Book Review: Rock Gods: Forty Years of Rock Photography

by Rick Landers.

Prolific rock photographer Robert M. Knight shares his love of rock music and passion for performance photography in his new coffee table book, Rock Gods: Forty Years of Rock Photography. He captures seminal moments in the history of rock ‘n’ roll, while at the same time highlighting some of his memories of rock legends that he befriended from the ‘60s British Invasion to today.

I met Robert a few years ago when he and I covered a Gibson event for Modern Guitars Magazine at Hollywood’s Hard Rock Café. Sporting his signature black beret, Robert was both gracious and generous in introducing me to some of his friends that included photographer Henry Diltz, Brian Wilson (Beach Boys), Guitar Center’s Dave Weiderman and others. For a man who’s moved in rock circles that include Billy Gibbons, Slash, and Jeff Beck, he was humble, unassuming and open. He was also a consummate professional, roaming the Café almost unnoticed as he quietly grabbed some great shots.

While still in high school, Knight flew to England and found himself on the set of the Antonioni film Blow Up, and at a rare moment in rock. He watched in awe as Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck strolled out on stage as guitarists with the Yardbirds, sparking Robert’s interest in and love of rock photography. Over the years since then, Robert has shared friendships with many of the most important musicians on the planet and Rock Gods chronicles live performances, poignant moments and many of those life-long friendships that he has found spiritually uplifting.

Rock Gods is relatively short on words, but long on photographic wonder. Throughout his career Robert’s photographs have helped define the world of rock.

A double-page, black-and-white photo of young Rod Stewart strumming a Tele with a 12-string Danelectro neck out of an amp stack reminds us that the older crooner was once a young kid guitarist trying to figure out fluent melodic phrases. Knight’s generous array of photos also includes full-page shots of Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Bo Diddley, James Brown, Little Richard, John Mayer, Gene Simmons, Slash, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rick Neilson, Billy Gibbons, Steve Vai, Steve Marriott and other giants of rock and the blues. Many of the shots tell us how much sheer fun rock ‘n’ roll can and should be. A superb example is a double-spread photo of Gene Simmons in full KISS regalia who's obviously a wild man having a campy blast!

One of Robert’s longest friendships has been with Jeff Beck. Coverage of Beck is telling, in that Robert’s and Jeff’s friendship has been touchingly chronicled in text and some of the finest photo captures of live performances ever taken. But, the best photo of Beck is one with him quietly picking his Tele while lounging in a rail car, informing that Jeff Beck’s train is still rollin’.

Robert’s friend and rock icon, Slash, wrote the Forward to Rock Gods and describes Robert Knight’s photographic manner best with, “He just has such a different approach to the whole thing. It’s so casual and he’s so unassuming that he manages to capture our human side, which gives his pictures poignancy, texture and depth.”

Robert Knight’s passion hasn’t faded with time. Rock Gods moves forward with coverage of younger generations of artists including Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Green Day, Joe Bonamassa, The Answer and the Sick Puppies.

Rock Gods: Forty Years of Rock Photography delights whether in the photographs that document the early antics of a wild Elton John, the early Zep years, Ray Charles commanding the 88s or in the book’s final photograph of his pal and now rock elder, Jeff Beck. It’s rock history as seen up close and personal over the course of four decades by one of the finest photographers of our time...and it's beautiful.

Related Links
Robert M. Knight - Rock Photography
Behind the Lens: Rock 'n' Roll Photographer Robert Knight (2004 interview)

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