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

January 27, 2024

Let the racing season begin folks with the 24 hours of Daytona where it was snowing the other day! And rain of course because that is IMSA at Daytona and Road America.

The 24 Hours of Daytona never disappoints as this years was a wild ride!

I did not make it to Daytona this year but watched it of course since I'm dealing with some health issues.

Checkout some of the IMSA cars from Road America last year in 2024.

AND Felipe Nazr and Team Penske win again!!!  Congratulations my fishing buddy!!!!

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Jeff Beck performing the last time I would see him October 23, 2022 at the Chicago Theater.

January 13, 2025

Hope everyone is having a good start to the New Year and prayers for everyone in Los Angeles. What a mess of a fire going on there.

My favorite band has always been the Rolling Stones but favorite musician and guitarist goes to Jeff Beck who passed away two years ago already. January 10, 2023 was a shocking and sad day when we suddenly lost Jeff.

I was lucky enough to meet and photograph Jeff in my senior year of high school (1972) when I worked for the Bugle American newspaper as a music photographer here in Milwaukee.

The Seigal Schwall band from Chicago opened the show for Jeff and became friends as they played Milwaukee a lot.

I believe Corky Seigal introduced me to Jeff who was the most humble and nicest musician I've ever met.  He could play a Fender Stratocaster better than anyone. Jeff didn't sing and let his guitar do all the work.

Photographed Jeff a lot through the years and I was lucky to be part of his BECK01 book a few years back. Copy number 10 of the very limited run is signed and in our house here with 5 of my photographs in it.

On January 22 in London a live stream of Jeff's vast guitar collection is going up for auction by Christies Auction House. It is sad, but good that they will all be played and appreciated again. The catalog book is for sale.  It's amazing and an education to learn about Jeff's history with his guitars.

I last saw Jeff at the Chicago Theater on October 23, 2022 not realizing that it would be the last time. I photographed him six times and saw him a few more times just to enjoy the show.

So here are a few photographs of Jeff and the band through the years. It's hard to pick a favorite. More photographs are on my website of course in the Rock category. Miss you my friend. Enjoy a look at the best guitarist ever.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

December 28, 2024

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Here we are a few days away from 2025 already and I wish the best of health to all. Been a rough 2024 around here for my wife and me with my bladder cancer and other issues. Thanks to her I have the best nurse 24/7 and I love her a lot.

I was trying to figure out what to do for this blog and I recently found out that a local guitarist, Greg Koch, grew up in my old neighborhood in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Right around the block from us really but I never realized it as he's 12 years younger and we moved when he was 5 years old.

Greg in 2012 was recognized by Fender Guitars as the one of the 10 top unsung guitarists of the world! He has a very unique style and won the 1989 Bluesbreaker Guitar Showdown judged by blues man Buddy Guy. In April of 2023 he was inducted into the Wisconsin Area Music Industry Hall of Fame.

He is a master guitar playing teacher with a lot of videos and has given a lot of lessons worldwide. In 2020, Guitar World called him one of the best guitar teachers.

I photographed Greg in 2009 and 2010 at Summerfest and seen him play a few other times. If you get a chance, go see him play and you won't regret it.

Enjoy a few photos from Summerfest 2009 and 2010.

Have a wonderful 2025 and great health to all.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

December 16, 2024

Since June of 2023 our lives have here been a bit messy here with surgeries and non medical fun for my wife and me. A big Monday and Tuesday here this week but I hope and pray that we are on the right path now.

December 29th last year was really a bad day as all of us lost a great race car driver at just 56 and I think about him a lot. Gil de Ferran was a special racer and a prankster. Gil passed away last year of a heart attack on the Concours Race Track in Opa-locka.  Very sad day and he was having fun with his son that day at the track.

I did not know him very well but had some fun with him at the Milwaukee Mile and Road America.

So I feel the need to look and remember our friend as it's so close to a year that he has been gone.

Gil gave Team Penske it's 100th win and consecutive CART championships in 2000 and 2001.

The Milwaukee Mile put my photo of Gil in the Media Center at the Milwaukee Mile. It's also in one of the suites in the grandstand. It's a picture of Gil sitiing in his car giving a thumbs up. The photo was from 2001 and I've cherished it for a long time in my race room here.

In 2000 Team Penske almost had Gil de Ferran and future superstar Greg Moore who we lost in 1999 as teammates. Who knows what could have happened with Greg Moore and Gil together. Gil would have mentored Greg for sure but without Greg we got Helio Castroneves and Gil mentored Helio very well into the Spiderman!

Enjoy some photos of Gil through the years.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

December 2, 2024

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

We went out so no cooking and no dishes to do. It was very nice.

This blog is a continuation of the last blog on the Indy Racing League at the Milwaukee Mile on July 24, 2005 when Sam Hornish won. Dario Franchitti was second and Tom Scheckter placed third.

Take a look at some more photos of the folks and enjoy.

My bladder cancer BCG infusion #5 is tomorrow and then another one the following Monday and hopefully they did their job.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Enjoy some of the Indy Racing League at the Milwaukee Mile in 2005. Crazy times during the split of Champ Car and the IRL.

November 18, 2024

Been some tough weeks around here lately with my bladder cancer BCG infusion therapy going on now. BCG is a vaccine for tuberculosis that they learned kills cancer cells. Just had the third of six infusions last Friday.

It's a once a week deal and the first week was bad. Second week I developed a urinary tract infection and ended up in the hospital overnight getting big gun antibiotics that worked!

Third week and third infusion and I feel good!  Weird, but happy and lets see what the next three hold and hopefully the infusions work... Now I can get back to being retired with my wonderful wife and doctor here. Could not have done this without her!

This is a Part 1 of the Indy Racing League at the Milwaukee Mile in 2005 for the ABC Supply Company 225 race. Part 2 in a couple weeks will have more photos and history of the race.  In between my cancer treatments I'll get'er done!

The race in 2005 was won by Sam Hornish Jr., Dario Franchitti was second and Tomas Scheckter in P3.

The IRL came to town here and this was during the Indy Car split. Because of that we had Champ Car and the IRL at the Milwaukee Mile in the same summer with different dates. Great, but expensive for fans and busy for this photographer.

How good is your Indy Car knowledge because there are two cars in here that are Champ Cars! Must have been the beginning of the first roll of film that was left over from Champ Car.

Enjoy Part 1 and be well.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

November 4, 2024

During the famous split of Indy Car we had Champ Car and the Indy Racing League both at the Milwaukee Mile in 2006. This is the IRL at the Milwaukee Mile on July 23, 2006 where Helio Castroneves won the pole position but was out of the race quickly in an accident.

Tony Kanaan won the race with Sam Hornish Jr. second and Tomas Schecter third. Young Danica Patrick finished fourth which was a good run for her.

The cars to my eye just were not as good looking as a Champ Car and didn't sound as good. Not as fast as a Champ Car either, I believe.

Take a look at the cars and see if you like them better than the Champ Cars in my last blog.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann