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
July 7, 2014
On June 28, 2014 we had the Babe Ruth band visit Summerfest here in Milwaukee, Wissconsin!! They came to America for one show.! Yes, they traveled all the way from England to perform the one show for us loyal fans!
I have photographed rock'n'roll for a very long time (1971) and have had the chance to meet all types of bands and rockers. Jenny, Alan and the entire Babe Ruth band are some of the nicest rockers I have ever met!!!! My request for photo credentials started weeks ago when I sent Jenny an email along with some shots of the show I photographed in 1975 when they played here with Roxy Music. Those photos are in a previous blog and are on my website.
Last week when they were here, I got together with them before the show and gave them a disc with images of the 1975 show. They loved it and invited me to come back after the show. After their terrific performance I went backstage and had some fun with the band. Then I went with them for an autograph signing session. They were so nice to everyone and signed everything possible! Not in a big hurry, they really signed everything they could!
Enjoy the photos of my new friends. I'm getting used to my new watermarking system. It will get better, so please bear with me as I work out the kinks. All photos are for sale on my website.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
Janita Haan leading the Babe Ruth band at Summerfest on June 28, 2014.
March 11, 2013
83 years ago last Saturday, the New York Yankees re-signed Babe Ruth to a two-year contract. It was worth $160,000. I wonder if he liked rock'n'roll?
On February 26, 1975, the rock band Babe Ruth came to Milwaukee. They played a show at the Riverside Theater with the bands StarCastle and fellow English mates Roxy Music.
Janita Haan, the lead singer of Babe Ruth, came out in bare feet and sang and danced away the night! She and her band were awesome! This was a powerful rock band and they proved it that night.
Babe Ruth formed in 1970 and when they came to Milwaukee, their album "First Base" that was released in 1972 was still fresh in everyone's mind. I think it's their best album and the song, "Wells Fargo" is a personal favorite. It was written by Alan Shacklock, the guitarist of the band. Something I learned a few years ago is that Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen"s, E Street Band, played saxophone on "Wells Fargo"!
Two other great songs on that album are "King Kong", written by Frank Zappa and "Black Dog", written by Jesse Winchester.
The band went through some changes and disbanded in 1976 but has reformed a few times and is currently active I hear. Hope they come back our way sometime soon- for maybe Summerfest!!
Seeing these old black and white photos that I took that night brings back some good memories of that show and great English rock 'n' roll bands!
Enjoy some photos of Jennie Haan and her band mates.
Limited edition 8 1/2 X 11 or 8 X 10's are for sale for $50.00 the week of the blog for your home, office or entertainment room.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
Jennie Haan and her band Babe Ruth, February 26, 1975 at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.