Bob Gruen's ROCKERS at the Pearlstein Gallery/Philadelphia's Drexel University

The Leonard Pearlstein Gallery Presents:

ROCKERS 

From taking early photos on tour with Ike and Tina Turner and capturing the early CBGB/Max's Kansas City scene, to hanging out with John and Yoko and covering current stadium rockers such as Green Day, Bob Gruen has always been at the right place at the right time. As Alice Cooper says, what makes Gruen's work so memorable is that "he always got the money shot." Gruen's photographs take the viewer backstage, on tour and into intimate moments - bearing witness to the rise of rock and roll and punk.

Gruen covered the New York City music scene, taking photographs that have gained worldwide recognition - Led Zeppelin to the Rolling Stones, Elvis to James Brown, Bob Dylan to Bob Marley and John Lennon to Johnny Rotten. Shortly after John Lennon moved to New York in 1971, Bob became John and Yoko's personal photographer and friend, capturing their working life, private moments and creating two iconic images - John Lennon wearing the New York City t-shirt and, standing in front of the Statue of Liberty making the peace sign.

 

These years of close friendship and respect for the many artists he photographed set the stage for the exhibit, 'ROCKERS' that will be on display from Thursday, April 13 - Wednesday, May 26, hosted by Drexel University's Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. The exhibition will be on display in the URBN Center Annex's Leonard Pearlstein Gallery (3401 Filbert St.) and is free and open to the public Tuesday - Sunday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. The exhibition, which encompasses 124 photographs including 65 contact sheets demonstrating the pre-digital selection process and a "Teenage Bedroom" installation, is also supported by the Kal and Lucille Rudman Institute for Entertainment Industry Studies.

Bob Gruen will appear at the Pearlstein Gallery on Thursday, April 13 at 5-7 p.m. for the opening reception of ROCKERS.

On Wednesday, May 3, at 6 p.m. music journalist and rock and roll correspondent Rona Elliot will join Gruen for a conversation about his career and book signing for his monograph "Rock Seen".

The Leonard Pearlstein Gallery is grateful for support from the Kal and Lucille Rudman Institute for Entertainment Industries in bringing ROCKERS to Drexel University.