Rock Gods: Forty Years of Rock Photography

by Slash (Introduction), Robert M. Knight (Photographer)

In 1968 a young photographer named Robert M. Knight arrived in Seattle with a camera and a single roll of film to shoot local legend Jimi Hendrix. The photographs Knight took seized the uncanny energy of Hendrix, recording his primal performance and adrenaline driven solos that tantalized audiences. The iconic images Knight produced immortalized Hendrix and propelled Knight on a life-long pilgrimage as the photographic herald of rock and roll.

Rock Gods: Forty Years of Rock Photography is the rich visual universe, and sole volume, of Robert M. Knight's work, replete with visions of guitar gods, monumental performances, and earth shattering solos. For forty years since his famous shots of Jimi Hendrix in 1968, Knight has chronicled the greatest moments in the evolution of rock music and culture. His remarkable photographs define generations of rock stars from the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin to Run DMC and Green Day. With Rock Gods , Knight captures the grueling riffs of Jimmy Page, the flamboyant solos of Elton John, Slash's steel resolve, and Eric Clapton's soulful blues. With his intimate access and friendships with many of his subjects, Knight's photography fashions a unique perspective on the world of rock stars, creating some of the most compelling and evocative portraits of popular musicians witnessed to date.

Through the haze and jagged reverb, Rock Gods captures the ephemeral candor of the stage, visually asserting the impassioned substance of rock that incites our souls.

Genres: Photography, Music

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 14, 2008

About the author

Saul Hudson, better known by his nickname Slash, is a British-American musician, record producer, film producer and songwriter.He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N' Roses, Slash formed the side project Slash's Snakepit. He then co-founded the supergroup Velvet Revolver, which re-established him as a mainstream performer in the mid to late 2000s.

Reviews

[GoldGato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow I ended up with an autographed copy of this terrific collection of rock star photography, even though I am not a huge fan of said rock gods. However, I couldn't put the book down once I started and spent an entire afternoon slowly leafing through each page, marveling for instance at how young Keith Richards used to look (I thought he was born with the haggard, hedonistic look).

Robert M. Knight is truly a master of his profession. In both colour and B&W, he captures these maestros in full performance mode. Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, the Stones, Van Halen, Santana, Slash, B.B. King. Even I know these names and it is amazing to see them when they were young and still agile.

While I can't help but think of the famous Dave Chappelle skit when it comes to guitar legends, this book was very enjoyable, beautiful to peruse, and a worthy coffee-table addition. Plus, it set me off on some Wiki research, so I could learn more about the photographed subjects. That's a gold star right there.

Book Season = Spring (because some of these gods never made it to autumn)

[Michael Kerjman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-done set of photos, a little information of but much clothes on.

[Julie]

So far this book is SOOOOO cool! I love it and will probably end up buying it. The photography is incredible and the stories are interesting to hear.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent photos!