Documenting rockstars & their fans over four decades
- Text by Miss Rosen
- Photography by Jay Blakesberg
During the summer of 1977, Jay Blakesberg, then 15, accompanied a friend to see the Jerry Garcia Band at Asbury Park in New Jersey. His friend brought a camera, which they passed back and forth, photographing the show from their front row seats. They later hit up a friend’s darkroom to make prints and by this point, Blakesberg was hooked.
“I started bringing my camera to concerts and trying to photograph musicians on stage,” he recalls. “For me, the best thing about shooting is sharing it. I made 8x10s in the darkroom, and eventually sell them in parking lots of Grateful Dead shows to make ticket money.”
Hole at Gorge Amphitheatre in Spokane, WA, 1995
In 1978, Blakesberg sent a photo of blues guitarist Jorma Kaukonen to Relix magazine with a letter about how he followed the musician’s limo from to New York after a concert just to get the shot. It became his first published work, and the start of a career that has spanned over four decades.
In the new book, RetroBlakesberg Volume One: The Film Archives (Rock Out Books), Blakesberg and his daughter Ricki teamed up to create a visual autobiography that charts his journey photographing musicians including Carlos Santana, Led Zeppelin, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, and Dr. Dre. A self-taught photographer, Blakesberg is adept at capturing moments as they unfold, whether he is on stage, in the studio, or among the crowd.
From a young age Ricki Blakesberg was at his side, accompanying her father to shows. “Because my dad allowed me into his world and encouraged me to pay attention, it allowed me to grow with his work,” she says. “He didn’t keep anything from me or hide any of the realities of the industry or of his craft with me.”
Red Hot Chili Peppers, San Francisco, 1995
Rainbow Gathering, Modoc National Forest, CA, 1984
Ricki, who runs the RetroBlakesberg Instagram account, was instrumental in curating the book. She delved through her father’s archive, unearthing an extraordinary collection of images that chronicles the evolution of countercultural music, from rock to punk, grunge to hip hop.
“Music holds a lot of connective power for people, and being able to relive these moments through these photographs helps keep those profound memories and feelings alive,” Ricki says.
Blakesberg’s work has long acted at the bridge between fans and musicians. Reflecting on an encounter he had with a teen at a show in San Francisco during the 1990s, he says: “The kid asked who I shot for, where my pictures could be seen. It turned out he had one of my magazine spreads thumbtacked to his bedroom wall. To have my photos resonate with people in that way is a great feeling. It is all of us being connected.”
1978
Mohawk Punk, The Evergreen State College Olympia, WA, 1985
Grateful Dead Concert, Bourbon Street, New Orleans 1980
Grateful Dead Concert, Laguna Seca Raceway Monterey, 1988
Rancid, LA, 1988
RetroBlakesberg Volume One: The Film Archives is out now on Rock Out Books.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
You might like
On the set of ‘La Bamba’, lost Latino legend Ritchie Valens’s biopic
The overnight rockstar — The Chicano rock & roll star exploded overnight in the late ’50s, but just as quickly he was gone, killed in a plane crash along with Buddy Holly. An ’80s biopic saw him immortalised on the big screen, which photographer Merrick Morton captured behind the scenes.
Written by: Miss Rosen
DJ AG has redefined DJing. Festivals are next.
From small streams, mighty rivers flow — The London streamer has democratised an art traditionally hidden away in clubs and basements with his easy-to-access, spontaneous, open platform street performances. With AG Fest lined up for the summer, Oliver Keens speaks to him about staying humble, the importance of community, and his dream to open a care home.
Written by: Oliver Keens
Louis Theroux’s ‘Manosphere’ shows men aren’t the problem, platforms are
No Ws for Good Men — The journalist’s new documentary sees him dive headfirst into the toxicities and machinations of the male influencer economy. But when young creators are monetarily incentivised to make more and more outrageous content, who really is to blame?
Written by: Emma Garland
Master Peace: “A Black guy making indie still makes people look at you sideways”
What Made Me — In this series, we ask artists and rebels about the forces and experiences that shaped who they are. Today, it’s indie sleaze revivalist Master Peace.
Written by: Master Peace
In the 1960s, African photographers recaptured their own image
Ideas of Africa — An exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art explores the 20th century’s most important lensers, including Seydou Keïta, Malick Sidibé and Kwame Brathwaite, and their impact on challenging dominant European narratives.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Reynaldo Rivera’s intimate portrait of queer Latino love
Propiedad Privada — Growing up during the AIDS pandemic, the photographer entered a world where his love was not only taboo, but dangerous. His new monograph presents inward-looking shots made over four decades, which reclaim the power of desire.
Written by: Miss Rosen
