Because the Night (Patti Smith)

Getting my head back into my rock and roll days, I've found myself reading some books by musicians I've photographed. Besides being upset that my photos aren't in there (which is pretty much my own fault for sitting on them for all these years) I mostly end up being annoyed that I've wasted my time trying to read these books. For the most part, they are unreadable. (sorry Keef, I tried)

But I just finished reading Just Kids by Patti Smith. It's the story of her early life with Robert Mapplethorpe, and I can't recommend it enough. She is truly a poet and the words are exquisite. And I came away with a greater understanding of two of the most influential artists of our time.

Palladium, 1978

I photographed Patti many times. Onstage and off. Concerts in Central Park and the Palladium, a record signing at Discomat, even in the audience of the Palladium at a Ramones show. Whether it was a job or not, I tried to go see her  whenever I could. She's an amazing performer.

Ramones concert, 1977

We were acquaintances, as I was certainly around enough in those days, but I'm not sure we ever really had a conversation. Didn't seem to be her way. And the closest connection I remember making is when she kicked me (yes she kicked me in the head) at the edge of the stage in Central Park. 

Central Park, 1976

She wanted me to move away and she wanted privacy, and had a number of people hold up a tarp so she could have it for that moment. In the middle of the concert. I've heard the story as to what she was doing, but since I didn't see it myself, it's not mine to share. Ask Richie Aaron. It's on his website.

Life Support Japan

Got a little behind this week, as I am participating in Life Support Japan - an online print sale benefit. After the tragedy in Japan, the photo community quickly got together and each photographer involved has donated a photograph in an edition of 10, with each print selling for $50. Over $10,000 has been raised already and many editions have sold out. More photographers are signing up daily. The photo I chose to donate is White Cat 011b, from my series LUCKY CATS: To Bring In The Money. As of this post, only 5 are left. With their fists in the air, Lucky Cats have been some of the current "rock stars" I've been photographing lately. They represent good fortune, and don't we all need a little of that?

White Cat 011b

From Crista Dix of wall space gallery:

Natural disasters happen all the time, like landslides, floods, earthquakes. We live on a planet that isn't static. Friday, March 11th, we witnessed a natural disaster with a very human toll. The earthquake in Japan was of such magnitude that even the most prepared nation in the world to handle a disaster of this type was overwhelmed. It wasn't the earthquake alone, which was devastating enough but watching a 30 foot high wall of mud and debris wipe entire communities away was beyond any ability I personally had to comprehend. 

I had to do something. Aline Smithson, one of our gallery artists wanted to do something too. Ryan Nabulsi and Jennifer Schwartz joined the effort. Soon I was hearing from every part of our creative community that we wanted to reach out to help the people of Japan. Life Support Japan was created to bring assistance to those in Japan who need it. 

We have selected two charities to benefit from the sales of these limited edition prints. 

Direct Relief International, http://www.directrelief.org/ for help with medical supplies.

Direct Relief works closely with the United Nations (U.N.) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), which has activated to assemble the international response. Direct Relief has mobilized and staged materials at our headquarters, which are standing by ready for airlift to Japan.

Habitat for Humanity Japan, http://www.habitat.orgto/ help in the rebuilding of communities in and around Sendai and northern Japan.

Artists from around the globe have donated limited editions, over 300 to date, and we will be consistently updating the images available.

Galleries from around the US are banding together for a series of benefits, for these two and other charities to benefit relief efforts in Japan. We will be posting information as it becomes available. 

Thank you for your support and for being part of a global community.

Passion Is No Ordinary Word (Graham Parker)

Garland Jeffreys and Graham Parker performed together last week and I missed it. Despite email lists and Twitter and Facebook connections, information overload let it to get past me. By the time I realized it was happening, it was sold out. ARGGH!

As I've said here before, I've seen Garland perform in my post-rock days, and even photographed him (and yes, I want to do that again), but never Graham. And aside from the fact that I've always loved his music, he does have a special place in my rock and roll heart-- his picture from a show at the Palladium in 1976 was the first rock photo I had published in a magazine, Crawdaddy in March 1977. (Also had a shot of Graham later that year in Rolling Stone!)

Crawdaddy Magazine, 1977

Graham was one of that group of angry young Brits who were part of the New Wave. The big three were Graham, Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson. We all know who seems to be most famous now, and while I liked them all, I, of course, preferred Graham and Joe. (which, of course, tells you something about me -- but then, I also preferred the Sony Betamax)

Graham's concerts were brilliant. High energy, powerful. Photographed three of those shows at the Palladium back in the day. Don't ask me for my favorite, I loved them all.

The Palladium, 1977

And the songs. The music, old and new (2007's Don't Tell Columbus …WOW!), is still in heavy rotation on my iPod. "Nobody Hurts You" (playing right now on my computer), "Discovering Japan", "Mercury Poisoning", I could go on and on. And oh yeah, on my list of firsts, Squeezing Out Sparks + Live Sparks was the first album I bought on iTunes.

I Love L.A. (Randy Newman)

Congratulations to Randy Newman on his second Oscar win last night. Though when it comes to Randy Newman songs, it's I Love L.A. and Short People on my iPod. Two of my all-time favorite songs. 

Here's Randy in 1977 when Short People came out. He was performing at Tanglewood, not one of my usual venues, but hey, sometimes you go where the music is. And sometimes the music turns out to be where you are. 

And oh that video for I Love L.A. -- we love it!

Barstool Blues

I've been published a lot over the years, and the number of times (and ways) my name has been misspelled is truly amazing. I use my full name as my photo credit. Back in the day, every print I sent out to a magazine had it stamped on the back, and all the invoices I sent out had it written in big letters at the top. Didn't make the slightest bit of difference. Sherry, Cheri, you name it. 

Neil Young photo credited to Cheri. Really?

Well, whatever. I've even had Lynn spelled Lyn. (And that happened again just recently when PhotoShelter mentioned me on their blog. Oops.) Once, a magazine even put my name as Sheri Baker. (More on that story in a later post.) 

Sheri Lyn Behr's the credit on this photo
 of Rick Derringer in Hard Rock magazine

Closeup of the photo credit.

And of course, sometimes they would forget to put any credit at all. I did like it when they apologized for that. 

But as I would say at the time, as long as I can cash the check…  

Oh, and if you ever meet me face to face or send me an email... I'm Sheri. 

Just Sheri. 

S H E R I

A Big Thank You

Last night I was invited to speak at Take 5ive, a Dada inspired info exchange party where ten professionals each have up to five minutes to talk about a photo-related subject. The theme of the evening was "Press" and it was great to show my rock photos to a roomful of people who really seemed to enjoy the work. I felt like a rockstar myself! And I also got to catch up with some friends, and meet some people in the offline world who I knew through Facebook. A really fun night. Thanks to Chrissy, Hans, and the others from win-initative, and of course, many thanks to Elizabeth Avedon for suggesting that I participate.

And the other speakers were great--Ruben Natal-San Miguel, Elizabeth Barragan, Susan May Tell, Bryan Formhals, Alison Zavos, Ted Sabarese, Sam Friedman, Gabriela Herman (loved her photos of bloggers which were on exhibit at the event) and Gemma Fleming. Check them out. Not rock and roll, but definitely worth a look.

The Boys Are Back In Town (RIP Gary Moore)

Gary Moore, who played with Thin Lizzy, passed away today. I was pretty sure I'd photographed him, since I photographed Thin Lizzy three times. But when I looked at the shots I had printed, and then at the slides that were in sleeves, I couldn't find him. I knew what he looked like because I found pictures on the Internet. I'm pretty good at recognizing some of the members of the bands I shot, but many I know by band name only. I could pick Phil Lynott out of a lineup (that's him on the far left), but he was the only member of Thin Lizzy I could recognize. Phil Lynott might have even been the first performer I photographed to pass away, and I remember being really upset about it when he died in 1986 at the age of 36.

Still, when I checked dates (I really don't know if I'd be able to do this without the Internet) I knew I had to have photographed Gary Moore. I found more slides, still in the original Kodak box (I know I know, I'm trying to finish getting organized) -- and I spent the rest of the day scanning. Not exactly what I had planned to do today. But hey, I'm trying to get this work out, so I did what I had to do.

Phil Lynott, Gary Moore and Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy, September, 1978 

RIP Gary Moore.