Exclusive Interview With Bob Gruen

Capturing culture for future generations.

- Allan Kliger

Bob Gruen, (born 1945) is one of the most famous Rock Photographers. He spent most of his career as a freelancer hustling shots to Rock Scene. Bob captured Rock and Roll in its prime, living with bands, joining them on the road and sharing in the lifestyle. He was so active in the music scene, Crossing all America in a bus with the most known Rock Stars including Tina Turner, Sex Pistols and many more.

He captured one of the most recognizable icons in the history of music photography, John Lennon wearing his New York City T-Shirt. His Photo of Led Zeppelin is one of the most famous in the world. Allan Kliger had a long close conversation with the man behind the iconic photos of the main figures in the music scene during the past 40 years!

Allan Kliger: Hello Bob, It's a pleasure to have an interview with you! It's a great opportunity for Lens’ readers to get familiar with the man behind some of the most famous iconic photos of figures in the music scene during the past 40 years! I’m curious, what's happening in your life right now? What are you working on?

Bob Gruen: Thanks Allan, It’s a pleasure! Right now I'm working on a couple of books. Next fall I'm going to have a book of all my photographs of the band Green day. And I'm also working on a biography or an autobiography, so I'm organizing my archive of 50 years worth of collecting and photographing, I kept just about everything I’ve made along the way. My wife and I are organizing all of that. I'm hoping to start placing that in institutions and museums for collectors.