Rock photographer, Jim Marshall, who was known for his vulnerable, candid, and iconic photographs of some of rock’s musical giants, died yesterday in his New York hotel room at the age of 74. The artist reportedly died in his sleep and although an autopsy was deemed inconclusive, a toxicology report, which will be available next week, may give clues as to the cause of death.
Perhaps best known for capturing Jimmy Hendrix using his guitar for kindle, Marshall photographed and befriended musicians including Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, and John Coltrane to name a slight few. He was fortunate enough to capture the Beatles in one of their last public performances at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park in 1966, and had nearly 500 album covers to his name.
Known for his unstaged, candid shots, Marshall preferred to shoot in natural light, capturing his subjects onstage, backstage, and offstage. “I don’t manipulate. I don’t contrive to make things seem other than how they are. I don’t have a signature style,” he explained to the Chronicle. “I’m basically a reporter with a camera.” Marshall gave his subjects little direction, with his only request being granted unrestrained access to their lives. Although most musicians happily obliged, others, including Barbra Streisand, were less agreeable; Marshall admitted to cursing Ms. Streisand and storming off set, leaving the songstress mortified.
Marshall was scheduled to promote his latest book, “Match Prints,” with celebrity photographer Timothy White, at a reception on Wednesday.
On his website, Marshall was quoted saying that “this ‘career’ has never been just a job — it’s been my life.”
March 26, 2010 at 2:28 pm, Al Landeros said:
Rest in Peacw amigo.
March 26, 2010 at 2:51 pm, George Nobile said:
I recently had the honor of meeting Mr. Marshall. It was pretty crazy to sit with him and talk rock & roll and hear his stories.
He was truely an icon in the rock world. May he rest in peace.