On October 3rd, Backbeat Books will publish Between the Dark and Light: The Grateful Dead Photography of Jay Blakesberg. With the resurgence of one of America’s greatest musical icons upon us this year, the book will delight old fans and give younger music aficionados a soulful insight into the legendary rock band. Between the Dark and Light contains more than 900 photos, many of which will be published for the first time by one of the premier music photographers. Jay’s insightful camerawork brings alive not only the music of the Grateful Dead but the band members offshoot groups including: the Jerry Garcia Band, Grisman /Garcia, Ratdog, Mickey Hart and Planet Drum, Dylan and The Dead, and every edition of Phil Lesh & Friends. Accompanying Jay’s incredible photos are insightful back-stories, a forward by Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, and historical essays by Blair Jackson (who also edited the book), J.C. Juanis, and Jon Sievert. The Grateful Dead’s magical 25-year journey as viewed through the lens of Jay Blakesberg, is truly astounding. With the re-emergence of the Grateful Dead this fall with a tour of The Other Ones, Blakesberg’s book is not only rich and rewarding, but also truly timely.
We had a chance to catch up with Jay at his San Francisco studio recently to get the skinny on the new book and to have him share some of the more intimate moments on working with the Grateful Dead.
Philzone.com:
When and how did you get into photography?
Jay Blakesberg: In high school. 1977-78. I went to Arthur
I. Johnson Regional High
School in Clark, NJ. I started borrowing my brother’s camera to shoot concerts like the
Marshall Tucker Band, Dickey Betts, Eric Clapton, and David Bromberg,
and eventually moved over to my father’s camera before getting my own
camera in about 1979. I was the first person in my high school to
use the newly created darkroom at my school. The class was taught
by the auto mechanic teacher.
What was the first Grateful Dead concert
that you attended?
Englishtown [1977]
Did you photograph it?
Not really. I had an Instamatic and there is a picture of
me laying on the ground during the break with a bong resting on my stomach...The
first dead show I shot was Giants Stadium – September 1978. I was
16. These are also the first pictures in the book.
When you
first began shooting musical acts live, can you explain the scene back
then?
Anyone was allowed to bring
a camera in to a show. Rock ‘n’ Roll hadn't become completely 
corporate
at that point. Fans were still allowed to take snap shots, which
was why I was doing it. I wanted to create my own memorabilia to
hang on my bedroom walls.
Did they issue photo passes or was it pretty
much done surreptitiously?
I did not know how to get a photo pass.
You shot some really cool photos
of Brent Mydland. How did you meet him?
I shot Brent’s first East Coast show. I met him 2 days later
at the big No Nukes rally in Washington DC. He was very warm and
approachable. Nobody really knew who he was unless you were at that
first show at Hampton. The press and everyone else backstage who
had any interest gravitated to Bob Weir who was also there. Those
shots of Brent ran in Relix, and were some of the first shots people ever
saw of him.
While you are well known for your
live concert photography, your studio portraits are very highly regarded.
Can you share some of the times that you shot Jerry Garcia?
Being around Garcia was always fun. First of all, I am a fan,
and admire his musical output. So it was a little weird going from
touring deadhead, to shooting Jerry in an intimate situation for a magazine
story. Jerry was always very casual about the shoots. Like
any artist who has been around that long, it was probably his 10,000th
time in front of the camera. I want to go in and create an amazing
image that would be remembered forever while he wanted to go to lunch
or something like that.
My favorite shoot with Jerry Garcia was with David Grisman because it
was very relaxed. He and Grisman played for about 45 minutes for me and
the few other people there; Jeff Rogers from Acoustic Guitar Magazine,
Dennis McNally, and my assistant, and I think that always made it easier
for him. He really could be in his own musical world, while I would
shoot, and occasionally I would ask for his attention back to the lens.
You were able to shoot the Grateful Dead
many times - you took the production stills for the band's video "Throwing
Stones." Can you tell us about that shoot?
JC
Juanis who was writing for Relix, tipped me off that the shoot was going
to happen, right across the street from where I was living in Oakland.
I went there as a Relix photographer, not as an official shooter
for the Grateful Dead. Dennis McNally did pick a bunch of shots
that I think he just used to give to the band. It was a very
fun, long day. Everyone was into the uniqueness of the situation,
costumes, etc. The band was still new to that kind of video shoot.
You've had the great fortune to photograph every
incarnation of Phil Lesh & Friends. 
How
did that come about?
Again, JC Juanis introduced me to Phil & Jill. He is
Phil's publicist, and when they started to really go for it, Jill wanted
PR shots of all the different groups to use for publicity and advertising.
I think they also wanted to try and release limited edition CD's of as
many of these Phil &Friend’s groups, so photos were also an ingredient.
They only released one with Jorma before making the studio record with
Warren Jimmy, Rob & John. A great band! I'm glad I connected
with Phil & Jill. It's been a blast to have great access, and
be given the opportunity to make such creative images documenting
an incredibly strong musical period in Phil's career.
Do you have a favorite version of the band?
I liked the Jorma shows; Phil with Phish really blew everyone
away, but the current line-up still continues to amaze!!!
You mention Phish. We know that you’ve
established a warm relationship with them as well. How did you first
meet them?
I had done some magazine work with the band including a big feature
on Page McConnell for Keyboard Magazine and a feature for Addicted Noise
that I shot in Arizona. Page really liked those shots and
I think word trickled back to the office about that. There are a
bunch of people in the Phish camp that knew of me from my Grateful Dead
work. At that point I had a dialogue with Jason Colton from Phish
Management. We were in touch about different Phish things, and when
Trey and Page did Phil & Phriends, Phish hired me to document it for
them. They have an amazing archive and really like to document everything,
and know that the better access they give you, the better pictures they
will get. So at the Warfield, I had absolute total access.
When Phil & Jill saw my shots from there, I think that they also realized
that great access meant great pictures. When I started shooting
for Phil, that access continued and it shows in the pictures I have made
of Phil and his projects. After the Warfield, Phish flew me out
to Oswego to cover their big shows there, which was a lot of fun and an
amazing shoot. I also did publicity shoot at the Shoreline Amphitheater
and then their last two Shoreline shows before their two-year hiatus,
which is about to come to an end with their New Year’s show at Madison
Square Garden.
Would you care to share your best
Phish story?
Every show they have a backstage rehearsal
space, which they actually use, often times to work out songs with guest
artists. I've seen some amazing jams/rehearsals happen including
Phil & Phish and Weir and Phish, and of course Phil on the trampoline
is the all time funniest Phish/Phil photo!!
You shot the cover for Phil Lesh & Friends'
"There & Back Again" album. Can you describe that
experience?
I got up around 5am, went to Grace Cathedral in SF to meet Phil
& Jill at 7. It was their idea, and I must say a very good one. It
worked very well. They could have asked for a shot against a white
background, but I think Phil knew he wanted something with a little magic
and a spiritual vibe. The labyrinth has that power. No stylists,
make-up artists, just me, my assistant, Phil, Jill, and the handful of
older Chinese ladies that do Tai Chi there every morning at the crack
of dawn, and then walk the labyrinth. I think we scared those little
old ladies away with my camera and tripod. It was early morning
light, just a little early for most musicians, and Phil just walked the
labyrinth while I shot. Then I had him stop in a couple of places
while I shot. The art director composited it in Photoshop, and there
it is. A really amazing CD cover!!
What are some of the other artists
that you've shot?
I did the photos for Supernatural with Carlos Santana, which
was an amazing shoot, Barenaked Ladies, Smashmouth, Sammy Hagar, who I
love working with, Tom Waits, Neil Young, Tracy Chapman, Phish, Ben Harper,
Tom Petty, Les Claypool - Primus, I think I shot Les more than any other
artist after the Grateful Dead, Mother Hips, Bare Jr., The list goes on
and on. Check out my website - www.blakesberg.com
Can you give us a short recollection of some
of them?
Carlos Santana – a great storyteller, lots of fun to hang out
with. I love Carlos.
Neil Young - another 35 year + veteran - always a quick shoot for portraits,
which is a challenge but generates great images. My favorite artist
to shoot live!!
Willie Nelson - likes it very short and sweet.
R.E.M
- Great guy's, very personable, and warm. Love their music, would
love to do more things with them.
Primus - Les Claypool has been a great subject for me. Can't get
enough of these amazing musicians. Just shot Les’ new CD!!!
John
Lee Hooker – I really miss shooting Hooker. His house was kept at
about 90 degrees. Great Hands.
Joni Mitchell - Beautiful!!!
Can you give some advice for someone interested in exploring a career
in entertainment photography?
Go to law school.
For more information on Jay Blakesberg and Between the Dark and Light visit www.blakesberg.com
Huge thanks
to Jay Blakesberg for doing this interview
and for providing these excellent photos for our exclusive galleries.
Please respect Mr. Blakesberg's wishes and do not copy or use any of the
photos without permission.
All
photos © Jay Blakesberg and are subject to STRICT
copyright law.
Interview conducted September, 2002 by Mr. Flyer.
Interview
©
2002 Philzone.com
and 2012productions.com.
All rights reserved.
This interview or any photos included may not be reprinted anywhere in
any form - online or offline - without the express written consent of
Jay
Blakesberg and Philzone.com.
However, we certainly encourage you to link here.
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For
more information on
Jay Blakesberg
and his book
Between the
Dark and Light, The
Grateful Dead
Photography
of Jay Blakesberg
please visit
www.blakesberg.com
Jay
Blakesberg will
appear at the following
bookstores promoting
his new book.
Be sure to stop by
and say ‘Hi”
Oct 3
Art Rock
San Francisco, CA
Oct 9
Chelsea Barnes
and Noble
New York, NY
Oct 10
Borders Books
Chicago, IL
Oct 11
Boulder Book Store
Boulder, CO
Oct 12
Walnut Street Gallery
Boulder, CO
Oct 22
Experience
Music Project
Seattle, WA
Oct 23
The Evergreen
State College
Olympia, WA
Annie Bloom’s
Bookstore
Portland, OR
Oct 24
University of
Oregon Bookstore
Eugene, OR
Nov
14
Copperfield’s
Sebastopol, CA
Nov 20
Black Oak Books
Berkeley, CA
Nov 23
Book Passage
Corte Madra, CA
Dec
3
Dimitroff’s Gallery
Mill Valley, CA
Check
out more of
Jay Blakesberg's
Phil Lesh
related photos
in these exclusive
Philzone.com
galleries:
Dead
Photos
Part 1
Dead
Photos
Part 2
Phil & Friends
Photos
Phil
Lesh
Photos
Help
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Philzone.com
Buy
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Please Tell Your Phriends!