Sometime in New York City -
John Lennon, Bob Gruen (photographer)
1995 - Genesis Publications, Guildford - Limited edition, Number 1720 of 3500 copies
‘Walk through the park and there are people holding hands and kissing. New York is beginning to look like Paris when I was younger, when I was twenty-four and people were holding hands and kissing under bridges. It's happening again. People are dreaming again’ – John Lennon
A fine copy of this superbly produced work, one of the limited copies signed by both Yoko Ono and Bob Gruen – the complete story of the romance of John Lennon and Yoko Ono told in their own words and set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City. Profusely illustrated throughout with intimate photographs – mostly in colour and previously unpublished – selected from the archives of photographer Bob Gruen.
‘One afternoon in June 1975, John Lennon got lost in the mammoth Westbeth artists’ complex in Manhattan, looking for Bob Gruen’s photo studio and apartment, after partying all weekend with Harry Nilsson.
“He was ringing doorbells,” Mr. Gruen recalled. “Four o’clock on a Sunday afternoon. Everyone in the building is an artist, so they were opening the door saying: ‘Oh, my God, John Lennon! Let me show you my painting. Let me read you my poem.’ ” When he finally found the apartment, Mr. Gruen said, he told him, “ ‘Man, you’ve got some weird neighbors.’ ”
“I always figured if he could find it in that condition,” Mr. Gruen added, “anyone could.” – New York Times, 2011. One of Genesis Publications’ brilliantly crafted ‘Hall of Fame’ titles, now fully subscribed and out of print.
‘Bob Gruen is one of the most well-known and respected photographers in Rock and Roll. From Muddy Waters to the Rolling Stones; Elvis to Madonna; Bob Dylan to Bob Marley; John Lennon to Johnny Rotten, he has captured the music scene for over forty years in photographs that have gained worldwide recognition.
Shortly after John Lennon moved to New York in 1971, Gruen became John and Yoko’s personal photographer and friend, making photos of their working life as well as private moments. In 1974 he created the iconic images of John Lennon wearing a New York City t-shirt and, standing in front of the Statue of Liberty making the peace sign - two of the most popular of Lennon’s images.
Bob Gruen has worked with major Rock acts such as Led Zeppelin, The Who, David Bowie, Tina Turner, Elton John, Aerosmith, Kiss & Alice Cooper. In 1989, he documented the epic trip to Russia of the “Moscow Music Peace Festival” featuring Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue and Bon Jovi. For many years Bob was the official photographer for the New York New Music Seminar, covering dozens of aspiring new bands in the course of a summer week.
As chief photographer for Rock Scene Magazine in the ‘70s, Bob specialized in candid, behind the scenes photo features. He toured extensively with the emerging punk and new wave bands including the New York Dolls, Sex Pistols, Clash, Ramones, Patti Smith Group and Blondie.’ – Morrison Hotel Gallery.
References: Genesis Publications, web.
Folio (27 x 34.5 cm). pp. 236. One of 2500 limited edition copies signed by Yoko Ono and Bob Gruen, out of a total publication of 3500. In publisher’s original black leather over silk-screened aluminum boards, all edges silver, presented in black card slipcase, and housed in silk-screened solander box with metal title-plate to upper lid. Photographs printed on matte art paper with traced overlays. Condition: Fine Ref: 108171 Price: HK$ 11,000
A fine copy of this superbly produced work, one of the limited copies signed by both Yoko Ono and Bob Gruen – the complete story of the romance of John Lennon and Yoko Ono told in their own words and set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City. Profusely illustrated throughout with intimate photographs – mostly in colour and previously unpublished – selected from the archives of photographer Bob Gruen.
‘One afternoon in June 1975, John Lennon got lost in the mammoth Westbeth artists’ complex in Manhattan, looking for Bob Gruen’s photo studio and apartment, after partying all weekend with Harry Nilsson.
“He was ringing doorbells,” Mr. Gruen recalled. “Four o’clock on a Sunday afternoon. Everyone in the building is an artist, so they were opening the door saying: ‘Oh, my God, John Lennon! Let me show you my painting. Let me read you my poem.’ ” When he finally found the apartment, Mr. Gruen said, he told him, “ ‘Man, you’ve got some weird neighbors.’ ”
“I always figured if he could find it in that condition,” Mr. Gruen added, “anyone could.” – New York Times, 2011. One of Genesis Publications’ brilliantly crafted ‘Hall of Fame’ titles, now fully subscribed and out of print.
‘Bob Gruen is one of the most well-known and respected photographers in Rock and Roll. From Muddy Waters to the Rolling Stones; Elvis to Madonna; Bob Dylan to Bob Marley; John Lennon to Johnny Rotten, he has captured the music scene for over forty years in photographs that have gained worldwide recognition.
Shortly after John Lennon moved to New York in 1971, Gruen became John and Yoko’s personal photographer and friend, making photos of their working life as well as private moments. In 1974 he created the iconic images of John Lennon wearing a New York City t-shirt and, standing in front of the Statue of Liberty making the peace sign - two of the most popular of Lennon’s images.
Bob Gruen has worked with major Rock acts such as Led Zeppelin, The Who, David Bowie, Tina Turner, Elton John, Aerosmith, Kiss & Alice Cooper. In 1989, he documented the epic trip to Russia of the “Moscow Music Peace Festival” featuring Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue and Bon Jovi. For many years Bob was the official photographer for the New York New Music Seminar, covering dozens of aspiring new bands in the course of a summer week.
As chief photographer for Rock Scene Magazine in the ‘70s, Bob specialized in candid, behind the scenes photo features. He toured extensively with the emerging punk and new wave bands including the New York Dolls, Sex Pistols, Clash, Ramones, Patti Smith Group and Blondie.’ – Morrison Hotel Gallery.
References: Genesis Publications, web.
Folio (27 x 34.5 cm). pp. 236. One of 2500 limited edition copies signed by Yoko Ono and Bob Gruen, out of a total publication of 3500. In publisher’s original black leather over silk-screened aluminum boards, all edges silver, presented in black card slipcase, and housed in silk-screened solander box with metal title-plate to upper lid. Photographs printed on matte art paper with traced overlays. Condition: Fine Ref: 108171 Price: HK$ 11,000