Who Shot Rock & Roll at the Annenberg Space for Photography Opens This Weekend

Gary Calamar and photographer Bob Gruen by Jimmy Steinfeldt

From KCRW DJ Gary Calamar:

I Love Rock and Roll. I always have and always will.

Of course, I love the music, but I also love everything that surrounds it.

I just saw a preview of the amazing photo exhibit that is happening at The Annenberg Space for Photography called Who Shot Rock & Roll. Breathtaking photographs of rock artists, fans, fashions, girls (!!!). Looking at some of these iconic images brought tears to my eyes. Really!

Whether it’s young Elvis Presley giving a lucky young lady a kiss backstage, The young Stones before things started Rolling, the cold sweat of James Brown, the down and dirty hardcore LA Punk Scene, a solemn Kurt Cobain — breathtaking photos that will rock you as hard as a Pete Townshend power chord.

These photographers were there at the scene of the crime and beautifully captured these moments. This is Rock & Roll and This is Art!

The exhibit opens to the public this weekend (details) and you can join KCRW for a series of free concerts at the Annenberg Space for Photography on July 14, 21 and August 4 (RSVP required). I’ll be spinning some records on July 21 when Portugal. The Man is playing. You won’t want to miss these show!

— Gary Calamar

p.s. Fancy yourself a Rock & Roll photographer? (Instagram makes us all feel like a professional, doesn’t it?)

If you find yourself snapping pics at shows around town, upload to Instagram & tag them #iShotRock and then go here to find yours!