Two Tickets to Paradise (Eddie Money)

So I'm watching the news this morning but not paying attention when the commercials come on. Then, all of a sudden I hear Two Tickets to Paradise so I look up. Eddie Money. Wow. I rewind it to the beginning and find it's one of those nonsensical commercials for GEICO, featuring the "Eddie Money Travel Agency." Two tickets to paradise. Of course. Nice to see he's still around.

Back in the day, Eddie Money was on Columbia Records, which wasn't one of the companies I did work for. But I liked his music and managed to get to see him and photograph him a number of times. (As I like to say, it's good to have friends in the castle- in this case, at the press gate of the Dr. Pepper Music Festival.) Never printed any of the photos, never got asked to submit these pictures to any magazines, but I still went to the shows when I could. 


So here's the first look at a couple of the photos. 

Central Park, July 1980

Playing the sax. Central Park, July 1979

Oh, and here's the GEICO video if you want to see it.

Don't Go Breakin' My Heart (Elton John)

I have to say that the musicians I met while working were always great. Maybe because I was female, maybe because I acted in a professional manner, maybe even because I was still obviously a fan, everyone was nice to me and I had no problems taking photos backstage or at parties, whether I was hired to be there or not. 

Elton John backstage in Central Park, 1977

Everyone, that is, but Elton John. One of my pictures of him performing onstage in Central Park had been published in Circus magazine, and not long after I was shooting a party he attended. In fact, I think the party was for Rocket Records, which was the label he founded. I happened to find myself standing next to him at one point, and mentioned the photograph in Circus. "I don't read that trash" he replied with a sneer as he walked away. I was sorry that he was gone when, with 20/20 hindsight, I came up with the perfect response. "Well excuse me for trying to keep you famous."

I have heard he's a nicer person now.

You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth

Happy Birthday Meat Loaf!

Sometimes there are stories, but sometimes there are just pictures. Here's Meat Loaf performing onstage at the Dr. Pepper Music Festival in Central Park, New York City, in 1978.

Hail Hail Rock 'N' Roll

I also photographed Lou backstage with Garland Jeffreys in November 1979. Garland had just given a concert at the Bottom Line and Lou was visiting after the show. If you don't know Garland's music, you should. Wild in the Streets is probably his best known song, but he is still an active, exciting performer, with a new CD coming out soon. Can't wait! He'll be playing a show in New York this fall. Of course, you can find videos of his songs and performances on YouTube. Go. Listen. It's worth it. 

Lou Reed and Garland Jeffreys backstage at the Bottom Line in 1979.

Here's Garland posing backstage at the Dr. Pepper Music Festival in Central Park in 1977.

And here he is performing at the Bitter End in 2007. The place was packed. And yes, he's still a man who wears many hats.