Early Influences
As a child growing up in Corona Queens, New York, music made up the fabric of my neighborhood, school and home life. As the youngest of three, the music my siblings and their friends listened to played a big part in my future musical tastes. As a kid, I unconsciously listened to music that I now consider "The Golden Age of Rock n' Roll" (1970 - 1974), groups like Deep Purple, Santana, Black Sabbath, Grand Funk and of course, Led Zeppelin laid the path to the bands I would admire and enjoy for many years to come. Growing up in Queens was an experience in itself, and today, classic music of the day always takes me back. Although I did not for see collecting memorabilia back in the early seventies, how I wish I would have snagged some of the music memorabilia that was thrown out by my older brother and his friends. If I only knew then what I know now!
Virgin Purchase
My first purchase of music began with bubble gum rock, buying 45's with my sister in the late sixties, records like "Sugar Sugar" by The Archie's and "ABC" by The Jackson 5. I officially began collecting records for myself in the winter of 1976, now living in Texas, when I purchased my first two albums, Aerosmith's "Toys in the Attic" and Peter Frampton's "Frampton Comes Alive." It didn't take long for my record collection to grow. I found myself falling back and collecting many classic bands of the late 60's like The Doors, The Jimi Hendrix Experience and early rock bands of the 70's such as The Allman Brothers Band and the band I still consider the Kings of rock n' roll, Led Zeppelin. Influenced by my friends and their older brothers, I began to appreciate other genres of music. Blues artists like Johnny Winter, southern rock groups like Lynryd Skynryd, and even contemporary new bands on the scene like Van Halen were favorites throughout my teens. There was no doubt the music was in me!
Autograph Collecting
Collecting records was great but meeting the artist and having them signed their LP's was better! In 1981 I met my first musician/artist, Woodstock fame Alvin Lee of Ten Years After. I remember it was quick & brief and I also figured out, with a little patience and know how, you can meet bands after the concert or even better, at the hotels before or after the show. I began collecting autographs like crazy, which then expanded my record collecting habit. I soon made connections with limo drivers, hotel concierges, and many other people in the business who knew when and where the artists would be staying and/or leaving. Since my very first signature in 1981, until the present date, I have managed to have met over 500 bands and solo artists. Unbelievable... but true! Check out some of the artist I have met throughout the years.
Concert Photography
I took my very first concert photo on New Years Eve 1980 at the ZZ Top concert in Dallas Texas using what has to be the worst camera ever made, the Kodak Disc Camera. Even with seats on the second row, far left of the stage, my photos sucked! But the thrill of the live show and capturing the moment was exciting! I began attending more concert events but still my photography was poor at best. It wasn't until October 1983, (now using a small automatic 35mm camera) I attended the ACDC "Flick of the Switch" concert in Dallas where I ended up front center stage holding onto the barricade for my dear life. It was only when the show was over and the film was processed that I realized I had taken some good photos. Taking concert photos was not easy. I've been hassled by band managers, bitched out by band security, pushed by drunken fans, I've been kicked out from the floor, had my film stolen or exposed by security and even kicked out of the venue, but I was determined. I soon began making connections with the top security guards who I bribed with copies of photos from past shows and in return, they would help me get closer and look the other way allowing me to take and get away with some great shots! I must admit, those were the days when the thrill was the highest! View ticket stub from the 1980 ZZ Top show.
In the late summer of 1984 I finally purchased my first 35mm camera and attended the last Van Halen show of their "1984 World Tour" in Dallas, Texas. It was after that show that I decided to go full throttle with concert photography. I soon began to shoot every show that rolled into town by buying the cheapest ticket possible. I would sneak my camera and 200mm lens stuffed in the back of my jeans. I would get onto the floor someway, somehow using my security connections and making it up to the front before the show was over to take up close photos. With a professional camera in my hands, the quality of my work increased but so did the chance of getting caught and kicked out by band security who had no mercy! It was a challenge and a thrill, especially when I walked away with great photographs!
Publication
In May of 1986 I managed to get my first photo published in a local Dallas magazine called JAM. It was two photos of Ted Nugent while on his "Little Miss Dangerous Tour". Ted invited a young sexy girl from the audience onto the stage, stripped her down to her thong and high heels, placed her in front of the drum riser and began having his Terrible Ted way with the young participant. Outrageous, oh yes! The word got out about the show and Ted's stage antics and soon after I was contacted by JAM magazine Editor who asked if they could run the photos of Ted and the young vixen. With the help of JAM Magazine I began to cover almost every concert in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area clubs, arenas and stadiums. As a freelance photographer I covered many live performances for many publications in and around Texas. Besides music magazines, my work has been used on albums, cds, posters, promo photo and most recently, online music web sites. To date, I have covered over 700 concert events and counting. After twenty-five years of being in the music business, I have seen bands come and go, hair and clothing style changes but the thrill of the live performance will never die. As long as there is youth, the music will never die! Hover over the BW photo of Ted Nugent to view another image! View complete Jam Magazine article » (5.2 mb PDF)
Selling Out
Never taking the music business or my photography seriously, in 1988 I decided to sell my work to those who really appreciated it, the Fans! I started by renting a space at a local Record Show, which occurred once a month, and began to showcase my extensive record and autograph collection. People were impressed with my concert photography and amazed by my signed album collection but most people didn't believe they were real. "How could you have met ALL those bands!... there's no way!" Well, WAY! After viewing my personal backstage photo album with hundreds of candid pictures of musicians and singers, their jaws would drop and they would walk away believers! I was also asked "Why are you selling your autographs?" Well, at that point the signed LP's really didn't mean much to me other than a good story and of course the cash! I could always replace the music and I would always have stories and the photos to remember meeting the artist!
Deciding to sell off my collection didn't stop me from buying and collecting other items. In fact, since 1988 I began to buy up all kinds of items like magazines, flyers, posters, records, ticket stubs and so on. I also continued to attend and photograph concerts and meet many artists. It was a never ending cycle. My collection grew tremendously and turned into a small business but like most successful businesses I sold many items. Since 1988 I have collected and sold many great pieces of rock n' roll collectibles. And even though good original music collectibles are hard to find these days, I still manage to purchase unique music memorabilia from time to time.
The main collectible Rock Rattle n' Roll specializes in is Original Concert Photographs. The only place to buy our original images are on this web site! |
