Rock On!
Purchase this limited, legacy Edition here
I’m going to share a BIG SECRET… I’m actually a musician trapped in a photographers body! But I never had the patience to learn a musical instrument. I wanted to play “Stairway to Heaven” NOW! Somehow though, I was suited for the many years of training needed to learn photography and develop and print my own photos. Yes, film!
Early Neil Young Photo, 1991. Color Film
I began my photography career right here.. on stage, or in front or behind it, when I was a wee teenage boy. With some help from my big brother and a somewhat more “relaxed” era, I was able to get into some Minneapolis venues and see some of my favorite musicians.
Gregg Allman, 1984, Cabooze Bar, Minneapolis, MN.
You see, I was compelled to capture that intensity of performance and bring it home to relive, along with a good album, the concert experience over and over.
B.B. King
Many people ask me how I got into photography or more specifically, how I came to get access to big name stars like Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Allman Brothers Band, Mumford and Sons and so many more?
Mumford and Sons
Well, let’s just say I was a determined youngster. I had a poster of the Allman Brothers at Fillmore East cover, by Jim Marshall that was not supposed to be in circulation. I didn’t know this until I weaseled my way backstage at an Allman Bros. concert at Alpine Valley Wisconsin. I had Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts signatures on it and wanted the original drummers now that the band was touring together.
Bono, U2
Their tour manager was a fan of photography and a bit of a historian of all things Allman and hadn’t been able to find but a water damaged version of the poster. I got my autographs, befriended the tour manager and got access to the Allman Brothers who would headline legendary 90’s tours like HORDE where I could then shoot and meet other bands and on and on it went. Along with a healthy dose of respect and sharing my talent, more and more doors opened as the years went by.
That’s it in a nutshell. You can see more of my concert shots by clicking here.
Like to learn more? Please feel free to reach out to me.
“Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World…”, Garrett (with help from Neil Young)
Garrett and the original Widespread Panic at Red Rocks 2000.