Richard Upper: My Life As A Teenage Rock Photographer

Richard Upper: My Life As A Teenage Rock Photographer

Photographer Richard Upper got his start taking pictures in Hawaii in the late 1960s. As a teenager he began shooting rock concerts for local concert promoters. He soon branched out into a career that would include many album covers, magazine spreads and poster art. He had his first album cover at 16, Steve Miller's "Rock Love." In time his photography began appearing regularly in magazines, billboards, advertising and more album art. Traveling to Los Angeles meant the chance to shoot artists like The Rolling Stones at the Forum. At age 19, Richard moved to L.A., where he was hired by a number of record companies to document their artists' concerts and publicity. He was immediately thrust into the concert scene, photographing bands for all the labels including Rod Stewart & The Faces, Van Halen and Blondie to name a few. Upper's resume also includes album covers for Santana, The Faces, Rory Gallagher and Rod Stewart, as well as a 30-minute rockumentary on Blondie which he shot in 1977 at the Whiskey A Go Go on the Sunset Strip. Currently Richard has assembled his archives of vintage rock images and has shown his work in galleries around the country.

Duration: 22:06

Related

Marty Schwartz Epiphone ES-335.
News & latest Releases

Marty Schwartz Epiphone ES-335.

NASHVILLE, TN (August 22, 2023) 2023 marks the 150th anniversary of Epiphone, a leading innovator in instrument design. By leveraging its iconic past and leaning into the future, Epiphone has now set the stage for the next era of sound for present and future generations. Epiphone is proud to announce a partnership with the global influencer and music educator Marty Schwartz to create his very first Epiphone signature artist guitar. The Marty Schwartz ES-335 from Epiphone is now available worldwide at authorized Epiphone dealers, and in limited capacity on www.epiphone.com. "Teaming up with Epiphone to bring my dream guitar to life is an absolute milestone in my musical journey,” says Marty Schwartz. “This guitar embodies everything I love about playing and teaching. We've truly created a guitar that's as unique as the journey it represents." “Marty Schwartz is a tremendous talent whose infectious joy for learning and teaching guitar allows players of every level to easily connect with him all across the globe,” says Beth Heidt, Chief Marketing Officer, Gibson Brands. “We are proud to partner with Marty for this very special ES-335 model.” Marty Schwartz or as he’s better known online as, Marty Music has been the face of guitar education on the internet for the last decade and a half. With nearly 4 million YouTube subscribers, over two billion video views, and a career longer than most rock bands, Marty has arguably taught more people how to play guitar than anyone else in the world. Marty knows quite a bit about what features a great guitar should have. His new namesake signature model ES-335 from Epiphone features a smooth-playing 60s SlimTaper Rounded C neck profile with an Indian laurel fretboard, small pearloid block inlays, and a Marty Music logo on the back of the headstock. The 5-ply layered maple body is capped with a beautiful AAA-figured maple veneer and is finished in Sixties Cherry. Rock solid tuning stability is ensured by the Grover 502C Roto-Grip Locking Rotomatic tuners and Graph Tech nut, while the other ends of the strings are anchored with an Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and Stop bar tailpiece. The flexible electronics include Epiphone Alnico Classic PRO pickups, each with a push/pull phase switch; a hardshell case is also included.
04:083 months ago
Gibson Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Greeny 1959 Les Paul Standard
News & latest Releases

Gibson Custom Shop Kirk Hammett Greeny 1959 Les Paul Standard

The story of “Greeny” is shrouded in mystery, but few guitars are as illustrious. Greeny is one of the most iconic original Les Paul Standards ever made, with a unique sound as recognizable as the guitar itself. Originally owned by Peter Green, it was used throughout his time with Fleetwood Mac and later sold to Gary Moore, who used it for three decades with Thin Lizzy and as a solo artist. Now owned by Kirk Hammett, Greeny has passed through the hands of three legendary guitarists. Its distinctive sound is partly from the out-of-phase middle switch position due to the neck pickup’s reversed magnetic polarity. The Kirk Hammett “Greeny” 1959 Les Paul Standard from the Gibson Custom Shop is artfully aged to match the original by the Murphy Lab and was inspired by this legendary guitar. With its Indian Rosewood fretboard, the Custom Shop Greeny gives players around the world the opportunity to experience some of the magic of “Greeny” for themselves. The Gibson Custom Shop “Greeny” arrives with an exclusive Lifton reissue 5 latch hardshell case with brown leather exterior and pink interior. Due out on April 11, 2023, the Kirk Hammett “Greeny” Les Paul Standard version was inspired by this legendary guitar and gives players around the world the opportunity to experience some of the magic of “Greeny” for themselves. The Gibson Kirk Hammett “Greeny” Les Paul Standard comes with an Original Series hardshell case.
05:058 months ago