Tonight 7220 Entertainment and the University of Wyoming are hosting Ethan Russell, the photographer who made it possible for rock ‘n’ roll fans to collect visual representations of their musical idols. At 7:30 p.m. he will be presenting the Best Seat in the House at the College of Arts and Sciences auditorium.
Ethan Russell, born Nov. 26, 1945, is the legendary photographer who captured moments across rock history and is the only photographer to have ever photographed the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and The Who album covers.
Russell shot photos for the early Rolling Stone magazine before it evolved into the sensation it is today. His work truly captured the essence of what rock ‘n’ roll meant to people.
“I don’t care much for the shots of them on stage, I like the ones where they aren’t acting. It shows that they can have fun, but it also takes a toll on them,” a fan of Russell’s, Alexander Pawlak said.
This shows true for a lot of Russell’s work, especially the shots he took of John Lennon. They portray an intimate reality and show that the rock scene isn’t a constant party.
Russell was one of the first photographers to notice that the best shots during a performance were behind the lead singer, looking out at the crowd. The ionic shots he took of the Rolling Stones during their concert at the Altamont theater are one of a kind since new regulations have been implemented to keep the crowd further back from the stage.
“It makes the environment much less intimate and makes the band look more like gods than just average guys,” a fan attending the event, Garry Westlake said.
Russell’s work shows his creative ability to interpret an environment and react to changing circumstances.
A shot he took of Keith Richards while The Rolling Stones had just gotten off their plane in Seattle is one of the most famous of Richards. He was standing by a sign that read “Patience please… a drug free America comes first!” and Russell was only able to take a quick set of pictures before they had to run from security.
Russell changed the way we look at artists, he helped us see these musical icons in many ways and gave us insight into their lives off stage.
At the presentation of his work tonight, we will get to know more about the things Russell had to deal with on the road and what it was like being on stage with some of the greatest artists in the history of the genre.
Tonight’s attendees have the opportunity to learn about the art of photography from this legend and be able to take some valuable lessons from a man who has worked with the music industry for decades.
