Event Choice: "Who Shot Rock & Roll?" Exhibit Now in LA — 10 Questions w/ Album Cover Icon Spencer Drate
Like many of the greats, it started in Brooklyn, then made its way west to Los Angeles.
Find out! At the Annenberg Space for Photography in LA, through October 7, 2012.
We’re talking here about Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present, a 166-print exhibit on display at LA’s Annenberg Space for Photography, now through October 7, 2012.
Who Shot Rock & Roll is the first exhibit of its kind to showcase the art of over 100 photographers including Albert Watson, Ian Dickson, Bob Gruen and many more. The exhibit is filled with unique photographs that have captured the essence and emotions of some of the greatest moments in the lives of rock and roll, soul and hip-hop icons. Together, they vividly illustrate and remind the public of the essential bond between vision and music.
Gail Buckland is the photographer curator and author of the book Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present, the inspiration for the show that was originally shown and created by the Brooklyn Museum from October 30, 2009–January 31, 2010.
The exhibition reveals rare images taken behind the scenes; tender snapshots of young musicians at the beginnings of their careers; exhilarating photographs of live performances; powerful images of the crowds and fans; portraits revealing the soul and creativity — rather than the surface and celebrity — of the musicians; and conceptual images and album covers highlighting the collaborative efforts between the image makers and the musicians.
New York’s very own Spencer Drate and Judith Salavetz’ work is featured in the Who Shot Rock and Roll album cover section. Spencer Drate and Judith Salavetz are award-winning creative directors, designers, authors, curators, media writers, art reps and packagers specializing in music design, branding and pop-culture books.
From Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Ramones, and the Velvet Underground the list of collaborations is star-packed and virtually endless. Their famous music cover design work has been showcased in many venues such as at the Museum of Modern Art, NYC, in the Looking at Music-Side 2 show (2010), The Brooklyn Museum in the “Who Shot Rock n’ Roll” show (2010), The Cooper Hewitt Museum in the Mixed Messages show (1996) and Punk/Post Punk Graphics show at The Steven Kasher Gallery, NYC (2011).
SonicScoop got to share thoughts with the visionary himself, Spencer Drate, to discuss inspiration, achievements and what it feels like to have a featured album cover in Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present. He also discusses his latest contribution in preserving the history of rock and roll with the book FIVE HUNDRED 45s, an amazing anthology of more than five hundred examples of great record sleeve design.
(l-r) Spencer Drate and Judith Salavetz (photo: Greisha Fathoulin)
10 Questions for Spencer Drate:
1-What does it mean to you to have your cover artwork shown in the Who Shot Rock and Roll show?
It is an honor to have our designed “Joan Jett and The Blackhearts-ALBUM” LP cover chosen and displayed in the album section. (CREDITS: Photo by Dieter Zill DESIGN: Spencer Drate/Judith Salavetz.)
2-How did you get started designing album covers?
I was connected to ESP-DISK Records first – repackaging first albums of famous jazz musicians, and then drifted to Sire Records. Seymour Stein loved my design (Yale design background), and I was then literally designing for the punk and rock greats: Ramones,Talking Heads, Richard Hell, The Pretenders, Deadboys etc…
Later, I met my partner Judith Salavetz in 1982 and we have designed for: Bon Jovi, Lou Reed, U2, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts,The Velvet Underground,The Beach Boys, Joseph Arthur, Paul McCartney, Billy Squier, Marshall Crenshaw, Billy Joel, Leonard Cohen, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and a lot more. I feel honored to have worked with 12 musicians inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame and nominated for a Grammy in album packaging for co-designing the Talking Heads’ Fear of Music album package in 1979.
3-What are some of your favorite album covers?
There are so many great album covers! Only some of my favorites are: Sticky Fingers – The Rolling Stones, Victory – Victory, Physical Graffiti – Led Zeppelin, So – Peter Gabriel, Power, Corruption & Lies – New Order, Buddy Holly – Buddy Holly, Speaking in Tongues – Talking Heads.
4 – What album designers inspire you?
Highly conceptual designers such as Stefan Sagmeister, Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell, Vaughn Oliver, Peter Saville, Steve Averill, Jeri Heiden, Tom Recchion, John Pasche – many profiled in our Rock Artbook.
Joan Jett and the Blackheart's 1983 "Album" earned Spencer Drate and Judith Salavetz a spot in "Who Shot Rock and Roll?"
5 – How do you develop your concepts when packaging album artwork?
First, we listen to the music and receive the album title, and then develop the concept and try to find a visually exciting solution – we do NOT like the usual photo of the artist on the front cover unless the photo solution is unusual and creative!
Typeplay is important with whatever the visual solution is. In CD design we like to use the Digipak book because of the continuity flow it gives you in designing a full package. NO plastic jewel box!
6 – I noticed that your covers are simple yet incredible – what is your approach? Also, where do you see graphic art for album artwork in the next ten years? Can you describe the journey from print to digital based art?
The Japanese concept of simplicity and similar to the Great Logo Design Theory: simple, immediate, great graphics, image and hits your eye immediately.
The positive points for computer graphics are fabulous retouching in art and photography, and piecing graphics together for preparation of a music package.
The unfortunate thing is losing the hand-held package: visuals are not high resolution on a computer, resulting in a quality loss next to printing matter.
The vinyl return as many musicians are adapting now gives rebirth to larger design surfaces for music graphics – 45 and 12″ cover. I hope the music consumer realizes the influence and importance of music graphics.
7-Why did you decide to do the “FIVE HUNDRED 45s” book?
There were all these LP cover books for years and no one did a 45 record picture sleeve history book, Ridiculous! When we designed album covers, a 45 record picture sleeve single always followed an LP Cover design! My first book “45 RPM” is divided by years ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80, ‘90s. It sold over 22,000 worldwide to the year 2010, so we knew at least to start on a second larger book.
Here's one way to get your 45 fix.
8- What was your first 45 record?
My father bought me the 45 record Elvis Presley’s “Hounddog” B/W “Don’t Be Cruel” – THE KING! What a way to start my music life!
9 – In addition to the new release of “FIVE HUNDRED 45s”, what other recent books do you have that your fans could read?
We’ve authored and packaged 21 pop-culture books and our recent The Art of the Modern Movie Poster Book (Chronicle Books), CREATING COMICS (Rockport Publishers), VFX Artistry (Focal Press), SWAG-Rock Posters of the 90s (Abrams Books), PURE ANIMATION (Merrell Publishers), The Independent Movie Poster Book (Abrams Books).
10 – Last question: You’ve lived in New York City since 1975: What do you love most about the city, and why does it remain an influential city for music and art?
This city is the melting pot of creative forces! The art and pop-culture energy around me, it stimulates me as an artist and designer. New York City is cutting edge in culture and with so many museums, film venues, art and photography gallery openings and other events, there is so much to see here! WE LOVE NEW YORK!
— Jacqueline Smiley
“Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present,”
The Annenberg Space for Photography is located in Century Park at 2000 Avenue of the Stars in Century City – on the former site of the Shubert Theatre.
Admission to the Photography Space is free.
Open June 22 until Sunday October 7th
Hours: Wed-Fri: 11am – 6pm
Sat: 11am – 9:00pm
Sun: 11am – 6pm
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
http://www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org/exhibitions/current-exhibition
Preview the images of “Who Shot Rock & Roll” — in convenient video format!