Tag Archives: bob gruen

Remembering John Lennon On The 40th Anniversary Of His Death (1940-1980)

December 8th is a sad day for music fans all over the world as this is the day that the legendary member of The Beatles, John Lennon, was murdered by Mark David Chapman in front of his home at the Dakota Hotel only hours after signing a copy of his latest album “Double Fantasy” for him. Mr. Lennon was only 40 years old at the time and surely had worlds of music left to share with everyone. Today is the 40th Anniversary of his death and we bow our heads respectfully and share the incredible candid image of John in a NYC t-shirt that was snapped by the great Bob Gruen.

john lennon, bob gruen photography
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On Point For “HIM Photographs” by Ville Juurikkala @ Morrison Hotel Gallery

In two days, the Finnish music sensation known as HIM will take to the stage of the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC for the very last time. This show marks the end of their North American tour and then its back to Europe and eventually Finland where they will close the book on the band with a final show on New Year’s Eve. In honor of the historic tour, photographer Ville Juurikkala has come to New York City and is showcasing a number of band photographs that he has taken over the years at the awesome Morrison Hotel Gallery. I’ve noted before that Juurikkala has pointed the lens at other great Finnish artists like Michael Monroe, The 69 Eyes, Amorphis and even Nightwish. This show is all about His Infernal Majesty however (and no, they don’t call themselves that anymore in case you wondered). I hit the gallery a little early to get a few minutes with Ville so I could share the scoop with those of you who would never be able to be there for yourself. Here’s Ville in front of two works that I liked a lot.

him photos exhibition, ville juurikkala, morrison hotel gallery

him photos exhibition, ville juurikkala, morrison hotel gallery
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PiercingMetal Goes Inside Eddie Trunk’s “Essential Hard Rock & Heavy Metal” Vol. 2 Book Event (9/24/2013)

For those fans of Eddie Trunk’s radio program and hit VH1 Classic series “That Metal Show”, you will be pleased as the proverbial punch to learn that the second volume of his “Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal” has just been released. Take a look at the cover from this Abrams Books offering…..
Book - Eddie Trunk - Essential Hard Rock V2

eddie trunk, eddie trunk book release
Welcome To The Hard Rock Cafe Times Square

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“New York Dolls: Photographs” by Bob Gruen

Author: Bob Gruen
Title: “New York Dolls: Photographs”
Publisher: Abrams Books
Release Date: 9/1/2008
Genre: Rock History
Rating: 4.5/5

Photographer Bob Gruen lines out in his forward to the book “New York Dolls: Photographs” that in his life he has always found that one event leads to another and after a happenstance meeting with a manager friend of John Lennon, he caught another of this persons bands The New York Dolls at the Mercer Arts Center. The rest is as you say – history and since that time, the early happenings of the band and the name Bob Gruen were almost one in the same. The New York Dolls as a band were formed around 1971 and while only active with the members presented in this book for a couple of years, their impact and influence is still felt to this very day. They are cited as being founders of the Glam Rock movement by instilling fashion with high energy Rock and Roll shows and being instrumental in New York City’s becoming the music hot spot that it would become at this time. There are some who line out The Dolls being founders of Punk in some sense as well, and while most will agree that The Ramones hold this honor, it is true that The New York Dolls had some hand in this as well. If you are someone who needed an introduction to the members that we are focusing on, then let me line them out with David Johansen (vocals), Arthur “Killer” Kane (bass), Sylvain Sylvain and Johnny Thunders (guitarists) and Jerry Nolan (drums).
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“All Dolled Up” by The New York Dolls

Artist: New York Dolls
Title: “All Dolled Up”
Label: Music Video Distributors
Release: December 6, 2005
Genre: Glam Rock
Rating: 8/10

As you may or may not know, this DVD was put together by rock photographer Bob Gruen and his wife Nadya, who purchased a video camera and over a three year period recorded over 40 hours of footage, including live performances, backstage and interviews with the band. This allows you an intimate look at such a fascinating band. Videography was so rare at the time, this whole piece is a gem taking a look at the early career of the Dolls. A large portion of the DVD focuses on David Johansen (vocals), Arthur Kane (bass), Jerry Nolan (drums), Sylvain Sylvain (guitar) and Johnny Thunders (guitar) doing what they do best, performing, intermixed with some interview cuts and bonus features.
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