George on film...
George was one of the most photographed men on earth (much to his chagrin) but we really love looking at photos of him and so we have hunted out some unseen treasures for you. We start with our first featured photographer, Kim Gottlieb-Walker.
We were flicking backwards through the October 2010 issue of Mojo with some disappointment as the Beatle feature told us very little we did not already know and had no pictures at all that we had never seen before of George. Suddenly we did a double take! "Dark Horse"? Could it be? YES - it was a fabulous photo of George with Bob Marley that we had never spied before!
We emailed Kim and explained what we were trying to do and also said that we had no money!!! She proved, in an instant, that there is definitely hope for the human race by responding and saying she would love to do an interview for us.
It was especially gratifying to be able to do this because at a really difficult moment in his life George got real pleasure at this gig and said it was the most beautiful thing he had seen in the last ten years.
Please note all the photos are the sole property of Kim Gottlieb-Walker and reproduction in any form is strictly forbidden - please do not abuse her generosity. Please also check out her website www.lenswoman.com and buy her very first book “Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae,” which is published in September, 2010, by Titan Press in London. It’s available for pre-order now at Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and Borders and will be for sale in bookstores at the end of October.
FG: How old were you when you got into photography and how did this come about - especially your particular field?
K: I started with a little box camera as a child. When I left for college at Berkeley, my mother gave me her little fixed lens 35mm camera to use and when the Free Speech Movement happened during my freshman year, I photographed the demonstrations. I was a psychology major at Berkeley until I took the only film class they had at that time and LOVED it...so I transferred down to UCLA to major in Motion Picture production. There I met my friends Jeff Grobart and Bill Kerby who introduced me to shooting interviews for the underground press in L.A....which included my portraits of Jimi Hendrix. The press conference with George and Ravi was during that period.
In 1973 I married Jeff Walker after we had worked together for a year on Music World Magazine (he was the editor, I was the photo editor). Within a few years he became the assistant director of publicity for United Artists and then director of publicity for Island Records in Los Angeles and was one of the main people in charge of promoting Bob Marley to US audiences. Charley Nuccio, the president of Island, had been one of the people at Capitol Records who had been instrumental in bringing the Beatles to America a decade before and A&M/Darkhorse was just down the street. Jeff told Charley he knew that George and Bob would love to meet each other and that the photo of the meeting would be historic...I don't know whether George called Charley or Charley called George (Bob's appearance at the Roxy was a hot ticket with a lot of celebrities who wanted to attend) but I was shooting for Island and was backstage when Jeff brought George backstage and it finally happened.
We were flicking backwards through the October 2010 issue of Mojo with some disappointment as the Beatle feature told us very little we did not already know and had no pictures at all that we had never seen before of George. Suddenly we did a double take! "Dark Horse"? Could it be? YES - it was a fabulous photo of George with Bob Marley that we had never spied before!
We emailed Kim and explained what we were trying to do and also said that we had no money!!! She proved, in an instant, that there is definitely hope for the human race by responding and saying she would love to do an interview for us.
It was especially gratifying to be able to do this because at a really difficult moment in his life George got real pleasure at this gig and said it was the most beautiful thing he had seen in the last ten years.
Please note all the photos are the sole property of Kim Gottlieb-Walker and reproduction in any form is strictly forbidden - please do not abuse her generosity. Please also check out her website www.lenswoman.com and buy her very first book “Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae,” which is published in September, 2010, by Titan Press in London. It’s available for pre-order now at Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and Borders and will be for sale in bookstores at the end of October.
FG: How old were you when you got into photography and how did this come about - especially your particular field?
K: I started with a little box camera as a child. When I left for college at Berkeley, my mother gave me her little fixed lens 35mm camera to use and when the Free Speech Movement happened during my freshman year, I photographed the demonstrations. I was a psychology major at Berkeley until I took the only film class they had at that time and LOVED it...so I transferred down to UCLA to major in Motion Picture production. There I met my friends Jeff Grobart and Bill Kerby who introduced me to shooting interviews for the underground press in L.A....which included my portraits of Jimi Hendrix. The press conference with George and Ravi was during that period.
In 1973 I married Jeff Walker after we had worked together for a year on Music World Magazine (he was the editor, I was the photo editor). Within a few years he became the assistant director of publicity for United Artists and then director of publicity for Island Records in Los Angeles and was one of the main people in charge of promoting Bob Marley to US audiences. Charley Nuccio, the president of Island, had been one of the people at Capitol Records who had been instrumental in bringing the Beatles to America a decade before and A&M/Darkhorse was just down the street. Jeff told Charley he knew that George and Bob would love to meet each other and that the photo of the meeting would be historic...I don't know whether George called Charley or Charley called George (Bob's appearance at the Roxy was a hot ticket with a lot of celebrities who wanted to attend) but I was shooting for Island and was backstage when Jeff brought George backstage and it finally happened.
Natty Dread Tour July 9th 1975 Roxy Theater, Los Angeles, California
George, Kim's Husband Jeff Walker, Bob and and Charley Nuccio, president of Island in the USA at that time
Ras Beatle!
FG: George was famous for his droll sense of humour and he has obviously tickled Bob silly with something he has said? Can you remember what had taken place?
K: I never hear anything when I'm shooting, unfortunately...but I think Bob referred to George as "Ras Beatle."
FG: Do you have any other recollections of that lovely occasion that you can share with us and can you give us a little chat with each photo so we can be there with you.
K: All I remember is that my flash battery was dying and taking 30 seconds between charges (which during a two minute meeting is an ETERNITY) so I was only able to get two or three shots.It was INCREDIBLY frustrating! But Bob and George really respected each other and were so excited to meet...it was a mutual admiration society!
K: I never hear anything when I'm shooting, unfortunately...but I think Bob referred to George as "Ras Beatle."
FG: Do you have any other recollections of that lovely occasion that you can share with us and can you give us a little chat with each photo so we can be there with you.
K: All I remember is that my flash battery was dying and taking 30 seconds between charges (which during a two minute meeting is an ETERNITY) so I was only able to get two or three shots.It was INCREDIBLY frustrating! But Bob and George really respected each other and were so excited to meet...it was a mutual admiration society!
Natty Dread Tour 9th July 1975 Roxy Theater Los Angeles
Backstage at the Roxy Theater in W. Hollywood. (Thanks to Kim...) Jeff, Ras Beatle, Bob and Friend
Revisiting the "Summer of Love" 1967
FG: You also mentioned that you were lucky enough to be present at the Press Conference for Ravi Shankar when George was in LA in august 1967. You must have been very young and excited so how did that come about?
K: I honestly can't remember the press conference at all! I'm so sorry!
(comment by Editor - Well as is repeatedly said if you can remember the sixties you weren't there... and Kim was definitely THERE!).
K: I honestly can't remember the press conference at all! I'm so sorry!
(comment by Editor - Well as is repeatedly said if you can remember the sixties you weren't there... and Kim was definitely THERE!).
Kinnara School of Music, 3rd august 1967, Los Angeles
George with Ravi Shankar. George is quoted as saying at this Press Conference for his friend and musical Guru "Indian music makes God come through in a spiritual way ....and it makes one more aware that God can be put into sound".
In conclusion...
K: My book "Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae" will be in bookstores at the end of October and can also be pre-ordered on Amazon or the Barnes & Noble or Borders websites. (Titan UK and Random House USA) A sampling of my career can be seen at my website www.Lenswoman.com
Kim Gottlieb-Walker with some of her fabulous work.
Thanks to Kim for sharing those moments and those wonderful images with all of us. We wish her every success with this book and all the books to follow...
