April 21, 2024
My blog this week is short but sweet thanks to chemotheraphy session #2 kicking me a bit. Not as bad as last week. I'm just sore and lethargic. Just hope it works with 4 more treatments to go.
I dug up the Midwest band Head East that has been around since 1974 and has had more members than my high school class in senior year. In other words a lot!
Formed by John Schlitt when he and several of the guys were attending the University of Illinois. But being a rock band, who knows how many days they were there!
They are known mainly for their hit "Never Been Any Reason" but continued trying and toured a lot. I also saw them in 1976 and should to dig those photos up.
Enjoy a look at the men in 1980.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
March 24, 2025
Been a busy time here with more bad bladder cancer bad news. The 6 BCG infusions we did on my left kidney, ureter and bladder did nothing as the cancer is still present...
So the next step is 2 chemotherapy drugs administered together once a week starting soon. If that doesn't work I don't know what's next.
Anyway, take a look at the great Loggins and Messina band in September of 1974 at Milwaukee's Performing Arts Center which is my favorite venue here.
Enjoy and have a great week.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
March 10, 2025
February 14, 1973 I photographed Loggins and Messina at the Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.
This was now my second time photographing them and my personal favorite band at the time.
Nice and fun bunch of musicians that are really talented. Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina keep working and doing well.
Enjoy a look and next blog will be the guys in 1974 at the Performing Arts Center again.
Loved that venue as I had 2 secret spots to photograph from. I would just sit on the floor 2 levels up and off to the side of the stage!
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
February 24, 2025
My last blog on Kenny Loggins from 2017 reminded me that I photographed Loggins and Messina a lot.
Always a favorite band and on September 23, 1972 I got to photograph the band after my senior year of high school.
My family moved in 1971 and I basically lost all my friends. After 11 years of Catholic school and nuns, attending public school for my last year and a half of high school was definitely a change.
The east side of Milwaukee was full of music and opportunity for me and I began photographing for the Bugle American newspaper and doing public relation photo work for Columbia records.
School was difficult because of early mornings and late nights photographing music. I usually did it 3 nights a week. It really was the time of my life and a great music era.
Loggins and Messina played UW Oshkosh with Casey Kelly opening the show for a small crowd in the gymnasium.
What a wonderful show and I got to meet the guys after the show for the first of several shows through the years.
Learning to photograph music was progressing and I attended photography classes at Milwaukee Area Technical College.
Checkout some early photos of Loggins and Messina and enjoy a look at when we were much younger!
This has made me organize my Loggins and Messina photos that were mixed up a bit. A few are are being used by Dramatic Forces for a documentary, Conviction of the Heart.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
Kenny Loggins and his band headlining for Michael McDonald at the 2017 Gathering on the Green in Mequon, Wisconsin.
February 10, 2025
Hope everyone is in good health. Around here I have been fighting bladder cancer and then 2 urinary tract infections and COVID lately. More procedures coming up in March for the cancer and hopefully I get better!
I'm working with some people who are doing a documentary on one of our greatest musicians around for many years, Kenny Loggins.
I started working with Loggins and Messina in 1974 and they have always been one of my favorite bands.
Kenny has been a solo act for many years and I got the pleasure of photographing and saying hi to him in 2017 when he headlined a show with Michael McDonald as the opener. Next blog will be on Michael McDonald.
I gave Kenny a few prints from the Loggins and Messina days in 1974 when I photographed a few of their shows.
One of the prints he said they used for PR in Europe way back then! I was working as a PR photographer for Columbia Records on and off through my early years and never knew or got paid of course. That's rock'n roll and it hasn't changed.
Enjoy a look at Kenny in 2017. Loggins and Messina is in my Rock category for a look at the old days if you wish.
Stay healthy all and thanks,
Rich Zimmermann