Most people will have no clue who Mick Rock is. The name is
not one on the tip of the tongue of most movie or rock fans. It may sound
familiar but it doesn’t belong to any musical genius, is not the name of a band
and it isn’t the name of a lead singer. But Mick Rock has been an influential
member of the rock scenes since the seventies without most of us knowing it.
Rock is a star photographer, a man who was there when the
careers of some began, most noticeably David Bowie, who captured what made the
stars who they were. He created some of the most iconic rock album covers seen
and many that will be remembered forever. But with the exception of those in
the industry or die-hard fans who knows Mick Rock?
That may change with this film. A combination of performed
pieces and interviews with Rock mixed with images that he’s taken over the
years provide us with a historical perspective on a figure well deserving of
fame for the photos he created. The film opens with Rock having a heart attack
and being wheeled in to some spot lit examining room. Heart monitor beeping,
oxygen mask in place, he talks about himself and what is happening, then
drifting along into his personal history beginning with college.
Footage of Rock involves his speaking to the cameraman and
director while rummaging through tons and tons of files he has retained over
the years in what appears to be either a basement of warehouse room. We also
see him on set, still lit by the spot light and talking about events in his
life. These combine with stills taken by Rock and of him to tell his story.
Fresh from college Rock quite accidentally ends up using a
camera to capture an up and coming glam rock star by the name of David Bowie.
These pictures capture the energy of his performance, the essence of the glam
rocker who would one day be dubbed the thin white duke. Becoming friends with
Bowie led Rock to have the opportunity to take more photos of him and in turn
other rock stars as well. Their friendship led him to know and become friends
as well with Lou Reed.
In knowing these two men, in becoming friends with them, the
doors opened for Rock to become the photographer of rock royalty. But
friendship wouldn’t be enough, he had a knack, he had an eye for composing some
of the best pictures taken of various groups. The shadowy death masks seeming
picture of Queen used on their third album was taken by Rock. So was the cover
of Lou Reed’s TRANSFORMER. Thin Lizzy, The Dead Boys, The Ramones, Iggy and the
Stooges, Johnny Winter, Joan Jett. All of them had covers made from photos
taken by Rock.
Of course as with most who fall into this circle of friends
there was indulgences that they had on hand of which to partake. Rock developed
a long standing addiction to cocaine while he was part of this group. It kept
him going at the oddest of hours which were when the action was taking place.
When others wondered how he could be in so many different places at the same
time this was his answer. The coke kept him going non-stop.
But that sort of life takes its toll as well and eventually
Rock found himself collapsed and rushed to the hospital. Several surgeries
later he has become a survivor of the times. All of this was in large part due
to his friends. When he had the attack he had no way of paying for help having
spent all his money on drugs over the years. Two of those friends paid for his
surgeries and for his rehabilitation.
The film is an interesting mix in how it tells his story and
director Barney Clay does a tremendous job showing us the man behind the myth.
The staged moments combined with still and cassette recordings Rock made of his
discussions with both Bowie and Reed offer some insight into the man
responsible for those photos we all grew up with on the fronts of record
sleeves staged from one end of a record store to the other. It is an
entertaining documentary whose focus led a life most of us will never
experience. It also offers the hope of some salvation as Rock is still with us,
still shooting photos and still has the ability to tell us of those days. For
rock and film fans this is an enjoyable film.
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