February 9, 2014

During Summerfest 1974 in Milwaukee, I had the pleasure of being included in an interview with Melanie for the media. I was there representing the Bugle American newspaper.

Melanie, was very nice and a pleasure to be around. The interview was right before her show and the crowd loved her performance on that summer evening. 

She was not your usual rock star and that was nice. She had fun with the crowd that night.

Both of her parents helped her in her musical career and she started performing at the age of four! Performing at Woodstock and a lot of other festivals through the years, she retreated from the spotlight shortly after Summerfest to start a family.

Enjoy a look back into 1974.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Melanie, at Summerfest in 1974.

February 2, 2015

Wow!!! Blog #150!!! That is a lot of blogs and I haven't repeated one yet. Thank you all for the comments and fun with the past 150 blogs!

I try to bring you something fresh out of my collection each week and I see a lot more rock'n roll blogs to come. Indy cars will show up now and then too because I have photographed them a lot.

This week, we look at the band Rush! Photographed in Milwaukee, in 1975, and that is all I know. I just found these negatives in my closet a while back.

The negatives were in a sleeve that just said "1975". I didn't even know who the band was until I looked at them! I am usually really good at my file keeping, but not this time apparently!

Looks like the band Rush to me and my friends Heartsfield were probably opening up the show as they did a few times for Rush.

If the show looks familiar to anyone, give me the details please.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

The band Rush, in Milwaukee, in 1975.

Madonna, at Alpine Valley in 1987.

January 26, 2015

My blog this week features the band America, performing on February 7, 1973 at the Milwaukee Auditorium.

The key players of the band are Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek. They first met in London, shortly after graduating from high school in 1970.

In 1973, when I photographed them, they were at the peak of popularity. In 1972 they released "Ventura Highway" and "A Horse with No Name" .  Both of those sonegs were being played on radio a lot.

The band had a few more hits in 1974 and 1975 but then faded off the charts and Dan Peek left the band in 1977. One more return to the top happened in 1982 with "You Can Do Magic" when Dan Peek returned to the band.

I have always liked the band and I am glad to see that they are still performing. The band has a different lineup due to Dan Peek leaving to perform Christian music. He did return for a while but sadly passed away in 2011.

So, take a look at them in the good old days of the band in 1973 and have a great week.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

America, in the Milwaukee Auditorium on February 7, 1973.

January 19, 2015

Last week in my blog we looked at Dan Fogelberg in 1976.

This week we look at Dan making even better music with his friend Tim Weisberg, in Madison, Wisconsin in 1977.

Tim plays all sorts of wind instruments but mainly plays the flute.

These two guys make great music individually, but together, it is amazing stuff!

The photos here are from a very small show and I remember crawling around on the floor to shoot. Don't remember where in Madison or the exact date, so if any one knows please let me know for my records.

Yes, I know I could look it up, but it is more fun to hear someone's story of that night. So let me know if you know anything about this show!

Gotta go watch the Packers play Seattle now!!!

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg, having fun making music, in Madison, Wisconsin in 1977.

January 12, 1976

Dan Fogelberg in 1976 was an Arista Records artist that I had the pleasure of working with a little bit.

He was one of the nicest guys I ever met and every woman I know loved him! He had it all working for him at the time.

These photos are of a time when he was more of a rock star. The work he did with Tim Weisberg was about to happen and would change his style a bit.

Next week I will do Fogelberg/Weisberg 1977, so be sure to check that upcoming blog post.

Enjoy a little look into Dan when he performed in Milwaukee in 1976. Anyone remember where?

Stay warm everyone!

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann