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Originally Posted by Stamoholic
His photography is amazing, and how f*cking appropriate is his name! Lol! His photography is iconic!
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For the December issue, Dazed & Confused magazine brought Debbie Harry and Karen O together in New York City, to discuss life as two iconic frontwomen from two different generations. They were shot by veteran rock and roll photographer Mick Rock, who picked these five shots from the day that didn't appear in the magazine. Dazed Digital asked him about the day.
So, dream job?
Well, it was Debbie Harry and Karen O - two of my all-time favourite rock and rollers, and not only female ones. Dazed asked me if I'd be interested, and I said, 'Interested isn't the bloody word!' It was fun, fun, fun from start to finish. Talk about a privilege and a pleasure – that's a bit of rock and roll history right there. Which makes up for the fact that Dazed doesn't pay anything.
Was it difficult shooting two female icons from such different times?
Well, they got on. You can see it in all the shots – someone cracked out the champers first thing, and they were on their way!
Were you ever worried they might not get on?
Not really, because I know them both and they both have a great sense of humour. They can both get down with the boys, they're both very beautiful and they both like a bit of a chuckle.
What were you all talking about?
Oh, I'll say anything on shoots just to get the shots – but there was no Nietzsche or Kierkegaard, put it that way. I didn't really listen to the interview much, they seemed to be getting on fine. Karen was a bit deferential maybe, but then again, Debbie is Debbie!
Which shots did you feel worked best?
I pulled out 12 from the Hasselblad, and I shot a load of digital. But it's hard to say – I like a lot of my photos, and especially of those two. I didn't think there was much that wasn't worthy, to be honest. We got a 60 or 70% score on the rolls. I got lucky. I've been lucky a lot, I'm just a lucky boy.
How has it changed shooting Debbie since the 70s?
I've shot her since Blondie came round again, a couple of years ago and a couple of years before that. But I didn't shoot her between 1980 and 2000, there was a 20-year gap. Ha, there were a few years where we were all, well… out to lunch. By '97, I was eating lunch again.
In terms of photographing her, on either side of that 'gap', how did you change your approach?
Not much. It's Debbie. She looks fabulous, she has a great attitude and I enjoy it. And I've shot Karen a couple of times, too, with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but I know her socially. There are pictures of her sitting on my lap, backstage. Though I'm a little bit too old for her, to be honest.
Was it different working with Karen without the band?
Not essentially, but it was a bit different in that it was all girls together. But she's a performer. And she's strong-minded and she'll only do what she wants.
How many times have you shot two icons together?
Well, there was David and Lou in 72. But not apart from that. Well, at parties, but not in the studio. With Debbie and Karen, it works – they're the two hip downtown girls from the 70s and from the new Millennium. Plus Debbie is still relevant today – not everybody from back in the day is. Plus a lot of them are dead. You can’t resurrect Joey Ramone and get him to do a shoot. Unfortunately.
What other combos would you put together?
David Bowie and Brandon Flowers. Even though Brandon is on this bearded Springsteen kick at the moment, but certainly first time round…
Finally, if you could have photographed anyone at any time, who would it be?
Bob Dylan in 65 or 66, Blonde on Blonde period… but I'm getting around, I've shot a lot of the modern acts. I'm happy to shoot Lou or David or Debbie, believe me. But today I mostly shoot the younger acts. Like The View, they're not just from Scotland, they're from some whole other universe where it's impossible to understand what they say. Dundee, I think.
dazeddigital.com
!!! My sister lives in Dundee! Classic!! And very, very true...
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