Jukebox: Photographs 1967-2023

Jukebox: Photographs 1967-2023 by Michael Goldberg

Published by Hozac Records and Books

The renowned and respected music writer, Michael Goldberg, has been a significant contributor to the annals of rock music in its many different guises, from his earliest accounts of the flourishing scene in his native San Francisco to in-depth interviews with some of the world’s greatest stars. His easy-to-read style, forensic questioning, attention to detail and sheer love of the subject matter have set him apart as a master of his craft, not only providing entertaining insights as a raconteur but also fulfilling a pivotal role in recording the history of popular culture. But while his words have painted thousands of pictures, it turns out that Goldberg always had his trusty camera to hand to save a more literal image for posterity, and with Jukebox, we are invited to share an extensive collection of his favourites.

It really can’t be overstated how important the presence of dedicated photographers has been in capturing the excitement and magic of the ever-evolving rock scene in all its guises. When Goldberg first started to take an interest, digital cameras and smartphones were the stuff of science fiction, and we all know how frustrating it is that many of the moving images of some legendary artists are grainy and almost unwatchable. We are therefore indebted to those intrepid enthusiasts who went out of their way to provide us with intimate portraits and action shots, often at great personal expense and even risk. It soon becomes clear as you turn the pages of this Aladdin’s cave of photographs that Goldberg not only knows how to hold a camera, but he also has an instinctive eye for what makes a good shot, born of his wonderment at the world of icons and wannabes in which he operates.

Some of the photographs featured in Jukebox date back to when Goldberg was a very young man, and amongst the most poignant are those from 1978 featuring in San Francisco band Avengers. An impossibly young and immortal-looking Jimmy Wilsey on bass later went on to find fame as Chris Isaac’s guitarist before hitting hard times, and he is also the subject of Goldberg’s haunting biography, Wicked Game. These shots not only take in the band’s moment in history but also the vibrant crowd and the environs of the club, and one of the joys of leafing through the book is the variety of settings; huge acts on arena tours, backstage preparations, small bands in dive bars and artists at rest and play. Likewise, the book isn’t hived off by era, genre, gender or culture. Rather, it’s a cornucopia of musical delights celebrating the broad church of rock music in all its forms with treats at every turn.

We see Johnny Rotten sneering into the faces of the Winterland crowd at the Pistols’ final show, alongside an altogether more sedate Lydon portrait from the 1980 PIL era. Toots And The Maytals relax in their hotel room back in ’76 while The Who are captured in their energetic pomp in shots dating back to 1970.

A few pages further on and a little more up-to-date, it’s up close and personal pictures of Sleater-Kinney, while Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook from New Order add a bit of Mancunian cool in striking monochrome (Goldberg’s medium of choice).

Large collections of photographs can wear thin, and it’s rare that anyone looks through albums of holiday snaps or wedding photos with anything but thinly disguised boredom. However, page after page of intimate rock shots, often taken with exclusive access, is an altogether more engaging prospect. Everyone will have their favourites, be that Muddy Waters or Mick Jagger, Alice Cooper or Patti Smith, but every picture tells a story and will potentially fire the imagination to find out a little more about the acts featured. Text is kept to a minimum, restricted primarily to artist name, date and location, allowing the photographs to do the talking, and that’s something they do very eloquently indeed. Jukebox is a thrill ride through the golden age of rock n roll which no fan will want to miss.

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All words by Robin Boardman. More writing from Robin on Louder Than War can be found at his  author’s archive.

All photos provided by the photographer / author – Michael Goldberg