December 7, 2020
As I wrote that date, December 7th, I realize that it is the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Very sad day to go down in history. Many thanks to all the servicemen.
This is my last blog on Joe Walsh!! Four is enough and that's all I've got of Joe in photos. Once he joined the Eagles he and the band became very hard to photograph. Even with Vince Gill as an old friend from his Pure Prairie League days it just got really hard to get access.
They have also become the most expensive tickets to buy for a show I hear. Great band but $1000. or more for a good seat is crazy!
This show I photographed was in Milwaukee in 1980 according to my records but that doesn't work out with the tour list! So, if anyone knows a Milwaukee date let me know please. The slides are stamped August 1980!
The band here was great with Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, Don Feldner and Glen Frey. Joe Walsh joined the band in late 1975 and they broke up in late 1980 a few months after this show.
Enjoy a look at the boys from my one seat way back with a long lens! Wish I had my present gear back then. Photos would be a lot better!
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
November 23, 2020
Continuing with Joe Walsh blogs, here is another one!
Joe played a show at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee on March 19, 1975.
This was towards the end of his solo career as he was to join the band The Eagles in December of 1975.
He is an amazing guitar player and this show did not disappoint.
His microphone stand has an interesting display of a horn, a mask and even a bicycle handlebar.
Enjoy a look at one of Joe Walsh's last solo shows.
Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
Joe Walsh on March 19, 1975 at Milwaukee's Riverside Theater.
November 9, 2020
For my last blog I cleaned up a lot of old images of Joe Walsh from 1971. So, I figured I should keep working on Joe Walsh photos and cleanup some of my favorite photos from Summerfest 1973 and some of my favorites of Joe!
It was in 1973 when Joe Walsh had his band, Barnstorm ,with Joe Vitale, Rocke Grace, and Kenny Passerelli
When I took these photos, I could not move from the spot I had secured because it was so crowded. If I could have moved, I would have pictures of the drummer and bass player! Joe Vitale is such a great drummer and Kenny Passerelli a great bass player.
Enjoy a look at Summerfest and Joe in 1973. I cleaned them up a lot but a few could use a little more work!
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
October 26, 2020
On November 25, 1971 my thoughts were not on Thanksgiving too much. That is because two days later the James Gang Band was coming to the Milwaukee Arena for a show!!
Joe Walsh has played in many bands but he's also a great solo artist. My personal favorite was the time he spent with the band The James Gang. To me, Joe Walsh was the band!
He did have a great band though with drummer Jimmy Fox and bass guitar by Dale Peters.
John Mayall and another band, Jake Jones, played that night too.
I'm thinking that the James Gang Band was the headliner act that night, but not sure.
Enjoy some freshly cleaned up images!
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
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
May 15, 2017
Last night I had the opportunity to see and photograph Tears for Fears and Hall and Oates at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. It was a great show. That will be next week's blog after some editing.
This week we have Joe Walsh at Summerfest in 1973.
Take a look at one of my favorite musicians when he was just few years younger. I was young too at almost 19 years old!
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
Joe Walsh at Summerfest in 1973.
November 21, 2016
It finally feels like winter here in Wisconsin! Thursday it was 70F and Friday was warm in the morning but then it changed quickly. Saturday we woke up to snow flurries and a bit of snow on the ground.
Winter is coming and so are the Rich Zimmermann Photography 2017 8 X 11 Rock'n Roll Calendars!!!!!!
For 2017's calendar I went with the birthdays of musicians to pick out each months photo like last year.
The cover is Frank Beard of Z Z Top and his amazing drum kit. Again David Bowie is our January pick because we have so many Bowie lovers, including myself!!
February-Don Everly of the Everly Brothers
March-Rory Gallager
April-Peter Frampton
May-Mick Ronson-From his Ian Hunter tour
June-Jeff Beck-From 1972!!
July-Roger McGuinn of The Byrds
August-Madonna
September-Roger Waters-Pink Floyd
October-Elvin Bishop
November-Joe Walsh
December-Jim Messina-Loggins and Messina 1973
Attached are the photos for a preview for you. No watermarks will be on the calendar prints of course.
I think you will all love it for yourself or for a Christmas gift for someone!
They are $30.00 each and $6.00 for shipping. Again, they are printed by Shutterfly who prints on a heavy stock that makes the prints suitable for framing when the month is over. They really do an awesome job I think and everyone loves them based on the comments I received about the 2016 calendar.
Email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to place your order and we can get you a calendar before Christmas no problem.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
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