During
his career, photographer Bill O'Leary took pictures of some of rock's
biggest names at the peak of their powers - Van Halen, Rush, Judas
Priest, Kiss, Ozzy Osbourne, Queen, Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa, etc. And
now, he has opened his archives for the first time ever - assembling a
collection of not only his best images, but also, offering stories and
recollections behind concerts he shot over the years. Indeed, this book
is comprised of over 175 full color, live concert images photographed
primarily from the late 1970's through the 1990's.
Artists include...AC/DC,
Albert King, The Allman Brothers Band, Anthrax, Blues Traveler, Bob
Seger, Cheap Trick, Def Leppard, Dixie Dregs, Foreigner, Frank Zappa,
Grateful Dead, Hot Tuna, Jeff Beck, Jethro Tull, Joan Jett, Judas
Priest, Kiss, Marillion, Mercyful Fate, Michael Schenker Group, Molly
Hatchet, Mötley Crüe, Motörhead, Outlaws, Overkill, Ozzy Osbourne, Pat
Travers, Phish, Pink Floyd (The Wall), The Police, Queen, Rainbow, Reo
Speedwagon, The Romantics, Rossington Collins Band, Rush, Scorpions,
Slayer, Styx, Ted Nugent, Todd Rundgren's Utopia, Triumph, UFO, Van
Halen, White Zombie, XTC, Yes, Yngwie Malmsteen with Alcatrazz, and ZZ
Top.
O'Leary says:
"Hard
to believe that I have been shooting concerts for 4 decades now,
beginning in the mid 70's when I went to my first concert at the world
famous Madison Square Garden in New York City. I felt at home among
the walls of speakers and the towering lighting rigs, I also
immediately knew that leaving the show with a ticket stub, program and
maybe a t-shirt would not be enough, so I had to capture the memory
permanently. Within' weeks I had traded my Sony home stereo system for a
black leather jacket and my first Minolta SLR camera. After a brief
learning period experimenting with the constantly changing lighting and
vast array of colors, film speeds and the quick movements of the
artists, I was told by many people that I was a "natural". I have always
felt that "knowing" the music deeply and being passionate about it as
well, really was the "secret" to capturing the "moment". With that
confidence, I was soon shooting many concerts, 46 in 1980 alone. By then
I was also being published in many major magazines as well. In the
early days, I practiced "gorilla type tactics" to get my equipment into
the venue's. Later, I was forced to play the game of securing
credentials in order to shoot shows. All too soon, promoter and band
management rules and demands on photographers began to take the
excitement out of shooting shows. Then the " first 3 song" rule became
common, NO more pictures after the third song. Pro concert photographers
know that the "best" part of a shows production comes later in the
event. In the end, I'm glad to have been a part of the glory days of
concert photography."
FOREWARD by Freddie Salem of The Outlaws:
"Bill
O'Leary has played an extremely important part in the rock n' roll
world, as the consummate live performance photographer for over 40
years. As a professional musician, rock photographers are a part of the
music scene - whether it be shooting promotional shoots, live concerts,
or simply capturing life on tour. Bill first photographed us back in
1979 - a couple years after I joined the Outlaws, at Madison Square
Garden in New York City. We were touring in support of our latest album,
In the Eye of the Storm. Madison Square Garden is a big show for any
touring band - as well as me personally, as a musician. A landmark
venue. The following year, 1980, Bill again photographed me onstage -
twice. Once at a Pat Travers Band show at the Palladium in Lower
Manhattan in April, then again later that fall in November, as the
Outlaws were touring in support of our latest album, Ghost Riders. This
time, we were playing a smaller venue in Passaic, New Jersey, called the
Capitol Theatre. Hundreds upon hundreds of marquis performers from all
over the world have been captured on film by Bill - with the help of his
trusty camera. I am surely anticipating the release of Bill O'Leary's
book, featuring his life's passion and his iconic photography work.
Looking at the thousands of live photos Bill has shot over the years one
thing is very clear - he knows when to "pull the trigger."
