HYDERABAD: Have you ever wondered how your favourite rock and roll band or star looks backstage or what they do to relax? Imagine Kurt Cobain in the cover of his album ‘Nevermind’ with Dave Grohl partly visible in the background. He is holding a Gibson Les Paul copy, in the water and smiling broadly. To any rock/ grunge music fan this picture would be priceless.
While they hold a demi-god status for their fans, many do have that curiosity about what really goes on backstage.
That is the experience one can expect when one visits the Gibson Through the Lens exhibit in the city. The pictures have been curated by music photography archivist Dave Brolan and showcases the works of 30 of the world’s most respected rock photographers including Baron Wolman, Neal Preston, Mick Rock, Bob Guerin, Ross Halfin and the late Jim Marshall.
Naveen Thomas Joseph, guitarist of the band Galeej Guru’s and representative for Gibson through the lens says, “The fact that such a show is happening is historic. They say a picture paints a thousand words and I agree because when I walk in here and I can actually imagine what went on backstage at those events. These pictures take rock and roll and makes it more human, makes it real. Basically, its a showcase into their lives.”
A Gibson fan and musician, Ashish Mario feels the same way.
“I have been tracking this for a long time now. Usually photographers aren’t so popular but ask anybody who Jim Marshall and they will know.”
Whether it be Johnny cash sitting on a bunch of logs holding a Gibson Custom Acoustic with his name on it or Billie Joe Armstrong with all his eyebrows raised with his ES -137 casually slung over his shoulder, you can expect some rare pictures here. The exhibit will travel to Chennai, Bangalore before its final stop at Gurgaon.
Gibson Through the Lens is on display at Vivanta by Taj till November 12 from 12pm to 12 am.