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Soundcheck Detroit Masonic Auditorium, 1979

The Clash 14" x 11" Estate Photograph by Robert Matheu.... Music | Lot #4342 | Heritage Auctions

Detroit soundcheck

The Clash 14" x 11" Estate Photograph by Robert Matheu. Inkjet pigment archival 14" x 11" black and white print of the Clash on stage by photographer Robert Matheu, with estate embossed blind stamp. Printed later. Fine condition, exhibiting a finger print above the image. Captured and Coerced: The Photography and Rock Archive of Robert Matheu. COA from Heritage Auctions.

More Information: ROBERT MATHEU: PHOTOGRAPHER

From George Harrison and Brian Wilson to Johnny Cash and Faces, Robert Matheu has compiled a comprehensive historical compendium of photographs whose iconoclastic images are as revealing as they are diverse.

Matheu provided the artistic vision and editorial direction for the return of CREEM Magazine, which culminated in 2007 with the publication for the Harper Collins hardcover anthology CREEM: America's Only Rock 'n' Roll Magazine.

History

Matheu began attending shows in his hometown of Detroit. Long smitten with the Motown and British Invasion records heard on WKNR and CKLW via his Realtone transistor radio, he began to "borrow" a 35mm camera from the next-door neighbor's Dad to bring to shows. At not-quite-14 years old, young Bob made his way to the Detroit Pop Festival. There, he would take his first iconic photo of the MC5.

Many shots were taken during those teenage years, several of which have graced reisssues of albums, including photos of the MC5, the Stooges, and the Faces. One photo of Blind Faith taken in late 1969 was purchased by Sheryl Crow's manager as a gift to Eric Clapton. Another unpublished photo of Clapton was purchased by Eric's management recently for his upcoming tour book. E.C. was in his guise as Derek of the Dominos, most did not know that Clapton was even in the band, as Layla would not become a hit for 2 more years

After stints on Cody High School's newspaper and long hours in the school's darkroom, Matheu attended Wayne State University. Already way ahead of anything they could offer in the photo department, Matheu opted to major in communications with the hope of landing a career FM radio. While working for WWWW FM, he began following the folks from CREEM around at concerts, into the after-show parties with the likes of Alice Cooper and the Faces. Ahhh, the decadence.

Soon a handful of publications loved what Matheu was capturing at these shows. He began selling photos to CREEM, Rolling Stone, Rock Scene, Melody Maker, NME and hometown dailies the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News. Long night drives on the road led to catching the Clash on their first U.S. tour, the Vibrators in Toronto, and Cheap Trick just about anywhere in the Midwest. Although the Sex Pistols weren't originally on the agenda, Matheu still found himself on international flights out of Detroit Metro to London to catch the punk legends.

Eventually, he relocated to Los Angeles, and did tours with Cheap Trick, Pretenders, Romantics, Stray Cats, The Replacements and Brian Wilson.

The photography of Robert Matheu has appeared on over 100 albums and 500 magazine covers worldwide in addition to having been published in such prestigious publications such as: Playboy, Vogue, Rolling Stone, Life, Time, Harpers, Mojo, Melody Maker, Los Angeles Times, and CREEM to name only a few. Matheu was also the official photographer and artist-press liaison for the North American segment of the historic, continent-spanning LIVE AID concerts.

Morrison Hotel Gallery


Roger Morris - Facebook - Soundcheck Detroit Masonic Auditorium, 1979. Paul on guitar working on Guns Of Brixton




Wayne Kramer - “Mick Jones and I meet for the first time backstage... | Facebook

“Mick Jones and I meet for the first time backstage at The Clash’s Detroit show at Masonic Auditorium in 1979. It was on this night that he and Joe Strummer gifted me a copy of their single ‘Jail Guitar Doors.’” —Excerpt from Wayne’s memoir ‘The Hard Stuff’ : Robert Matheu



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PHOTOS 1-3: The Clash (L-R Mick Jones, Joe Strummer, Nicky 'Topper' Headon and Paul Simonon pose for a portrait before performing at the Masonic Temple Theatre on September 17, 1979 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Michael Marks/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

























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