Jim Marshall 1936 - 2010

I first met Jim where else? I met him where he was most passionate and where he dedicated his whole life, in a photo pit. I was shooting John Mayer in Chicago and local music photographer Paul Natkin was kind enough to introduce me to the legendary photographer. I was speechless and a little bit star struck. It’s not every day you meet someone who has shot every major musical act back in their heyday from The Beatles, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and of course Johnny Cash.

Through the years since, our paths have crossed several times and I have even had the privileged to meet up with him for a drink or four. I always met him at the Mondrian Hotel on Sunset Strip in LA. Across the street, towering down the boulevard was the infamous Hyatt Hotel, better known as the “Riot House” that had its own share of rock 'n' roll historical moments. One such meeting was with fellow photographer John Shearer, who had met Marshall back in his college days in San Francisco. We both enjoyed listening to his stories and although they were often repeated on every visit, these were more history lessons than anything else.

I can still remember Marshall telling us, in between shots of whiskey, how he actually got the classic reaction from Johnny Cash, asking him what he would say to the Warden if he had a chance meeting. Or that the Jerry Garcia shot was a complete accident and didn’t even see the Dead End sign. That Jim Morrison staged the shot of him taking that long drag of his cigarette and how hard it was on him when he found out that Dwayne Allman had died.

Through the course of our drinking that evening, Marshall started introducing us to (employees and anyone that would listen) as I being his son and Shearer as his grandson. I’ll always cherish that evening and felt honored to be in his presences and that he enjoyed our company as well. The evening rounded up with a random appearance of Chris Cornell who just happens to stop by to pick up some carry out. In typical rock star fashion, Marshall ended our drinking party for a dinner date with actress Gina Gershon. Even at his age the man had game and knew when to take off for prettier company.

Marshall was born here in Chicago but raised in San Francisco. In some ways he was in the right place at the right time when he bought his first camera in high school. After a chance meeting with jazz musician John Coltrane he headed to New York where he started his photography career. Working in the studio, he began his documenting style at Atlantic and Columbia records. However, the Bay Area would soon bring him back where he belong and it is here where he would capture some of his most memorable images.

Marshall, as seen in his pictures, was every where catching those iconic moments for the world to see and enjoy forever. From Jimi Hendrix lighting his guitar on fire at the Monterey Pop festival, to Johnny Cash giving the finger at San Quentin and being the only photographer allowed all-access to The Beatle’s final full concert at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park in 1966. Even in his later years, Marshall was still out there in the trenches capturing a little bit of history with every shot.

Last fall when I was out in the Bay Area for Neil Young’s Bridge School Benefit, I rang up Marshall to say hi. Of course Marshall was not around and in New York on a promotional tour for his book “Trust.” I remember him being very excited about promoting his first ever book of color photography. That was the last I talked with him and hoped our paths would cross again soon.

Jim Marshall was a rare breed and until his very last days, he lived his life to the fullest. Marshall died in a hotel in New York in preparation for an event promoting of course his latest book, “Match Prints” with photographer Timothy White. Jim Marshall will be missed and I think it’s fair to say it’s an end of an era. I will miss my time talking with him but I will cherish the time I had. His photography will last forever and I am fortunate enough to have a few of his masterpieces on my wall.

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