in 1956 in getting their first record contract.  The Everly Brothers were born.

When I heard that they were playing at a grade school in my neighborhood in Milwaukee in 1972, I could not believe it! The roller skating rink at the school was going to be having a rock'n'roll show with the Everly Brothers?? It was an amazing show and I was star struck to say the least!

Looking at my photographs from that night, I see that my good friends the Hound Dog Band must have opened up the show because the drum set says HDB on it. That was long ago and I don't remember the HDB that night but I do remember the Everly Brothers.

I also was amazed by the band the Everly Brothers had with them. The guitar player was Waddy Wachtel. Waddy has played with just about everyone from Stevie Nicks to the Eagles and many more. He is an excellent and well known session player. One of the photographs here is of Waddy.

It's fun looking back and seeing the outfits musicians wear and I love the dressed up Levi's they are wearing.

Hope you enjoy a little look at the Everly Brothers in 1972. If you would like a photograph on your wall at home or the office, 8 X 10 limited edition prints are on sale for $50.00 this week.

Have a great week.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

 

The Everly Brothers April 22, 1972 at a Pius X grade school in Milwaukee rockin it out!