Bob Gruen: Vintage Photographs

Two new exhibitions celebrate the singular work of photographer Bob Gruen, who, a half century ago, prowled New York’s night spots, making pictures of rising rock-and-rollers, including the young guns of punk rock. At the time, Gruen was merely capturing “the scene.”

“My philosophy is that rock ‘n’ roll is about the freedom to express your feelings very loudly in public. It’s all about that moment when everybody is screaming ‘Yay!’ and nobody is thinking about anything else. That’s what I try to capture in my pictures,” explains the legendary rock photographer Bob Gruen. And boy, does he succeed! When I stepped into his breathtaking show of vintage prints made between 1971 and 1982 at the Music Photo Gallery in Soho, New York, I couldn’t think of anything else but the pictures. I was entranced.

The Music Photo Gallery presents a revival of one of the most significant exhibitions in the history of music photography. The original showcase took place in 1971 at New York City’s Beacon Theatre, featuring Bob Gruen’s striking photographs of Ike & Tina Turner.