Day on the Green California photos + Randy's fav photo

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:06 am

Amazing shots!!!!
Thanks for posting.

I totally know what you mean by Randy looking asleep.

Those late two especially look like he's about to roll over and pull the covers over his head.

JAY · Post by **JAY** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:37 am

Thank you so much for posting especially today! I bought the pic( pinstripe looking down) in the 80's from you and ruined it by cleaning it with windex.....dumb teenager I was (am)!! Way too cool.

GUITARIDOL5682 · Post by **GUITARIDOL5682** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 4:32 am

Thanks very much Dave those are Cool photos. You mentioned that you had photographed RR on 2 occasions when was the other time ? what gig ?.

RhoadsRockPhotographer · Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:16 am

GUITARIDOL5682 wrote:Thanks very much Dave those are Cool photos. You mentioned that you had photographed RR on 2 occasions when was the other time ? what gig ?.

Exactly one week later.

07-11-81: Paramount Theater (at the time) Portland, OR with Motorhead. Motorhead opened.

I had to keep my camera way, WAY on the down-low, though ... because they (the venue) didn't allow photos there and had too many people (venue employees) looking for exactly such. I only managed to get 4 that had Randy in them, at all. It wasn't enough to get a camera in, that was almost the easier part. It was actually evading the eyes of those watching for such that was the problem. It was very difficult in a theater-type setting where it's all seating - so that you couldn't really hide between people. Even moreso when those same people (venue security employees) have known of you to have a camera before. Some show were easier than others, but this was probably THE most difficult one I encountered at that venue.

I "just missed" MEETING Randy by literally 1 minute (or less), after the show. I had gone to my car to get an enlargement for someone who had wanted to buy it (of Rik Emmett -Triumph) and as soon as I got back around to where they load out the stage gear afterwards - the guys I'd gone to the show with said, "YOU JUST MISSED HIM!" They had gotten autographs, even.

My timing couldn't have been more horrible.

GUITARIDOL5682 · Post by **GUITARIDOL5682** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:35 am

Yeah Dave i totally understand what you are saying about trying to take photographs.I'm a bit of a rock photographer myself and have some really cool pics. Some venues and bands had a strictly no cameras/recording equipment policy, well back in the 70's -80's it was alot tighter. I think they are alot slacker these days and if you can get your camera in its a bonus. If i get my collar felt at a gig for taking photos. The first thing i say is "Your joking have alook at these people here" and its a sea of hands holding up camera phones. It works and if i'm going out the door believe me i'm not going without a struggle. I've only ever been asked once to leave for taking photos that was back in 1984 for Iron Maiden. I was well pissed off as the pics weren't great and they came out very dark. Do you still take photos of bands today ?..
That was a sickener that you missed Randy by seconds, i bet you had a few photos you would of loved to of getting signed. Another member here at UR Fozzy had a very similar thing happen to him. In his pursuit to get Ozzy's autograph he missed the rest of the band leaving..

RhoadsRockPhotographer · Fri Mar 20, 2009 7:48 am

It simply became absolutely impossible (here) to continue after late-'83, or so. The "no cameras" thing became the basic rule, rather than the occasional exception - in Portland and Seattle.

Between that and every show going to reserved seating through Ticketbastard and such, it simply became kind of pointless to attempt, any longer. You really needed to be in the first 1-3 rows, the way the seating was configured, here. Even if I could've gotten a decent seat up close, there were TOO MANY "concert security" people who knew me from the 4 years prior (same outfit and same main guys every single show), so it would have been all for naught, regardless.

The last REAL arena (or larger) shows I photographed were Queensryche in '85 (Warning Tour) and the Aug. '85 DOTG headlined by Scorpions. I lost one of my best lenses in that madness, in Oakland. Those DOTG shows were getting harder by the year to get decent photos from, with a WHOLE lot more pushing and shoving going on than had been the case in prior years.

I got my film taken at both the '80 and '81 Van Halen shows. It was absolutley sickening, as I had some incredible shots on both occasions. I managed to get one roll to someone (to hold onto for me, in case I later "got caught" on the 2nd roll) before the rest got taken from me in '80 - but it didn't make it too much less painful. Naturally, the one I "didn't end up with" would have had MUCH better shots on it than the one I DID manage to hold onto. In '81, I didn't take ANYTHING until about 4 songs from the end, then started clicking like a madman for the next 2 songs. I should have just stopped at 30 exposures and handed it off and gone to the 2nd roll, just to play it safe. Dammit. Next thing I knew, the guy (Van Halen a-hole roadie) was right on me. Didn't even spot him coming. I even tried to offer him cash to just let me keep them. Nobody would have been all the wiser. I should have just bolted like hell when I had the chance for about one-half second. With the mindset their "hired help" had back then, I couldn't have even paid him off if I'd had $10,000 on me. Would have been the same result. Orders were orders (their mindset).

It was pretty depressing to have to give up on something I enjoyed so much. To put it mildly.

GUITARIDOL5682 · Post by **GUITARIDOL5682** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 8:47 am

RhoadsRockPhotographer wrote:It simply became absolutely impossible (here) to continue after late-'83, or so. The "no cameras" thing became the basic rule.
The last REAL arena (or larger) shows I photographed were Queensryche in '85 (Warning Tour) and the Aug. '85 DOTG headlined by Scorpions. I lost one of my best lenses in that madness, in Oakland. Those DOTG shows were getting harder by the year to get decent photos from, with a WHOLE lot more pushing and shoving going on than had been the case in prior years.

That's a shame that you have stopped taking pics of bands etc. But again i hear what you are saying about being put in your designated area for the whole concert etc. When you'd like to be able to go down the front at your leisure and click away. The last gig i was at Metallica 3rd March just gone. It was just so hard to even focus on a band member to click the shutter, without getting someone dropped on you from crowd surfing or the surge of people crushing you trying to get to the front etc. But i got a few good pics that im happy with. You mentioned the Scorpions at the DOTG in '85. They were the first band i ever saw live back in 1979. I got the chance to photograph them in 1984.

You mentioned Van Halen that must of been a good time to see them i think they became very commercial after that tour. I have only ever seen them once and that was back in '79 and that was looking through a broken window and it still looked awesome. Cheers for those pics again Dave and if you have anymore to share please do.

RhoadsRockPhotographer · Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:34 am

GUITARIDOL5682 wrote:You mentioned the Scorpions at the DOTG in '85. They were the first band i ever saw live back in 1979. I got the chance to photograph them in 1984.

You snuck a Rudy Schenker into your Matthias collage.

I have it from another angle:

I think we have him covered from all angles, now.

You having the much better angle than me, in this instance.

Nice shots.

Post by **The Flying Dutchman** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:42 pm

Hey Dave,
Awesome pics from DOTG ! Thank you very much!

BIG_P · Post by **BIG_P** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:01 pm

RhoadsRockPhotographer wrote:

These 2 are my personal favorites (the other 2 of the set of 5 -5x7's). #6 and #12.

YOU TOOK THIS PHOTO!!

THIS IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE RR PHOTO!! Thank you so much!! God I love this pic.

RhoadsRockPhotographer · Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:16 pm

BIG_P wrote:YOU TOOK THIS PHOTO!! THIS IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE RR PHOTO!! Thank you so much!! God I love this pic.

Sure did and glad you like it, too.

It's my personal favorite RR photo (of ones I took, anyway) as well.

GUITARIDOL5682 · Post by **GUITARIDOL5682** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:27 pm

Yeah you have definately captured the moment there Dave what a super photo. One to be well proud of, have you had this printed in any music press/magazines. If you don't mind me asking, have you made any money from magazines using your material ?.

oth · Post by **oth** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:42 pm

ya,killer shot.....been published in the popular mags?it should be...

RhoadsRockPhotographer · Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:53 pm

GUITARIDOL5682 wrote:Yeah you have definately captured the moment there Dave what a super photo. One to be well proud of, have you had this printed in any music press/magazines. If you don't mind me asking, have you made any money from magazines using your material ?.

Zero.

Awhile back (2004) a photographer in CA (Rick Gould) had contacted me stating that a national magazine was interested in using one of my RR photos on the cover, but they "passed" when I didn't have a high-res scan of the photo, readily available. I had already supplied him with the 5 5x7's and he'd made low-res scans of those - but the publication needed his-res scans (from a "drum scanner" directly from the NEGATIVES - which at that time were pretty spendy and there was nowhere locally near me who had that kind of equipment). He wanted me to send the negs to him to scan (since he had a lab near him who DID do his own), but I was simply not going to do anything like that except "in person." I think he was legit and all - but it was simply not a chance I was willing to take "on faith."

They just went on to someone else who COULD submit a RR photo in the specifications they needed.

It's all a matter of who the magazines contact (photographers they've already dealt with who have lots of "stock concert photos") to let know what they're looking for and then after submitting it to them to the specifications they need (pretty much immediately) - they'll pick whose shot(s) they decide to go with.

While that would be cool and all, unless it's a cover shot they don't really pay all that much for anything else.

If you ever DO see one of mine in a magazine, please let me know though - since it won't be with MY knowledge or permission.

GUITARIDOL5682 · Post by **GUITARIDOL5682** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:19 pm

Dave i'm very surprised that NON of your work has made it into any mags etc. Have you never went out of your way to get your photos published. I remember reading an article in Hit Parader or Creem magazine years ago. It was a photo contest and the winners pics would be used in the mags. They mentioned that they had to be on extra Kodak chrome paper at a specified ASA iso etc. I thought 'Christ!! they are not asking for much.They're getting these photos for nothing and they want them done to their specs ..But like you have said the people at the top like Neil Zlozower, Ross Halfin, Bob Ellis,Neal Preston etc they are always going to get their work used and are well established at what they do. I'm sure that one day your work will be seen. Have you never thought about putting a book together. I have a good one by Ross Halfin/Pete Makowski 'The Powerage' it covers nearly all of the bands you've seen but all the pics are in black & white. The HM photo book series was another great collection of live photos from Ozzy, Judas Priest, Led Zep, Deep Purple, AC/DC etc. I would seriously think about doing it. Your work should be seen, you've got a massive collection and it's for your eyes only.. But thanks to the internet we've had the chance to see some of your great photos. cheers