Sunny Bak
Encyclopedia
Sunny Bak is an American photographer. She shot the gatefold image of the Beastie Boys
on the Licensed to Ill
album, and the infamous Lesbian cover for Newsweek
in June 1993, which still ranks among their top ten selling issues.
, New York
for her school paper at the age of twelve. Her first subjects for the paper included The Supremes
and the Broadway show casts of 1776
and Two Gentlemen of Verona
. The school paper rejected her interview with Carly Simon
on the grounds that Simon was an unknown at the time. Bak sold the interview to Aktuil, an Indonesian rock magazine, for $100—her first sale.
Sunny Bak opened her first studio in 1976 on Broadway and 18th Street in Manhattan while attending City As School
. The studio was located at 876 Broadway which was owned at the time by photographer William Biggart, the only journalist to die from the 9/11 attacks. At the same time, Sunny Bak was studying photography under Philippe Halsman
at The New School for Social Research in Manhattan.
, Nile Rogers, Dominique and Madonna
, which got her noticed by Annie Flanders, editor in chief and founder of Details
magazine. Sunny Bak worked extensively throughout the mid eighties for Details as an advertising and fashion photographer. Her music clients included the Village People
, Jellybean Benitez, and Fiona.
In 1984, Bak's intern from City As School, David Skilken introduced her to his former band mates from the punk rock band, The Young and the Useless
who had since changed their style and their name to the Beastie Boys
. The Beastie Boys became a semi permanent fixture at her studio where Bak often photographed their candid moments. Her studio became the location for their infamous “Fight For Your Right To Party” video and she shot them numerous times on the Licensed to Ill Tour. Her images of the Beastie Boys can be seen on the albums Licensed to Ill
, Solid Gold Hits
, Def Jam 25, and an upcoming book, 25 Years of Def Jam, that will be published by Rizzoli
in 2011.
, Def American, Danzig
, Slayer
, Philippe Saisse
and Engelbert Humperdinck
.
In 1992, Sunny Bak moved to Los Angeles. Currently she shoots celebrity portraiture and produces film and television.
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
on the Licensed to Ill
Licensed to Ill
In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Sources 100 Best Rap Albums.It is still the only album by a white hip-hop act to receive the coveted 5 mics from The Source....
album, and the infamous Lesbian cover for Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
in June 1993, which still ranks among their top ten selling issues.
1970s
Sunny Bak began shooting pictures in 1972 at Woodside Junior High School in QueensQueens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
for her school paper at the age of twelve. Her first subjects for the paper included The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
and the Broadway show casts of 1776
1776 (musical)
1776 is a musical with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone. The story is based on the events surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence...
and Two Gentlemen of Verona
Two Gentlemen of Verona (musical)
Two Gentlemen of Verona is a rock musical, with a book by John Guare and Mel Shapiro, lyrics by Guare and music by Galt MacDermot, based on the Shakespeare comedy of the same name....
. The school paper rejected her interview with Carly Simon
Carly Simon
Carly Elisabeth Simon is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records, and has since been the recipient of two Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for her work...
on the grounds that Simon was an unknown at the time. Bak sold the interview to Aktuil, an Indonesian rock magazine, for $100—her first sale.
Sunny Bak opened her first studio in 1976 on Broadway and 18th Street in Manhattan while attending City As School
City As School
City-As-School is a public high school located in the West Village of Manhattan New York City. Since its opening in 1972, City-As-School has been distinguished by its curricular focus on experiential learning through internship. City-As-School is built on the idea that all children learn...
. The studio was located at 876 Broadway which was owned at the time by photographer William Biggart, the only journalist to die from the 9/11 attacks. At the same time, Sunny Bak was studying photography under Philippe Halsman
Philippe Halsman
Philippe Halsman was an American portrait photographer.-Life and work:Born to a Jewish family of Morduch Halsman, a dentist, and Ita Grintuch, a grammar school principal, in Riga, Halsman studied electrical engineering in Dresden....
at The New School for Social Research in Manhattan.
1980s
In the 1980s Sunny Bak developed a style using Polapan film photographing New York City’s downtown diva scene, including Michael MustoMichael Musto
Michael Musto is an American columnist for the The Village Voice, where he writes La Dolce Musto. Musto was born in Brooklyn to an Italian American family. He attended Columbia University graduating in 1976. During his studies, he was a theater critic for the Columbia Spectator...
, Nile Rogers, Dominique and Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, which got her noticed by Annie Flanders, editor in chief and founder of Details
Details (magazine)
Details is an American monthly men's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications, founded in 1982. Though primarily a magazine devoted to fashion and lifestyle, Details also features reports on relevant social and political issues.-History:...
magazine. Sunny Bak worked extensively throughout the mid eighties for Details as an advertising and fashion photographer. Her music clients included the Village People
Village People
Village People is a concept disco group that formed in the United States in 1977, well known for their on-stage costumes depicting American cultural stereotypes, as well as their catchy tunes and suggestive lyrics....
, Jellybean Benitez, and Fiona.
In 1984, Bak's intern from City As School, David Skilken introduced her to his former band mates from the punk rock band, The Young and the Useless
The Young and the Useless
The Young and the Useless were an American punk band formed in the early 1980s that consisted of , , David Scilken and current Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz. They were managed by former Beastie Boys manager Nick Cooper. Their first recording "Real Men Don't Floss" was released by Ratcage Records...
who had since changed their style and their name to the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
. The Beastie Boys became a semi permanent fixture at her studio where Bak often photographed their candid moments. Her studio became the location for their infamous “Fight For Your Right To Party” video and she shot them numerous times on the Licensed to Ill Tour. Her images of the Beastie Boys can be seen on the albums Licensed to Ill
Licensed to Ill
In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Sources 100 Best Rap Albums.It is still the only album by a white hip-hop act to receive the coveted 5 mics from The Source....
, Solid Gold Hits
Solid Gold Hits
Solid Gold Hits is a greatest hits collection by Beastie Boys, released in November 2005. In contrast to 1999's The Sounds of Science anthology, Solid Gold Hits consists only of tracks that were released as singles...
, Def Jam 25, and an upcoming book, 25 Years of Def Jam, that will be published by Rizzoli
RCS MediaGroup
RCS MediaGroup S.p.A. , based in Milan and listed on the Italian Stock Exchange, is an international multimedia publishing group that operates in daily newspapers, magazines and books, radio broadcasting, new media and digital and satellite TV...
in 2011.
1990s
She lived in London in 1991 and worked as a fashion and music photographer. During this time she shot 10,000 Maniacs10,000 Maniacs
10,000 Maniacs is a United States-based alternative rock band, which formed in 1981 and continues to be active with various line-ups.-1981–1993:...
, Def American, Danzig
Danzig (band)
Danzig is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1987 in Lodi, New Jersey. The band serves as a musical outlet for the singer/songwriter Glenn Danzig. Danzig can be seen as the third stage in Glenn Danzig's musical career, preceded by the horror punk bands The Misfits and Samhain...
, Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
, Philippe Saisse
Philippe Saisse
Philippe Saisse is a French Grammy Award-nominated Smooth Jazz and New Age music keyboardist, producer and arranger.He was born in Marseille and raised in Paris. After studying at the Conservatoire de Paris he won a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music. He became the protege of Gary Burton...
and Engelbert Humperdinck
Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)
Engelbert Humperdinck is a British pop singer, best known for his hits including "Release Me " and "After the Lovin'" as well as "The Last Waltz" .-Early life:...
.
In 1992, Sunny Bak moved to Los Angeles. Currently she shoots celebrity portraiture and produces film and television.
External links
- http://www.sunnybak.com/
- http://www.beastiemania.com/whois/
- http://www.slayersaves.com/seasons-in-the-abyss.php