September 20, 2021
Summerfest just finished it's third and last weekend of fun and music after no music festival last year.
One band that has been on my bucket list to photograph is ZZ Top. I've now photographed the guys three times and love to see what the guitars and drum kits look like because they different for each tour.
Bass guitar player, Dusty Hill, passed away not too long ago and before he died, he ordered the band to keep on going after his death! So, Elwood Francis is the new bass player. He was their guitar tech for over 30 years and fits right in.
Prior to COVID-19, Elwood did not have a beard! He didn't shave during COVID and so he now has a beard to equal Dusty and Billy!!
Enjoy a look at some great guys with some interesting looking guitars and drum kit. As the drum kit says on the bass drum, "Aged to Perfection"! I have to agree!
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
Z Z Top and Cheap Trick and Marquis Knox at the BMO Harris Pavilion at Summerfest grounds 9-4-2019.
October 2, 2017
For a few months now, I have been working on the 2018 Rich Zimmermann Photography calendar and it's just about done!! It is a lot of work!
The 2018 calendar is going to be a Summerfest theme with it being 50 years old this year or last year depending on who you talk to.
Each month is the featured musician's birthday. That made it tough to dig through my files to find the Summerfest photo that went along with the birthday person.
The calendar this year is $40.00 including shipping in the U.S. Shutterfly is printing it on their nice, heavy board stock. This is frameable board stock for after the month is done!
The cover will be The Atlanta Rythm Section at Summerfest 1977
January-John McGlaughlin of the Mahavishnu Orchestra at Summerfest 1972
February-Melanie at Summerfest 1974
March-Charlie Pride at Summerfest in 1972
April-John Oates from Hall and Oates at Summerfest in 1977
May-Dusty Hill from Z Z Top at Summerfest/Harley Fest in 2008
June-Jeff Beck at Summerfest in 2010
July-Arlo Guthrie at Summerfest in 1972
August-Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers at Summerfest in 1973
September-Jerry Lee Lewis at Summerfest in 1972
October-Steve Miller at Summerfest in 1977
November-Joe Walsh at Summerfest in 1973
December-Eric Bloom from Blue Oyster Cult at Summerfest in 2008
The only thing I have to do is figure out which Jerry Lee Lewis photo to use! There are two shown here and I'm looking for suggestions.
Please let me know if you would like to order one of my calendars as I'm going to try to do just one printing this year.
Check it out and let me know what you think and if you would like one.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
April 1, 2013
Hope everyone had a nice Easter weekend. It finally feels like Spring in Wisconsin.
Being a rock'n'roll photographer since 1970, I have had the opportunity to photograph just about every musician I have wanted to. Thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way.
The list of musicians includes most of my favorites from the Rolling Stones to Led Zeppelin. This list was pretty much complete except for one act that I have always wanted to photograph. Z Z Top did not make my list until the Harley Davidson 105th Anniversary party here in Milwaukee in 2008!
Their show did not disappoint. It was a fun time and they are a class act. The stage was set up very nicely and the lighting was excellent!
Photographers only get 3 songs in the beginning of the show to get the job done, and it is never enough time. I try to keep track of the 3 songs and thankfully, I don't have to change film anymore. So, I just shoot as much as possible as quickly as possible!
It all happens so quickly you can't believe it. I try to go in with a plan but most of the time that doesn't workout because you can't move around too much. With earplugs in, I put myself into position which is a little off to the side of Dusty Hill, the bass player. This way I could shoot across to Billy Gibbons, the guitar player, and also get a clear shot of Frank Beard, the drummer who's drum kit was a photo project all on its own! I want to get myself in a good spot so that I'm not shooting the backs of these beautiful guitars you see here! That is why I staked out my spot a little early because a couple of minutes before the show I was surrounded by more photographers and people.
I took 105 shots in those 3 songs and should have done more. but as I said, it goes so quickly you can't believe it!
Enjoy a few photographs of the show here and wouldn't one look nice on your office wall? Check out my rock category and go to Z Z Top for a few more to look at and enjoy.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
