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
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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January 18, 2016
On October 13, 1974 my world changed. It changed once again when I woke up this past Monday morning and learned that David Bowie died on Sunday January 10.
The best concert that I have ever seen was that day in 1974. I have seen a lot of shows since then but that concert still tops the list. I also saw a rehearsal that day and it was equally amazing. David's demands of quality were legendary and it was so obvious.
My rock'n roll calendar this year features David on the January page because of his birthday and it's become a nice tribute to him.
David Bowie has been featured on my website before, and one of my photos of him is also my personal favorite photo of my collection. It's the first photo you see here. My photo of Linda Ronstadt and Ramblin Jack Elliott seen also on my website here, is number two. (Sometimes, it's number one!)
There will never be another David Bowie of course. He really was unique. His performances, his costumes, his makeup and his music will never be close to duplicated. He definitely had his own style.
I watched, and you should too, the Dick Cavett show from on November 2, 1974. David Bowie does two songs and is interviewed. It is amazing to watch him here after he had just been in Milwaukee a few weeks earlier for the concert shown here.
I have my favorite photos of him on my website, but here are some other photos that didn't make the first showing. You could say that these photos are the B sides. They are good but some are not perfect which is why I didn't put them up before.
My favorite radio station, WMSE, at wmse.org, featured David's music all week long. The "Rock Ride" at 3pm on Monday, January 11th, is worth listening to from their archives. It is one of Tom Crawford's best shows ever and a great tribute to David Bowie. Three hours of David Bowie is good any time, but it really is good!
Enjoy a tribute look at David Bowie in 1974. Miss you David.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
B side photos of David Bowie at the Milwaukee Arena on October 13, 1974.
December 8, 2014
Today's blog, is a revisit of David Bowie.
I did blogs #35 and #36 in 2012 on David Bowie, but I thought it was worth a revisit because of his current show running in Chicago.
"David Bowie Is", is the exhibit organized by London's Victoria and Albert Museum. Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art is the only U.S. stop for this exhibit of over 300 objects and photographs.
The exhibit is only until January 4th and tickets are $25.00. Tickets are limited and are purchased for a specific date and time. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 312-397-4066.
Everyone I talk to who has seen this exhibit loves it and says I must go!
One of my followers sent me a copy of his ticket from the show that I photographed on October 13, 1974. You can see it below. Thank you so much for sending that. Enjoy another look at David Bowie's performance at the Milwaukee Arena.
My exhibit here is open 24/7 and prints can be ordered for Christmas for someone you love!
For the holidays, a limited edition, certified, archival, gallery print 16 X 24 is just $125.00 until January 1st!
Enjoy my little exhibit.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
November 26, 2012
After doing my blog last week, I realized that I forgot to include some other images that I really like.
Then, I found a few more color photos that I thought you might enjoy, so this week it's David Bowie Part 2.
That was one of the most amazing shows ever!
The photos featured on the blog each week are for sale at $30.00 for an 8 X 10 or 8 1/2 X 11.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
November 19, 2012
On October 13, 1974, David Bowie and his Soul Tour appeared at The MECCA Milwaukee Arena for a terrific show.
In October of 1974, David rebranded the show from The Diamond Dogs Tour to the Soul Tour and got rid of a lot of the theatrics on stage that had been used As a photographer, I was looking forward to The Diamond Dogs staging which was said to be very elaborate.
The sound check was just as good as the show, and the stage looked pretty void of theatrics but the lighting was beautiful!
That show is still one of my favorites of all time. The first photograph shown here is one of my personal favorites and has been a trademark of Rich Zimmermann Photography.
Enjoy the photos and for the week of the blog all the pictures shown are on sale at $30.00 for an 8 X 10 or 8 1/2 X 11.
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann