News – The Rolling Stone Years

A Birthday Gift from Me to You!

George Harrison, Apple Corps offices, London, 1968

My book, “The Rolling Stone Years” is one year young this month. And what a year it has been, with a book tour that took me to cities and countries far and wide, from Russia and Australia, to the UK and the Netherlands, from NYC to LA to San Francisco to Kansas to Tucson to Austin and beyond.

To commemorate this exciting year, as a birthday gift from me to you, my favorite photo of George Harrison is now available to visitors to my website, but only through the end of August 2012.

The photograph is an absolutely gorgeous 11×14 inch pigment print produced by my friend, master printer, Tony Bonanno of Santa Fe. But wait, there’s more! With each signed-by-me print, you will also receive this limited edition “Rolling Stone Years” tee-shirt. Believe it or not, the cost of the iconic George Harrison print and the tee is only $250, and shipping is free ONLY to addresses within the continental United States. International orders will be charged US $50 for shipping.

Birthdays only happen once a year, so come on and celebrate this one with us.

Payment is easiest using the “Buy Now” button from PayPal on the Fotobaron website.

48 Hours in the City of Angels

Baron in action © Jean Fruth

On Thursday evening I had the honor of speaking at Los Angeles’ Annenberg Space for Photography in conjunction with their current photography exhibit, “Who Shot Rock.” It was an enthusiastic crowd – well, nobody got up and left, so I guess that’s something. Following the Q&A session the Annenberg sold, and I signed, copies of “The Rolling Stone Years” until they were sold out.

Earlier in the day I visited the enormous 24 foot version of my “Multiplex” image which, thanks to Sam Milgrom of the Mr. Musichead Gallery on Sunset Boulevard, had been installed front and center in the Andaz Hotel, also on Sunset Boulevard. The Andaz is the former Continental Hyatt House, temporary home to many classic rockers and beyond…fondly known as the Continental “Riot” House following visits by some of the more rowdy bands. After the speech and book signing, at the suggestion of Daniel Miller of the Duncan Miller Gallery, we dined in downtown LA at Umami Burger where the noise was too loud and the burgers too good. All in all it was a terrific quick trip to the City of Angels.

Baron in front of a super-sized ‘Multiplex‘ © Jean Fruth

En Route To Photoville

“Flew down the East River and in to the Big Apple at sunset (see the Statue of Liberty?) to continue my 75th birthday celebration, to hang with friends, and to make an appearance on a Photoville panel sponsored by Rock Paper Photo on which I and my pals Julie Grahame, Anna Webber and Ed Baum (of Rock Paper) discussed the complex issues facing music photographers in this day of restrictions and limited access. It was brutally hot; thank goodness Photoville had the presence of mind to erect a “misting tent.” Nevertheless, the discussion was fact filled, was well-received and could have gone on forever. Thanks to those who braved the heat to listen and ask questions.

Photoville itself is a terrific idea, bringing various photographic disciplines together in a creative manner (galleries exhibited their work in overseas shipping containers) in the middle of the relatively new Brooklyn Bridge Park, directly across from the tip of Manhattan and with an eye-level (as opposed to a bird’s eye) view of the Statue of Liberty. Only issue for me personally was the weather; I really don’t do well in high heat and humidity. I would have like to have visited more of the exhibits and will return next year if Photoville itself returns and the weather cooperates. By the way, I was told that later in the day as it cooled off, as the sun began to descend in the west and the lights of the City came on, the Photoville experience changed dramatically into a very magical moment. Wish I could have stayed to experience it…”

Rock Paper Photo at Photoville

Setting up before the rain, Friday June 23rd, Brooklyn. Courtesy of Rock Paper Photo

Photoville opened this past, steamy weekend in Brooklyn, NY. The festival features some 30 shipping containers showing mini-exhibitions curated by some great people and organizations, with photographs hung using various creative methods. The other rather wonderful element is the quality of talks and presentations being hosted. I will be one of the talkers this coming weekend, on June 30th, where I am thrilled to be hosted by Rock Paper Photo with my long-term colleague and dear friend, consultant and curator Julie Grahame, and shorter-term pal, the young and lovely music photographer Anna Webber. Join us at 1.30 pm for “Beyond the Picture: The Art of Selling Music Photography” What does it take for music and entertainment photographers to successfully market and sell their work?

Photoville and all the talks are FREE so come on over to Brooklyn Bridge Park. We’ll see you on Saturday!

“Blinded By The Light” Rock Paper Photo’s container, packed with great music photography.

From Biggie and Tupac… (by Chi Modu)

…to Hendrix and Joplin (by Baron Wolman) All images Courtesy of Rock Paper Photo

Rolling Stone, Espana

John Fogerty, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Oakland Coliseum Arena, CA, 1970

Always lovely to see the original Rolling Stone Magazine photographs reproduced in current issues. This week Rolling Stone, Spain, published a long retro piece, talking about Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Pete Townshend, Frank Zappa, Miles Davis and Mick Jagger, in conjunction with Baron’s appearances in the country this month.

There’s Nothing Like a Dose of Luxury

Baron filed his final update from Spain. I asked if the hotel was paying him to speak so highly of them, Baron said “absolutely not” and added that he would be happy to partake again of their hospitality whenever they ask!

“I arrived at the St. Regis Mardavall Resort weakened and nursing a bad case of stomach flu; I could not have chosen a better place in which to recuperate. My room itself was an oasis of peace and tranquility, from the bed to the furnishings to the view. There is something to be said for luxury properties – higher rates result in noticeable quality everywhere. The construction and its materials, exterior and interior, are all superb, no little detail is overlooked. If my own five star hotel (as I call my home) were only so wonderful. I don’t often frequent international resort hotels; I am still learning to relax. But if this is an example of how to unwind, it’s clear I’ve been missing something. For the most part, the staff at the Mardavall is multi-lingual; no worry that a guest’s request will be misunderstood. How can it be that everybody here seems to be so happy and welcoming, enjoying their opportunity to be of service? Service has long seemed to be a dying art, much less service with a smile.

I was a guest of the hotel for the opening of an improbable but unique rock & roll photo show in which some of my work was displayed. The thinking was that the guests of the Mardavall who can now afford a rather lavish vacation are also those for whom rock music was a part of their younger lives. These folks might well respond emotionally to such a terrific collection of quality and often historically important music images, and, in fact, might also want to bring one home with them as an unexpected memento of their 2012 holiday on Mallorca. Thanks to Mark Robinow for making it all happen.”

All images © Baron Wolman

Ibiza Rocks

Here’s the latest report from the Spanish leg of the Cosmic World Book Tour. Baron is in Ibiza where he gave his audio-visual presentation that includes tales of photographing Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, the Rolling Stones et al. Next stop: Mallorca for Mark Robinow‘s exhibit, “A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop a-lop-bam-boom, Six Decades of Rock ‘n’ Roll” at the St. Regis Mardavall where Baron will also be selling prints and signing books.

“My hosts here in Ibiza were Andy McKay and Dawn Hindle, two of the originals behind the former legendary Ibiza night club Manumission, where on any given night 10,000 partygoers gathered for an evening of music, theatre and revelry. Now Andy and Dawn are the driving force behind ‘Ibiza Rocks‘ a creative conglomeration of music venues, hotels and restaurants. A year ago they took over management of Pike’s, the once-celebrated hotel which had hosted celebrities from Tony Curtis to Freddie Mercury. Pike’s had fallen on rough times but Andy and Dawn brought their expertise to the property and once again it is a popular destination. The brand ‘Ibiza Rocks’ and its guitar pick logo is seen and recognized throughout the island, and the music continues in the courtyards of the ‘Rocks’ hotels in both Ibiza and Mallorca.

A Wednesday night concert at Ibiza Rocks hotel in San Antonio

A trip to the loo: inside the men’s room at the Ibiza Rocks Diner

Every Picture Tells The Story

As the Spanish leg of the Cosmic World Book Tour continues, Baron has been out raving.

“The audio visual presentation at Ibiza Rocks House at Pike’s was delightfully successful. Most people had no idea what the images were going to be about or what stories I would tell. Afterwards a bunch of us went to Pacha’s, one of the better clubs in the remarkable Ibiza club scene. Appropriately enough, it was ‘Flower Power Night,’ with party-goers dressed in sixties garb accompanied by music from those memorable days. I could have danced all night…but I didn’t…

My only question now: what took me so long to ‘discover’ Ibiza…???”

Cosmic World Book Tour, Spain: Madrid update

Here’s an update from Baron from Madrid Foto: “It is an interesting collection of images on exhibit at Madrid Foto, a few of which I found fascinating, as did the woman in blue who was viewing the large picture of the opera house. I had an interview with another major Madrid newspaper – there are still several published here – and watch attentively as Daniel Miller (next to the pole) negotiated a print sale.”

“Of course, I fell in love with the ticket taker but naturally was rebuffed. Too often these days I am reminded of my age and the many liabilities that come with these high numbers.”

MADRIDFOTO

Baron is looking forward to presenting at MADRIDFOTO 4 International Contemporary Photography Fair, Matadero Madrid, June 7 – 10th, 2012.

Baron’s photographs will be with the Duncan Miller Gallery in an exhibition of photographs of American musicians and other icons.

Baron will also be signing books and will be giving his now-famous audio-visual presentation for the United States Ambassador to Spain – as you can see, a VIA – very important audience! Nos vemos en España!