Bob Gruen

Bob Gruen is one of the most well-known and respected photographers in rock and roll. From John Lennon to Johnny Rotten; Muddy Waters to the Rolling Stones; Elvis to Madonna; Bob Dylan to Bob Marley; Tina Turner to Debbie Harry, he has captured the music scene for over forty years in photographs that have gained worldwide recognition. Shortly after John Lennon moved to New York in 1971, Bob became John and Yoko’s personal photographer and friend, making photos of their working life as well as private moments. In 1974 he created the iconic images of John Lennon wearing a New York City t-shirt and, standing in front of the Statue of Liberty making the peace sign - two of the most popular of Lennon’s images. Bob has worked with major rock acts such as Led Zeppelin, The Who, David Bowie, Tina Turner, Elton John, Aerosmith, Kiss & Alice Cooper. He toured extensively with the emerging punk and new wave bands including the New York Dolls, Sex Pistols, Clash, Ramones, Patti Smith Group and Blondie. His “Sid Vicious with Hot Dog” photo was acquired in 1999 by The National Portrait Gallery, London, for their permanent collection. In June 2004 Bob was presented with MOJO Magazine’s prestigious Honours List Award for Classic Image in London. “All Dolled Up,” a DVD documentary made by Bob Gruen and Nadya Beck of their early ‘70s video footage of the New York Dolls, was released in 2005. In the spring of 2007 FAAP University in Sao Paulo, Brazil presented an exhibition of Bob Gruen’s work. Titled ROCKERS, the exhibition attracted 40,000 visitors. The ROCKERS exhibition was also shown from April to July 2008 at Morrison Hotel Gallery on the Bowery in New York City.In November 2010 Bob was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. Recent PHOTO EXHIBITS include: Centro Cultural Borges, Argentina – “Rock Seen” - 2011 Brooklyn Museum of Art – “Who Shot Rock & Roll?” - 2009 MoMA – Museum of Modern Art, New York – “Looking at Music – Side 2” - 2009 Auditorio Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico - 2008 FAAP University Musuem, Sao Paulo, Brazil - 2007 Recent BOOKS by Bob Gruen: “Rock Seen” – Bob Gruen (Harry Abrams, Inc, Fall 2011) “New York Dolls – Photographs by Bob Gruen” (Harry Abrams Inc, 2008) “ROCKERS” (Cosac Naify, 2007) “John Lennon – the New York Years” (becker & mayer!, 2005) “The Clash, Photographs by Bob Gruen” (Music Sales, 2004) More recently he has also photographed Green Day tour of Europe, Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band, Iggy Pop, Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, Jesse Malin, Ryan Adams, Courtney Love and other new popular acts. Please see bobgruen.com for more info.