“The impact of photography and music on socio cultural had be breaking down the barrier of racial prejudice and allowing black and white enjoy it together. I head stories from Buddy Guy where he would play gigs but was not allowed to stay in the hotels in the town he played in. I also think the photo of music album covers in some cases reflected the time they are changing.”

Robert M. Knight:

Music Gods, Soulful Images

Renowned photographer Robert M. Knight captures the rousing essence of rock and roll with his immortal images. In 1968, a young photographer named Robert M. Knight arrived in Seattle with a camera and a single roll of film to shoot local legend Jimi Hendrix. The photographs Knight took seized the uncanny energy of Hendrix and documented his primal performance and adrenaline-driven solos that tantalized audiences. The iconic images Knight produced immortalized Hendrix and propelled Knight on a life-long pilgrimage as the photographic herald of rock and roll. Rock Gods: Fifty Years of Rock Photography (2018) is the rich visual universe of Robert M. Knight's work, replete with visions of guitar gods, monumental performances, and earth shattering solos that chronicle the greatest moments in the evolution of rock music and culture. His remarkable photographs define generations of rock stars from the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin to Run DMC and Green Day. With Rock Gods, Knight captures the grueling riffs of Jimmy Page, the flamboyant solos of Elton John, Slash's steel resolve, and Eric Clapton's soulful blues.                                                          (Photo: Robert M. Knight)

With his intimate access and friendships with many of his subjects, Knight's photography fashions a unique perspective on the world of rock stars, creating some of the most compelling and evocative portraits of popular musicians witnessed to date. Through the haze and jagged reverb, Rock Gods captures the ephemeral candor of the stage, visually asserting the impassioned substance of rock that incites our souls. Nowadays, New Zealand-based photographers Robert M. Knight and his parter Maryanne Bilham-Knight are a creative partnership with over 45 years experience in the advertising, music, portraiture and travel markets. Offering a unique photo library of iconic imagery. Currently accepting photo commissions and consultancy for music industry.

Interview by Michael Limnios         Photos © by Robert M. Knight

How has the photo art and music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your life the most?

 When I was young I would often buy albums based just on the cover photo art and it opened my eye to an amazing world of strange and wonderful artists. Two things that changed my life for ever, seeing the Rolling Stones in Hawaii in 1966, hearing the screaming kids andflash bulbs going off I knew right there I needed to be part of thisworld but did not know how but knew I had to get to swinging London in the summer of 1966 and just by chance heard about the movie Blowup which was about a photographer shooting models androck stars I knew right there I could do that. I did not play guitar but knew the camera was my passport into that world. I went back to Hawaii and was a golf caddy to get money to buy my first Nikon and 3 lenses!

What is the driving force behind your continuous support for your art? What do you love most about the act/art of photography?

The driving force for me was finding the next big band or artist before anyone and working with them. My first shoot as a rock photographer was Jeff Beck in the summer of 1968 and he told me about Jimmy Page’s new band and I got Rolling Stone Magazine to send me to LA to shoot their first West Coast show at the Whisky Ago Ago, no one knew their name at the time Led Zeppelin. My passion now is finding the next great guitar player, I have a program with over 100 kids from around the world called Brotherhood of the Guitar and with help from my sponsors shed light on these amazing new artist's. I was also a big supporter ofthe blues and was able to track down most of the early heavy hitters such as John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, Freddie and BB King and Albert Collins just to name a few.

“The most important lesson is to try and capture the key people from the culturebefore they pass. The Blues a truly a very important part of American History and what it represented might be lost as it now as the Blues has become the domain of white young dudes who might not know why people back in the day and how they lived and worked and played the Blues.” (Buddy Guy, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Micj Jacker, Willie Nelson / Photos © by Robert M. Knight)

What's the balance in photo art between technique and emotions? What do you think is key for a good image/shot?

For me in the early days I would really only work with artists who’s music I like and I knew the songs and was ready for that key moment on stage to get the great shot that used my technique as a photographer showing the emotion of the artists.

Are there any specific memories or highlights of your career that you would like to tell us about?!

There are so many, working with Jimi Hendrix in Hawaii and spending so much time with Jeff Beck at his house in England and photographing him around the hills and desert of California standout. I was also the last guy to photograph Steve Ray Vaughan thenight he died. I was the only one allowed to shoot that night and it really broke my heart when I heard he died, he was such a good friend.

What keeps a photographer passionate after more than five decades in photo art? What do you miss most nowadays from the music and musicians of the past?

I would say the constant pursuit of finding the next great guitarplayer or band. What I most miss most was hearing the guys that changed the world with there music like Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana. Most of what I hear now are guys that sound like these players. When Eddie Van Halen came along he blazed a new path for the guitar.

“My passion now is finding the next great guitar player, I have a program with over 100 kids from around the world called Brotherhood of the Guitar and with help from my sponsors shed light on these amazing new artist's. I was also a big supporter ofthe blues and was able to track down most of the early heavy hitters such as John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, Freddie and BB King and Albert Collins just to name a few.” (Robert Cray with Steve Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Paul Rogers, Ringo Starr, Eddie Van Halen, Billy Gibbons / Photos © by Robert M. Knight)

What is the impact of Photography/Music on the socio- cultural implications? How do you want your photo work to affect people?

The impact of photography and music on socio cultural had be breaking down the barrier of racial prejudice and allowing black and white enjoy it together. I head stories from Buddy Guy where he would play gigs but was not allowed to stay in the hotels in the town he played in. I also think the photo of music album covers in some cases reflected the time they are changing.

What is the strangest desire that someone have requested? Who was the most photogenic and difficult artist?

I had a request to photographer the girl friend of a rocker nakedand had the image put on a bed sheet so they could travel with it and put it on his hotel bed. I have had other very weird requests but will leave those for another interview!

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience as music photographer? Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues?

The most important lesson is to try and capture the key people from the culturebefore they pass. The Blues a truly a very important part of American History and what it represented might be lost as it now as the Blues has become the domain of white young dudes who might not know why people back in the day and how they lived and worked and played the Blues.

Knight & Bilham Photography - Home

(Robert M. Knight - BB King, Jeff Beck, Joe Cocker, Freddie King, Ozzy Osborne / Photos © by Robert M. Knight)