The great band from Texas, ZZ Top at Summerfest on 9-11-2021

September 20, 2021

Summerfest just finished it's third and last weekend of fun and music after no music festival last year.

One band that has been on my bucket list to photograph is ZZ Top. I've now photographed the guys three times and love to see what the guitars and drum kits look like because they different for each tour.

Bass guitar player, Dusty Hill, passed away not too long ago and before he died, he ordered the band to keep on going after his death!  So, Elwood Francis is the new bass player. He was their guitar tech for over 30 years and fits right in.

Prior to COVID-19, Elwood did not have a beard! He didn't shave during COVID and so he now has a beard to equal Dusty and Billy!!

Enjoy a look at some great guys with some interesting looking guitars and drum kit. As the drum kit says on the bass drum, "Aged to Perfection"! I have to agree!

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Z Z Top and Cheap Trick and Marquis Knox at the BMO Harris Pavilion at Summerfest grounds 9-4-2019.

November 21, 2016

It finally feels like winter here in Wisconsin! Thursday it was 70F and Friday was warm in the morning but then it changed quickly. Saturday we woke up to snow flurries and a bit of snow on the ground.

Winter is coming and so are the Rich Zimmermann Photography 2017 8 X 11 Rock'n Roll Calendars!!!!!!

For 2017's calendar I went with the birthdays of musicians to pick out each months photo like last year.

The cover is Frank Beard of Z Z Top and his amazing drum kit. Again David Bowie is our January pick because we have so many Bowie lovers, including myself!!

February-Don Everly of the Everly Brothers

March-Rory Gallager

April-Peter Frampton

May-Mick Ronson-From his Ian Hunter tour

June-Jeff Beck-From 1972!!

July-Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

August-Madonna

September-Roger Waters-Pink Floyd

October-Elvin Bishop

November-Joe Walsh

December-Jim Messina-Loggins and Messina 1973

Attached are the photos for a preview for you. No watermarks will be on the calendar prints of course.

I think you will all love it for yourself or for a Christmas gift for someone!

They are $30.00 each and $6.00 for shipping. Again, they are printed by Shutterfly who prints on a heavy stock that makes the prints suitable for framing when the month is over. They really do an awesome job I think and everyone loves them based on the comments I received about the 2016 calendar.

Email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to place your order and we can get you a calendar before Christmas no problem.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

April 1, 2013

Hope everyone had a nice Easter weekend.  It finally feels like Spring in Wisconsin.

Being a rock'n'roll photographer since 1970, I have had the opportunity to photograph just about every musician I have wanted to.  Thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way.

The list of musicians includes most of my favorites from the Rolling Stones to Led Zeppelin.   This list was pretty much complete except for one act that I have always wanted to photograph.   Z Z Top did not make my list until the Harley Davidson 105th Anniversary party here in Milwaukee in 2008!

Their show did not disappoint.  It was a fun time and they are a class act.  The stage was set up very nicely and the lighting was excellent!

Photographers only get 3 songs in the beginning of the show to get the job done, and it is never enough time.  I try to keep track of the 3 songs and thankfully, I don't have to change film anymore.  So, I just shoot as much as possible as quickly as possible!

It all happens so quickly you can't believe it.  I try to go in with a plan but most of the time that doesn't workout because you can't move around too much.  With earplugs in, I put myself into position which is a little off to the side of Dusty Hill, the bass player.  This way I could shoot across to Billy Gibbons, the guitar player, and also get a clear shot of Frank Beard, the drummer who's drum kit was a photo project all on its own!  I want to get myself in a good spot so that I'm not shooting the backs of these beautiful guitars you see here!  That is why I staked out my spot a little early because a couple of minutes before the show I was surrounded by more photographers and people.

I took 105 shots in those 3 songs and should have done more. but as I said, it goes so quickly you can't believe it!

Enjoy a few photographs of the show here and wouldn't one look nice on your office wall?  Check out my rock category and go to Z Z Top for a few more to look at and enjoy.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann