Synopses & Reviews
For 40 years, Bob Gruenand#8217;s name has been synonymous with rock and roll. From taking early photos on tour with Ike and Tina Turner, to capturing the early CBGB/Maxand#8217;s Kansas City scene to covering current stadium rockers such as Green Day, Gruen has always been at the right place at the right timeand#8212;and heand#8217;s always gotten the shot. In this lavish monograph, Gruen has curated his favorite photographs from his career, with intimate captions and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. Featuring such illustrious acts as the Clash, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols, Ramones, and more, and including an introduction by the legendary Debbie Harry of Blondie, this collection is a must-have for all fans of rock and roll.
Praise for Rock Seen:
and#8220;Rock Seen offers a disarmingly natural look at icons like Blondie and Cher before the era of the posed rock-star portrait kicked in.and#8221;
and#8212;Entertainment Weekly
and#8220;Rock Seen . . . hits the high points on and off the stage in rockand#8217;s past four decades.and#8221;
and#160;and#8212;USA Today
and#8220;Go backstage with 40 yearsand#8217; worth of rock-and-roll images from the legendary lens of Bob Gruen, who was once John Lennonand#8217;s personal photographer. From over-the-top action shots of Elton Johnand#8217;s acrobatics to private pics of Lennon and Yoko in bed with baby Sean to boozy plane rides with the Sex Pistols, the glossy pages act as your VIP pass to the rock-star lifestyle youand#8217;ve dreamed of.and#8221;
and#8212;Marie Claire
and#8220;The official monograph of rock and rolland#8217;s most famous photographer, Rock Seen is a must-have for all rock fans.and#8221;
and#8212;RollingStone.comand#160;
and#8220;Gruen had a front-row seat to the rise of many rock legends [from] Elton John to Green Day.and#8221;
and#8212;New York Post
and#8220;If you want to give the gift of great music photos, you honestly cannot do better than these thrilling images from Bob Gruenand#8217;s forty-year-long career as one of rockand#8217;s iconic photographersand#8221;and#160;
and#8212;Creative Loafing
and#8220;It all came flooding back when I opened Bob Gruenand#8217;s beautiful new book, Rock Seen, a sparkling collage of live concert shots and portraits from the last forty years.and#8221;and#160;
and#8212;Irish Echo
Synopsis
Hilly Kristal originally intended his club to showcase the type of music his venue's notorious letters stand for: Country, Bluegrass, Blues. Little did he know his club on the Bowery would be the birthplace of a new era of music in New York City: Punk. While CBGB ultimately didn't describe the music the club was known for, OMFUG (Other Music for Uplifting Gormandizers) still represents what the club provides for all voracious "eaters" of music.
CBGB & OMFUG is a musical and cultural landmark, recognized worldwide and visited by countless tourists and music lovers each year. In these luminous pages, CBGB's influence and legacy is honored with 200 photos of some of the most celebrated artists in music history. With an introduction by Hilly Kristal, an afterword by David Byrne, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and cofounder of Talking Heads, and additional commentary by numerous performers and patrons, CBGB & OMFUG features unforgettable images by the many photographers who documented an American institution.
About the Author
Bob Gruen is one of the most well-known rock-and-roll photographers of all time. For 40 years his images have appeared worldwide in every formand#8212;from T-shirts to postage stamps. He is the author of John Lennon: The New York Years and New York Dolls. He lives in New York.