February 18, 2019

I first met Linda Ronstadt in a locker room/dressing room in 1972 when I was 17 years old!  I then took one of my favorite photographs ever! That black and white photo is with Ramblin' Jack Elliott listening to her warm up before she went on stage.

I've been working on some photos of Linda Ronstadt from 1972 and 1980 lately for something coming up!

Other than that picture, these are photos from 1980 in Madison, Wisconsin.

Always have loved Linda's talented voice. She has sung just about every type of music I believe other than opera in her long career.

Not sure on the band here but I think the main guitar player is Danny Kortchmar. Any help in identifying the band would be appreciated.

Enjoy the photos.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

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

September 8, 2014

I have been a music photographer for a very long time. My first images were taken in 1971.

My favorite photograph of my whole collection was taken in 1972.  It is of Ramblin' Jack Elliott and Linda Ronstadt.

I sent the photograph to Ramblin' Jack on his 80th birthday a few years back. I tried to get a print to Linda Ronstadt in the 1980's through her people, but who knows if she ever got it. Things like that often disappear.

This past Friday night, Ramblin' Jack played a show in Milwaukee at Shank Hall. I gave him a copy of the print before he went on stage. He autographed a copy of it for me and we chatted for a while. Jack is a great storyteller and we could have talked for hours!  Or more precisely, he could have told stories for hours!

He is a wonderful person, a terrific story teller and a great musician.

I think I got a new best friend the other night.

Love ya Jack.

Enjoy the images everyone.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Linda Ronstadt at the Dane County Coliseum in 1980

September 23, 2013

The news on television and in the newspapers lately has been depressing, but the news of Linda Ronstadt really hurt. Linda was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease and her voice among other things is being affected.

For me, Linda was the first female rock star. She has a very strong and wonderful voice.

I wish her the best of luck in the treatment of her disease and hope things go well for her.

My favorite photo that I have ever taken is the first photo here!! It was 1972, I was 18 years old, and I was in a dressing room with Linda and Ramblin' Jack Elliott! Linda kicked some beer cans off of a bench to put her leg up on it, played guitar, and sang for Ramblin' Jack a song that I don't remember! What I do remember was her incredible voice.

The second photo here is of Linda and Kris Kristofferson. I always wanted to know what he was saying to her.

Enjoy these photos from 1972 and 1980. Take care Linda.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Linda Ronstadt at the Wisconsin Music Festival in Madison, Wisconsin on April 15, 1972.

September 3, 2012

These are photographs from the second day, April 15, 1972, of the Wisconsin Music Festival, held at the University of Wisconsin Fieldhouse in Madison.

Day 2 was a big day with Linda Ronstadt, Kris Kristofferson, Pattie Santos with It's a Beautiful Day, and Ramblin Jack Elliott and Rosalie Sorrels returned for more fun.

There are a lot of photographs with this blog.  It was a great day and a very memorable show for me.  A lot of beer cans were on the floor of that dressing room!

All blog photographs are for sale at a special price of $30.00 for a limited edition 8 X 10 or 8 1/2 X 11 gloss print which includes shipping in the U.S..  This sale is just during the week of the featured blog.  Contact us soon.

Please visit me on Facebook or Twitter @ richzimmermann.com

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann