Music Photography Research Mick Rock

                   Again working in pairs, we were asked to research a well known music photographer and put together a small powerpoint presentation which we would then present in front of the rest of the class...or at least those that had turned up. So after a quick shufty through a few of the books Richard had provided to see who we felt stood out, it was then down to me and Amena to get some surfing done and come up with something half decent, and that is when we decided on Mick Rock.
            

                                                  

                                  Now then, unless I'm mistaken I think the powerpoint that we put together has long since disappeared so I'm going to have to present a short brief from memory on what we actually talked about.  
                                 Mick Rock was born in London in 1948 and went on to become one of the country's producers of some of rocks most iconic images. The Pretty Things were the first band he shot in 1969 but after meeting David Bowie in 1972 he then went on to become his official photographer. I guess it comes with the territory that if you're hanging out with Bowie in the 70's then somewhere down the line there's ever chance you'd be shooting the likes of Iggy Pop and Lou Reed which of course, he did, and most famously so got to shoot the cover Lou Reeds Transformer album.  

                                     

                                                     

                                                 
                                                            


                            If you think of rock stars from the 70's then he's probably shot them, be it Queen, Syd Barrett  through to The Ramones and Joan Jett. I love his black and white imagery, especially his live shots such as the Iggy Pop one above as I feel it puts you in the picture and you can almost feel the atmosphere and smell the sweat and grease paint.  
                            The best place to read about Mick and his achievements and exhibitions would be over at his website as all I'd be doing here would be reciting it word for word, but what I will say is that because Mick was trusted by the people he was shooting he was often granted access to shoot back stage and at the after show parties which is where many of my favourite images of his come from, and if I had to pick a special one then it would be the absolute corker that sees David Bowie and Mick Ronson sharing a moment over a meal on a train to Aberdeen in between tour dates in the 1972. Now I wouldn't say there was anything in particular that makes Mick Rock and his style unique in this day and age, but back in the day we were given the opportunity of seeing our stars 'off duty' even if they sometimes couldn't quite slip out of character .