Jay Blakesberg
Encyclopedia
Jay Blakesberg is a San Francisco-based photographer & filmmaker.
The Grateful Dead
performed at the Meadowlands
in 1978 and was the first Dead show he photographed. A few years on the road with a group of people called Deadheads resulted in the beginning of a body of photographic work that continues to this day. The early 1980’s found Blakesberg living in Olympia, Washington
, where he attended the Evergreen State College. More intensive study and focus on photography
and filmmaking
led him to an internship doing corporate photography and video in the San Francisco Bay Area in the mid 1980’s. This is when Blakesberg started bringing his camera to every musical event he attended.
In 1986, he became the house photographer at the legendary rock club, “The I-Beam
” on Haight Street
in San Francisco. This is where he began to photograph the birth of the Alternative Rock
movement, shooting such bands as Janes Addiction, The Pixies and Soundgarden
to name a few. During the late 1980’s, the pace picked up for the number of Grateful Dead events Blakesberg was photographing.
In November 1987, with rumors of a free U2
concert in downtown San Francisco, Blakesberg got a call from Rolling Stone
Magazine Photo editor Jodi Peckman to go and cover the event. This became Blakesberg’s first published photo in the legendary rock magazine. Since that first assignment, Blakeserg has shot over 300 assignments for Rolling Stone and has been published in print magazines from Time
to Vanity Fair
to Guitar Player as well as hundreds of other major magazines world wide countless times. It was also during this time period that Blakesberg became staff photographer for BAM Magazine (Bay Area Music), and went on to shoot over 75 covers starting with indie rockers Camper Van Beethoven
, and including artists such as Ice-T
, Green Day
, Primus
, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers
.
Most of the 1990’s, Blakesberg was constantly shooting for print magazines and record companies, creating what is now an archive of 30 years of pop music icons. The late 1990’s saw the explosion of the “Dot-com
” movement in the Bay Area. Many of the most popular of the business magazines of the day were looking for an edgy look to cover these new “technology rockstars” and they turned to Blakesberg for his eclectic and original style of photography. Some of the magazines he shot for included the Red Herring
, Business 2.0
and Fortune Magazine among many others. It was during this time that new “online” music magazines were founded, giving Blakesberg a new category of projects. The most prominent and one of the first of its kind was “Addicted to Noise
”(ATN) founded by Rolling Stone Magazine staff writer Michael Goldberg. Blakesberg became a frequent contributor to this new online magazine shooting artists such as Weezer
, Phish
, X, Radiohead
and DJ Shadow
exclusively for ATN. The commissioned assignments continued from music magazines and record companies, giving Blakesberg the opportunity to work with many legendary artists including Tom Waits
, John Lee Hooker
, Santana
, Brian Wilson
, Willie Nelson
, Metallica
, Talking Heads
, Beck
, Joni Mitchell
, Neil Young
, Tom Petty
and many others.
Just before September 11th, 2001, Blakesberg secured a book deal to publish a coffee table book on his Grateful Dead archive. Published by Backbeat Books in the fall of 2002, this book resonated with Deadheads everywhere. Working on that book gave Blakesberg the inspiration to start his own book publishing company, which eventually was born as Rock Out Books. Under that umbrella, Blakesberg has either published or packaged over a dozen books of his own photography as well as other photographers and artists. Some of the books published by Rock Out Books include: To Defy the Laws of Tradition – A Photographic Archive of Primus and Les Claypool, Portraits from the Belly of the Whale by Michael Garlington, A San Francisco Love Affair by Gene Wright, and Traveling on a High Frequency, Blakesberg’s 30 year retrospective of his music photography.
In 2006, Blakesberg co-directed, with Bob Sarles
, Phil Lesh
& Friends Live at the Warfield, a live concert film featuring Grateful Dead bass player Phil Lesh with his band. Blakesberg has also co-directed “MTV Style” videos for Third Eye Blind
and ALO
, as well as directed videos for Jackie Greene
, Tim Bluhm
, and the Kronos Quartet
.
Since the summer of 2007 Blakesberg has produced and directed the live concert video at numerous music festivals including Rothbury, Lollapallooza, Summer Camp Festival
, moe.down, Nateva Festival, Langerado
and Mountain Jam
. Working in conjunction with the iClips Network at these festivals, Blakesberg has directed the video for such artists as The Flaming Lips
, Furthur
, Phil Lesh and Friends
, The String Cheese Incident, Widespread Panic
, The Black Crowes
, The Allman Brothers Band
, moe, Umphrey’s McGee and many others. In the spring of 2009 Blakesberg went on the road with the re-united – Grateful Dead original members calling themselves "The Dead
” as their tour photographer and video documentarian. The photographs from this tour were used in a print on demand tour book series, while over 15 short films created were used to document and market the tour. Currently Blakesberg continues to document Rock and Roll culture photographically while exploring numerous video projects.
Biography
His suburban youth was spent mostly in Clark, NJ, where he first discovered a passion for taking pictures. As a young teenager, Blakesberg began taking his father’s Pentax camera to local concerts.The Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
performed at the Meadowlands
Meadowlands Sports Complex
The MetLife Sports Complex is a sports and entertainment facility located in East Rutherford, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, owned and operated by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority...
in 1978 and was the first Dead show he photographed. A few years on the road with a group of people called Deadheads resulted in the beginning of a body of photographic work that continues to this day. The early 1980’s found Blakesberg living in Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
, where he attended the Evergreen State College. More intensive study and focus on photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
and filmmaking
Filmmaking
Filmmaking is the process of making a film, from an initial story, idea, or commission, through scriptwriting, casting, shooting, directing, editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a theatrical release or television program...
led him to an internship doing corporate photography and video in the San Francisco Bay Area in the mid 1980’s. This is when Blakesberg started bringing his camera to every musical event he attended.
In 1986, he became the house photographer at the legendary rock club, “The I-Beam
I-beam
-beams, also known as H-beams, W-beams , rolled steel joist , or double-T are beams with an - or H-shaped cross-section. The horizontal elements of the "" are flanges, while the vertical element is the web...
” on Haight Street
Haight Street
Haight Street, in San Francisco, is perhaps best known as the principal street in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, also known as Upper Haight. It stretches from Market Street to Stanyan Street, at Golden Gate Park. It is named after California pioneer and exchange banker Henry Haight ....
in San Francisco. This is where he began to photograph the birth of the Alternative Rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
movement, shooting such bands as Janes Addiction, The Pixies and Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
to name a few. During the late 1980’s, the pace picked up for the number of Grateful Dead events Blakesberg was photographing.
In November 1987, with rumors of a free U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
concert in downtown San Francisco, Blakesberg got a call from Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
Magazine Photo editor Jodi Peckman to go and cover the event. This became Blakesberg’s first published photo in the legendary rock magazine. Since that first assignment, Blakeserg has shot over 300 assignments for Rolling Stone and has been published in print magazines from Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
to Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
to Guitar Player as well as hundreds of other major magazines world wide countless times. It was also during this time period that Blakesberg became staff photographer for BAM Magazine (Bay Area Music), and went on to shoot over 75 covers starting with indie rockers Camper Van Beethoven
Camper Van Beethoven
Camper Van Beethoven is an American alternative rock group formed in Redlands, California in 1983.An eclectic band, Camper Van Beethoven mixes elements of pop, ska, punk rock, folk and alternative country, as well as various types of world music. Their aggressive musical pluralism created a...
, and including artists such as Ice-T
ICE-T
* Ice-T, an American rapper and actor* ICE T , a tilting model of the German InterCityExpress series of high-speed trains...
, Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
, Primus
Primus (band)
Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
.
Most of the 1990’s, Blakesberg was constantly shooting for print magazines and record companies, creating what is now an archive of 30 years of pop music icons. The late 1990’s saw the explosion of the “Dot-com
Dot-com bubble
The dot-com bubble was a speculative bubble covering roughly 1995–2000 during which stock markets in industrialized nations saw their equity value rise rapidly from growth in the more...
” movement in the Bay Area. Many of the most popular of the business magazines of the day were looking for an edgy look to cover these new “technology rockstars” and they turned to Blakesberg for his eclectic and original style of photography. Some of the magazines he shot for included the Red Herring
Red Herring (magazine)
Red Herring was a technology business magazine, which flourished during the dot com boom, with global distribution and bureaus in Bangalore, Beijing, and Paris. It also sponsored conferences designed to bring venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and technologists together. But the magazine went into...
, Business 2.0
Business 2.0
Business 2.0 was a monthly magazine publication founded by magazine entrepreneur Chris Anderson, Mark Gross, and journalist James Daly in order to chronicle the rise of the "New Economy"...
and Fortune Magazine among many others. It was during this time that new “online” music magazines were founded, giving Blakesberg a new category of projects. The most prominent and one of the first of its kind was “Addicted to Noise
Addicted to Noise
Addicted to Noise was an online music magazine in the early days of the World Wide Web. Founded by ex-Rolling Stone editor and writer Michael Goldberg and online music pioneer Jon Luini, it published its first issue in January 1995 and was the first online magazine to include audio samples along...
”(ATN) founded by Rolling Stone Magazine staff writer Michael Goldberg. Blakesberg became a frequent contributor to this new online magazine shooting artists such as Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
, Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
, X, Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
and DJ Shadow
DJ Shadow
Joshua Paul Davis better known as DJ Shadow is an American music producer, DJ and songwriter. He is considered a prominent figure in the development of instrumental hip hop and first gained notice with the release of his highly acclaimed debut album Endtroducing....., which was constructed...
exclusively for ATN. The commissioned assignments continued from music magazines and record companies, giving Blakesberg the opportunity to work with many legendary artists including Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
, John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.Hooker began his life as the son of a sharecropper, William Hooker, and rose to prominence performing his own unique style of what was originally closest to Delta blues. He developed a 'talking blues' style that was his trademark...
, Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
, Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
, Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
, Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
, Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
, Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
, Tom Petty
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
and many others.
Just before September 11th, 2001, Blakesberg secured a book deal to publish a coffee table book on his Grateful Dead archive. Published by Backbeat Books in the fall of 2002, this book resonated with Deadheads everywhere. Working on that book gave Blakesberg the inspiration to start his own book publishing company, which eventually was born as Rock Out Books. Under that umbrella, Blakesberg has either published or packaged over a dozen books of his own photography as well as other photographers and artists. Some of the books published by Rock Out Books include: To Defy the Laws of Tradition – A Photographic Archive of Primus and Les Claypool, Portraits from the Belly of the Whale by Michael Garlington, A San Francisco Love Affair by Gene Wright, and Traveling on a High Frequency, Blakesberg’s 30 year retrospective of his music photography.
In 2006, Blakesberg co-directed, with Bob Sarles
Bob Sarles
Bob Sarles is a film & television editor, producer & director based in San Francisco and Los Angeles.-Biography:Bob Sarles began making films in 8mm and Super8, and videos on half inch reel to reel video in the early 1970s as a teen in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York...
, Phil Lesh
Phil Lesh
Phillip Chapman Lesh is a musician and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career....
& Friends Live at the Warfield, a live concert film featuring Grateful Dead bass player Phil Lesh with his band. Blakesberg has also co-directed “MTV Style” videos for Third Eye Blind
Third Eye Blind
Third Eye Blind is an American alternative rock band formed in the early 1990s in San Francisco. The songwriting duo of Kevin Cadogan and Stephan Jenkins signed the band's first major label recording contract with Elektra records in 1996 resulting in two multi platinum albums. The band's lineup...
and ALO
Animal Liberation Orchestra
Animal Liberation Orchestra is an American musical group, currently signed on Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records label. They have released three full length albums...
, as well as directed videos for Jackie Greene
Jackie Greene
Jackie Greene is an American singer-songwriter and musician.-Career:Greene was born Chris Nelson in Salinas, California, and developed an interest in music at an early age, starting with the piano. At 14, he began to play guitar and within a short time, was able to sit in with local bar bands. As...
, Tim Bluhm
Tim Bluhm
-Biography:Tim Bluhm was born and raised in California. As the singer/guitarist and primary songwriter of rock band The Mother Hips, Bluhm has spent the last two decades performing, writing, collaborating on, and producing music....
, and the Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet is a string quartet founded by violinist David Harrington in 1973 in Seattle, Washington. Since 1978, the quartet has been based in San Francisco, California. The longest-running combination of performers had Harrington and John Sherba on violin, Hank Dutt on viola, and Joan...
.
Since the summer of 2007 Blakesberg has produced and directed the live concert video at numerous music festivals including Rothbury, Lollapallooza, Summer Camp Festival
Summer Camp Music Festival
Summer Camp Music Festival is a jam music festival held each Memorial Day weekend at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, Illinois. Developed by concert producer Ian Goldberg of Jay Goldberg Events & Entertainment, the first year of the festival was 2001...
, moe.down, Nateva Festival, Langerado
Langerado
Langerado Music Festival is an annual music festival, taking place in early spring in South Florida, first organized in 2003 by Ethan Schwartz and Mark Brown. In 2008 the festival was held at the Seminole Big Cypress Indian Reservation in the Everglades...
and Mountain Jam
Mountain Jam
"Mountain Jam" is an improvised instrumental jam by The Allman Brothers Band. The song's first known recording is on 5-4-1969 at Macon Central Park, but was officially released later on the albums; Live at Ludlow Garage: 1970, Live at the Atlanta International Pop Festival: July 3 & 5, 1970, The...
. Working in conjunction with the iClips Network at these festivals, Blakesberg has directed the video for such artists as The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
, Furthur
Further (band)
Further was a United States indie rock band from Los Angeles, California, that evolved from an earlier band, Shadowland. They released several albums during the 1990s.-History:...
, Phil Lesh and Friends
Phil Lesh and Friends
Phil Lesh and Friends is an American rock band formed and led by Phil Lesh, former bassist of the Grateful Dead.Phil & Friends is not a traditional group in that several different lineups of musicians have played under the name, including groups featuring members of Phish, Little Feat, and the Zen...
, The String Cheese Incident, Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
, The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
, The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band is an American rock/blues band once based in Macon, Georgia. The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman , who were supported by Dickey Betts , Berry Oakley , Butch Trucks , and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe"...
, moe, Umphrey’s McGee and many others. In the spring of 2009 Blakesberg went on the road with the re-united – Grateful Dead original members calling themselves "The Dead
The Dead (band)
The Dead is an American rock band composed of some of the former members of the Grateful Dead.After the death of Jerry Garcia in 1995, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann formed a band called The Other Ones. They performed concert tours in 1998 , 2000 , and 2002, and released one...
” as their tour photographer and video documentarian. The photographs from this tour were used in a print on demand tour book series, while over 15 short films created were used to document and market the tour. Currently Blakesberg continues to document Rock and Roll culture photographically while exploring numerous video projects.
Album Photography Credits
partial list from AllMusic.com- Grateful DeadGrateful Dead discographyThe discography of the rock band the Grateful Dead includes more than 130 albums, the majority of them recorded live in concert. The band has also released more than two dozen singles and a number of videos....
, Dead Set (1981) - Grateful DeadGrateful Dead discographyThe discography of the rock band the Grateful Dead includes more than 130 albums, the majority of them recorded live in concert. The band has also released more than two dozen singles and a number of videos....
, Reckoning (1981) - Meat PuppetsMeat PuppetsThe Meat Puppets are an American rock band formed in January 1980, in Phoenix, Arizona. The group's original lineup was Curt Kirkwood , his brother Cris Kirkwood , and Derrick Bostrom . The Kirkwood brothers met Bostrom while attending Brophy Prep High School in Phoenix...
, Huevos (1987) - Dylan & the DeadDylan & The DeadDylan & the Dead is a collaborative live album by Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead, released in 1989 by Columbia Records. It consists of seven songs written and sung by Dylan, with the Dead providing accompaniment. The album was produced by Jerry Garcia and John Cutler.Dylan & the Dead was...
, Dylan & the Dead (1989) - Gin BlossomsGin BlossomsGin Blossoms is an American pop rock band formed in 1987, in Tempe, Arizona. They took their name from a photo of W.C. Fields which bore the caption "W.C. Fields with gin blossoms", referring to what appeared to be the actor's gin-ravaged nose, but was actually a skin condition known as rosacea...
, New Miserable Experience (1992) - Counting CrowsCounting CrowsCounting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
, August and Everything After [Deluxe Edition] (1993) - Charlie HunterCharlie Hunterfor the New Zealand racehorse trainer and driver see: Charlie HunterCharlie Hunter is an American guitarist, composer and bandleader....
, Charlie Hunter Trio (1993) - DramaramaDramaramaDramarama is an alternative rock band.It may also refer to:* Dramarama , a 1980s British television series* Dramarama , a 2006 film that was to star Lindsay Lohan but was unreleased...
, Hi-Fi Sci-Fi (1993) - Zero, Chance in a Million (1994)
- Rob WassermanRob WassermanRob Wasserman is an American bass player, who has played with a wide variety of musicians including David Grisman, Lou Reed, Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia, Bruce Cockburn, Van Morrison, Rickie Lee Jones, Brian Wilson, Elvis Costello, Mark Morris, Aaron Neville, Chris Whitley, Studs Terkel, Pete Seeger,...
, Trios (1994) - David Grisman QuintetDavid Grisman QuintetDavid Grisman Quintet is a self-styled alternative bluegrass/ acoustic jazz band founded by David Grisman in 1975 in San Francisco, California, USA. Following the Bill Monroe's bluegrass legacy and Django Reinhard's 30s swing, the David Grisman Quintet comes with entirely new style to the acoustic...
, Dawganova (1995) - Mother Hips, Part-Timer Goes Full (1995)
- PrimusPrimus (band)Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
, Tales From the Punchbowl (1995) - Timothy LearyTimothy LearyTimothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and writer, known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs. During a time when drugs like LSD and psilocybin were legal, Leary conducted experiments at Harvard University under the Harvard Psilocybin Project, resulting in the Concord Prison...
, Beyond Life with Timothy Leary (1995) - NOFXNOFXNOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
, Heavy Petting Zoo (1996) - Mickey HartMickey HartMickey Hart is an American percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the two drummers of the rock band the Grateful Dead. He was a member of the Grateful Dead from September 1967 to February 1971, and from October 1974 to August 1995...
, Mickey Hart's Mystery Box (1996) - Jerry GarciaJerry GarciaJerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
& David GrismanDavid GrismanDavid Grisman is an American bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist and composer of acoustic music. In the early 1990s, he started the Acoustic Disc record label in an effort to preserve and spread acoustic or instrumental music.-Biography:Grisman grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey...
, Shady Grove (1996) - Grateful DeadGrateful Dead discographyThe discography of the rock band the Grateful Dead includes more than 130 albums, the majority of them recorded live in concert. The band has also released more than two dozen singles and a number of videos....
, Dick's Picks, Vol. 5: Oakland Auditorium Arena (1997) - Smash MouthSmash MouthSmash Mouth is an American rock band from San Jose, California. The band was formed in 1994, and was originally composed of Steve Harwell, Greg Camp, Paul De Lisle and Kevin Coleman as lead vocals, guitar, bass and drums respectively...
, Fush Yu Mang [Clean] (1997) - Robben FordRobben FordRobben Ford is an American blues, jazz and rock guitarist.-Biography:Ford was born in Woodlake, California, United States, but raised in Ukiah, California, and began playing the saxophone at age 10, picking up the guitar at age 13...
, Authorized Bootleg (1998) - PrimusPrimus (band)Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
, Rhinoplasty (1998) - Barenaked LadiesBarenaked LadiesBarenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
, Stunt [UK Bonus CD] (1998) - Squirrel Nut ZippersSquirrel Nut ZippersThe Squirrel Nut Zippers are a band formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina by James "Jimbo" Mathus , Katharine Whalen , Chris Phillips on drums, Don Raleigh on bass and sideman Ken Mosher....
, Perennial FavoritesPerennial FavoritesPerennial Favorites is an album by American band Squirrel Nut Zippers.-Track listing:#"Suits Are Picking up the Bill" – 3:04#"Low Down Man" – 4:14#"Ghost of Stephen Foster" – 3:32#"Pallin' with Al" – 2:41...
(1998) - Third Eye BlindThird Eye BlindThird Eye Blind is an American alternative rock band formed in the early 1990s in San Francisco. The songwriting duo of Kevin Cadogan and Stephan Jenkins signed the band's first major label recording contract with Elektra records in 1996 resulting in two multi platinum albums. The band's lineup...
, Blue [Clean] (1999) - SantanaSantana (band)Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
, Supernatural & Supernatural [Legacy Edition] (1999) - Michael HedgesMichael HedgesMichael Alden Hedges was an American composer, Acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter.-Background:...
, Torched (1999) - Squirrel Nut ZippersSquirrel Nut ZippersThe Squirrel Nut Zippers are a band formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina by James "Jimbo" Mathus , Katharine Whalen , Chris Phillips on drums, Don Raleigh on bass and sideman Ken Mosher....
, Bedlam Ballroom (2000) - GalacticGalacticGalactic is a funk and jazz jam band from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.-Origins and background:Originally formed in 1994 as an octet and including singer Chris Lane and guitarist Rob Gowen, the group was soon pared down to a sextet of: guitarist Jeff Raines, bassist Robert Mercurio,...
, Late for the Future (2000) - E-40E-40 discography-Studio Albums:-Collaborative albums:-Compilations:-Group albums with The Click:-EP's:*1990: Let's Side with The Click*1991: Mr...
, Loyalty and Betrayal [Clean] (2000) - Me First and the Gimme GimmesMe First and the Gimme GimmesMe First and the Gimme Gimmes is a punk rock supergroup and cover band that formed in 1995. The Gimmes work exclusively as a cover band. The band is named after a children's book of the same name by Gerald G. Jampolsky and Diane V. Cirincione...
, Blow in the Wind (2001) - Mother Hips, Green Hills of Earth (2001)
- Josh GrobanJosh GrobanJoshua Winslow "Josh" Groban is an American singer-songwriter, musician, actor, and record producer. His four solo albums have been certified at least multi-platinum, and in 2007, he was charted as the number-one best selling artist in the United States with over 21 million records in that country...
, Josh Groban (2001) - Les Claypool's Frog Brigade, Live Frogs: Set 1 & Set 2 (2001)
- Smash MouthSmash MouthSmash Mouth is an American rock band from San Jose, California. The band was formed in 1994, and was originally composed of Steve Harwell, Greg Camp, Paul De Lisle and Kevin Coleman as lead vocals, guitar, bass and drums respectively...
, Smash Mouth (2001) - John Hammond, Jr., Wicked Grin (2001)
- The Flaming LipsThe Flaming Lips discographyThe discography of The Flaming Lips, an American rock band formed in 1983, consists of thirteen studio albums, eight extended plays, sixteen singles, six compilation albums, four video albums and an array of various other appearances.-Studio albums:...
, Day They Shot a Hole in the Jesus Egg (2002) - Tracy ChapmanTracy ChapmanTracy Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her singles "Fast Car", "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", "Baby Can I Hold You", "Give Me One Reason" and "Telling Stories". She is a multi-platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning artist.-Biography:Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland,...
, Let It Rain [Australian Bonus Track] (2002) - Blues TravelerBlues TravelerBlues Traveler is a rock band, formed in Princeton, New Jersey in 1987. The band has been influenced by a variety of genres, including blues-rock, psychedelic rock, folk rock, soul, and Southern rock...
, Travelogue: Blues Traveler Classics (2002) - Gin BlossomsGin Blossoms discography-Studio albums:-Live albums:-Compilations:-EPs:-Singles:-Soundtracks:* Wayne's World 2 Track: "Idiot Summer" * Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved Track: "Christine Sixteen" * Speed Track: "Soul Deep"...
, 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Gin Blossoms (2003) - Aaron NevilleAaron NevilleAaron Neville is an American soul and R&B singer and musician. He has had four top-20 hits in the United States along with four platinum-certified albums...
, Believe (2003) - PanteraPantera discographyThe discography of Pantera, an American heavy metal band, consists of nine studio albums, one live album, and one compilation album; the latter was issued in two versions. Pantera has also released two extended plays , nineteen singles, four video albums, eleven music videos, and two box sets...
, Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboy (2003) - The MetersThe MetersThe Meters are an American funk band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Meters performed and recorded their own music from the late 1960s until 1977...
, Fiyo at the Fillmore, Vol. 1 (2003) - Alkaline TrioAlkaline TrioAlkaline Trio is an American punk rock band that formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996. The band's line-up consists of Matt Skiba , Dan Andriano , and Derek Grant...
, Good Mourning (2003) - Maria MuldaurMaria MuldaurMaria Muldaur is a folk-blues singer who was part of the American folk music revival in the early 1960s...
, Woman Alone with the Blues (2003) - Jerry Garcia BandJerry Garcia BandThe Jerry Garcia Band was a San Francisco Bay Area rock band led by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead. Garcia founded the band in 1975; it remained the most important of his various side-projects until his death in 1995...
, After Midnight: Kean College, 2/28/80 (2004) - John Lee HookerJohn Lee HookerJohn Lee Hooker was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.Hooker began his life as the son of a sharecropper, William Hooker, and rose to prominence performing his own unique style of what was originally closest to Delta blues. He developed a 'talking blues' style that was his trademark...
, Come and See About Me (2004) - Alice in ChainsAlice in Chains discographyThe discography of Alice in Chains, a Seattle, Washington-USA-based rock band, consists of four studio albums, three extended plays , two live albums, four compilations, eighteen music videos and twenty-three singles....
, Essential Alice in Chains (2004) - The Neville BrothersThe Neville BrothersThe Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in New Orleans, Louisiana.-History:The group notion started in 1976, when the four brothers of the Neville family, Art , Charles , Aaron , and Cyril The Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in...
, Walkin' in the Shadow of Life (2004) - NirvanaNirvana (band)Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, With the Lights Out (2004) - Better Than EzraBetter Than EzraBetter Than Ezra is an American alternative rock trio based in New Orleans, Louisiana.-Formation and early success:Better Than Ezra was formed in 1988 by its four original members - vocalist and guitarist Kevin Griffin; Joel Rundell, the lead guitarist; bassist Tom Drummond; and drummer, Cary...
, Greatest Hits (2005) - Darol AngerDarol Anger-Career:Darol Anger entered popular music at the age of 21 as a founding member of The David Grisman Quintet. Anger played fiddle to David Grisman's mandolin in The David Grisman Quintet's 1977 debut. He co-founded the Turtle Island String Quartet with David Balakrishnan in 1985 and performed,...
, Heritage (2005) - Joe SatrianiJoe SatrianiJoseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
, One Big Rush: The Genius of Joe Satriani (2005) - BB. King, Ultimate Collection (2005)
- John Lee HookerJohn Lee HookerJohn Lee Hooker was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.Hooker began his life as the son of a sharecropper, William Hooker, and rose to prominence performing his own unique style of what was originally closest to Delta blues. He developed a 'talking blues' style that was his trademark...
, Jr., Cold as Ice (2006) - Soul AsylumSoul Asylum discographyThis is the discography documenting albums and singles released by Soul Asylum.U.S. chart positions from Billboard magazine: Billboard Hot 100, Alternative Songs, Mainstream Rock Tracks, and UK chart positions from the UK Singles Chart.-Studio albums:...
, Welcome to the Minority: The A&M Years 1988-1991 (2007) - Me First and the Gimme GimmesMe First and the Gimme GimmesMe First and the Gimme Gimmes is a punk rock supergroup and cover band that formed in 1995. The Gimmes work exclusively as a cover band. The band is named after a children's book of the same name by Gerald G. Jampolsky and Diane V. Cirincione...
, Have Another Ball! (2008) - Taj MahalTaj Mahal (musician)Henry Saint Clair Fredericks , who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. He incorporates elements of world music into his music...
, Maestro (2008) - Thriving IvoryThriving ivoryThriving Ivory is an American rock band who originated in the San Francisco Bay area. They released their self-titled Wind-up Records debut album on June 24, 2008. The debut album reached #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart on the strength of the charting single "Angels on the Moon"...
, Thriving Ivory [Wolfgang] (2008) - Kronos QuartetKronos Quartet discographyThe discography of the Kronos Quartet includes 40 studio albums, 2 compilations, 5 soundtracks, and 26 contributions to other artists' records. The Kronos Quartet plays contemporary classical music and was founded in 1973 by violinist David Harrington. Since 1978, they are based in San Francisco,...
, Floodplain (2009) - ALOAnimal Liberation OrchestraAnimal Liberation Orchestra is an American musical group, currently signed on Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records label. They have released three full length albums...
, Man of the World (2010) - Jackie GreeneJackie GreeneJackie Greene is an American singer-songwriter and musician.-Career:Greene was born Chris Nelson in Salinas, California, and developed an interest in music at an early age, starting with the piano. At 14, he began to play guitar and within a short time, was able to sit in with local bar bands. As...
, Till the Light Comes (2010)
Full Length Concert Films
- Phil Lesh & Friends Live at the WarfieldLive at the WarfieldLive at the Warfield is a two CD album by the rock group Phil Lesh and Friends. It was recorded live at the Warfield in San Francisco, California, on May 18 and May 19, 2006....
, Produced and Co-directed with Bob SarlesBob SarlesBob Sarles is a film & television editor, producer & director based in San Francisco and Los Angeles.-Biography:Bob Sarles began making films in 8mm and Super8, and videos on half inch reel to reel video in the early 1970s as a teen in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York...
(2006)
Short Form Video
- Ann Atomic, If the Morning Never Comes (2007)
- Moonalice - Listen to those Eyes (2007)
- Moonalice - Whiter Shade of Pale (2008)
- Tim Bluhm - Spooked Cat Blues, (House of Bluhm - LP, 2008)
- Third Eye Blind - Don’t Believe a Word, (Ursa Major - LP, 2009) [co-directed with Dave Alexander]
- ALO - Big Appetite, (Man of the Year - LP, 2010) [co-directed with Dave Alexander]
- Jackie Greene - Medicine, (Till the Light Comes - LP, 2010)
- Jackie Greene - Shaky Ground, (Till the Light Comes - LP, 2010)
- Kronos Quartet - Music from 4 Fences (2010)
Other Producer / Director Credits
- High Sierra Music Festival (2007)
- Moe.Down Festival (2008, 2009, 2010)
- Mountain Jam (2008, 2009, 2010)
- Rothbury Festival (2008, 2009)
- Summer Camp Festival (2008, 2009, 2010)
- Langerado Music Festival (2008)
- Widespread Panic Live from New Orleans - Halloween (2008)
- All Good Music Festival (2008)
- 10,000 Lakes Music Festival (2008)
- Lollapalooza - two stages (2009)
- Mile High Music Festival - two stages (2009)
- The Dead (2009)
- Jackie Greene Live from Radio Woodstock (2010)
- Nateva Music Festival (2010)
- String Cheese Incident - Red Rocks - LIVE Concert PPV (2010)
- String Cheese Incident - Hornings Hideout - LIVE Concert PPV (2010)
Books Published
- Between the Dark and Light - The Grateful Dead Photography of Jay Blakesberg (2002)
- To Defy the Laws of Tradition - A Photographic Archive of Primus and Les Claypool (2003)
- Waking Up With a Placebo Headwound, 1987-2004 Images of the Flaming Lips from the Archives of Jay Blakesberg and Michelle Martin-Coyne (2004)
- Grateful Dead Day Planner (2005)
- Traveling on a High Frequency: Jay Blakesberg Photographs 1978-2008 (2008)