It seems that the canny photographer is forever squirrelling away a selection of their best photos in a box under the stairs for a rainy day, and the latest to treat us to some cracking never-before-seen archive material is legendary rock chronicler Bob Gruen. The American made his name documenting the New York music scene of the late 1970s – an era that was chock full of characters whom the camera loved, even if they weren’t always what you’d call the “beautiful people” – and it’s from these halcyon days that his Rock Seen exhibition is drawn.
Gruen was a regular at haunts such as CBGB and Max’s Kansas City, shooting the likes of David Bowie, Alice Cooper, The Ramones and Salvador Dali. He also accompanied the Sex Pistols on their ill-fated tour of the States, which turned out to be an adventure that provided many of the great moments of this show, currently running at Londonewcastle Project Space, Shoreditch. As well as photographs, there are unseen documentaries, an installation recreating a teenager’s 1978 New York bedroom, a stage for impromptu performances, and an evening of poetry inspired by the images. Closing date is 28 October.
Deborah Harry, 1976
© Bob Gruen
Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious, 1977
© Bob Gruen
John Lennon, 1974
© Bob Gruen
Sid Vicious, 1978
© Bob Gruen
