Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, David Bowie and more through the lens of Neil Zlozower
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(Credits: Far Out / Neil Zlozower / Behind The Gallery)
From the emergence of rock ‘n’ roll as the central driver in pop culture in the 1960s, attentive photographers have documented and thus contributed to its evolution. Early on, eminent shutterbugs like Bent Rej captured stars of the British invasion, but over time, a visual accompaniment to the musical experience became increasingly important. Following the footsteps of Andy Warhol and Mick Rock in this field is Neil Zlozower, today’s featured photographer.
Zlozower, often nicknamed Zloz, is among America’s foremost living rock photographers. He emerged in the late 1970s, specialising in concert photography during rock ‘n’ roll’s heyday. Among his early gigs were classic hard rock bands, including Van Halen, Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith. His work soon gained attention from peers and eminent musicians for its unique preservation of the raw intensity of live performance.
One of Zlozower’s most notable collaborations was with Van Halen, with whom he developed a close relationship. This alliance allowed a fruitful and providential expansion into studio-based photography. Of Zlozower’s five published books, two consist of van Halen material: Van Halen: A Visual History: 1978-1984 and Ed by Zloz.
Zlozower’s early success soon opened doors to further on-stage and in-studio engagements. Today, the snowball continues to roll; his staggering portfolio features iconic shots of David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Michael Jackson, Frank Zappa and many more.
In addition to his work with rock artists, Zlozower has photographed various other musical genres, including jazz, blues, and country. His portfolio features shots of artists such as B.B. King, Miles Davis, and Willie Nelson. Zlozower maintains a strong identity of bold colour and symbolism with such artists but is also receptive to differing visions and personalities.
Some artists have further immortalised Zlozower’s work on their album covers. Among his sleeve design credits are Alice Cooper’s Dragontown, Steve Vai’s Alien Love Secrets, Poison’s Open Up and Say… Ahh!, and Slipknot’s 1999 debut album.
In recognition of his contributions to the music industry, Zlozower has received several prestigious awards and honours, including the ‘Rock Photographer of the Year’ honour at the Hollywood FAME Awards in 2007. In 2018, directors Declan Maynes and Beate Maynes celebrated Zlozower’s career in the acclaimed documentary film In Your Face: The Neil Zlozower Story, which traces his career, examines his approach and features some of his greatest shots.
With a towering career of over four decades behind him, Zlozower remains a prolific force in the music industry, ensuring each new generation of performers has a top-flight photographer at its disposal. Below, we celebrate Zlozower’s career so far with a small sample of his work, including iconic shots of Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, David Bowie and more. See more on Zlozower’s website here.
