Sandy's Blog: John Rowlands: Rock and Roll Photographer

'The Archer', David Bowie

I first met John Rowlands in 2011 at ‘Ringside For Youth’, a fundraiser for the Ottawa Boys and Girls Club.

The movie ‘Almost Famous’, about a teenage journalist hired by Rolling Stone Magazine, could have been written about John Rowlands...with only one exception. John Rowlands is a photographer. And a gifted one at that....cutting his teeth in the world of rock ‘n roll photography at the age of 13.

The date was September 26^th, 1960. Barely a teenager, John saved money from his morning paper route to buy a ticket to the Brenda Lee show on Argyle Street in Ottawa. Armed with his Dad’s camera, a roll of Kodak film and 12 large flash bulbs, John made his way to the lip of the stage and exhausted all 12 shots, capturing his rock ‘n roll sweetheart then finding the courage to knock on her dressing room door after the show. Brenda Lee gave John her autograph and her address...which would change his life forever. John sent Brenda all 12 shots, and a few weeks later a cheque for $35.00 arrived in the mail. A career in music photography was born.

Word travelled fast , and soon John Rowlands was photographing Sam Cooke, the Ventures, Duane Eddy and others. Still armed with his Dad’s camera, and still attending high school (at least ‘trying’ to), John quickly realized the benefits of shooting Ottawa concerts: access to popular artists, cash for a job well done, and the added bonus: attention from the girls in school.

In late 1962, the Rowlands family moved to Toronto. John and his best friend Phil MacDonald created their own company, ‘Row-Mac Productions’, while still in 10^th grade. The boys convinced Capital Records to hire them to photograph Gerry and the Pacemakers. Their work was so impressive, a dream gig followed: they would photograph the Rolling Stones Canadian tour. In 1965, John and Phil toured with the Stones, travelled in the Stones’ rented cars, and ate pizza with the band. The Stones played the YMCA Auditorium on Argyle Street on April 24^th, 1965. Ottawa had two street gangs in those days: the Yohawks and the Squirrels. The Yohawks wore sneakers, paisley shirts and chinos. The Squirrels strutted the streets in jean jackets and jet boots, with handfuls of grease in their hair. Skirmishes between the two groups were legendary, and they took their on-going battles all the way to the Rolling Stones show on that cool spring night. A band of police officers was dispatched to form a line in front of the stage, to ensure that the Yohawks and the Squirrels didn’t poke each other’s eyes out while Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the boys rocked out. There were only two people allowed between the stage and wall of police: two teenage photographers, John Rowlands and Phil MacDonald.

By the end of 11^th grade, John and Phil had quietly made $11,000. And raised an eyebrow or two when they arrived at the prom in rented limousines.

Also in 1965, at the tender age of 18, John was hired by Capital Records to photograph the Beatles. The shows were only 35 minutes long and if you really wanted to hear the singing voices of John Lennon and and Paul McCartney over the thousands of screaming girls, you would go down the venue hallway and ensure that there were at least 2 cement walls between you and the performance. If you did this, maybe, just maybe, you could make out which song they were playing. It was backstage at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto where John was invited to dine with the band. George Harrison befriended John Rowlands that night, a friendship that would last for years. John went on to work with the Beatles again in 1966, and was hired to photograph George Harrison in ’74, Paul McCartney and Wings in ’75 and Ringo and his All Starr Band in 1992. When John Lennon and Yoko Ono began their ‘Give Peace a Chance’ campaign in 1969, John Rowlands and his camera gear were on the scene.

In the late 70’s, CBS records hired John to photograph Bruce Springsteen. There was only one small problem. The Boss was dating photographer Lynn Goldsmith. CBS didn’t like Goldsmith’s photos of Bruce, but didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, so John Rowlands had to photograph Springsteen concerts without being spotted by Lynn Goldsmith. So, John gave front row tickets to three concert-goers before each show. But there was a catch. Seated on either side, their job was to ‘hide’ John and his camera as he snapped away. The results were astounding: sweat-soaked Bruce Springsteen in his prime, his legendary marathon performances captured on film forever.

Not everyone likes to be photographed. John would have a big challenge in Neil Young, who would ensure that the stage lighting was predominantly reds and purples: colors that the camera didn’t translate very well, leaving several photographers grumbling after a show.

When Olivia Newton John played a 70’s era show at the Ottawa Exhibition, John was hired to shoot the popular singer. He was given all access, front centre, even a ladder was placed in front of the stage for his use. Other photographers were not so lucky, being ushered into a small area to the left of the stage. Olivia Newton John then proceeded to give her entire performance from the far right of the stage. John Rowlands was the only photographer who went home happy.

John Rowlands has photographed Elvis (almost 50 shows), Led Zeppelin, the Jackson 5, the Bee Gees, the Who, Alice Cooper, the list goes on and on. His work has appeared in countless magazines, and books, and his images grace over 130 album covers.

When I asked John if there is one image that he is most proud of, he answered without hesitation, ‘the Archer’.

A stark, beautiful, and haunting photograph of David Bowie, one arm out-stretched, holding an invisible bow, the other pulled back to grasp an imaginary arrow. John had photographed David Bowie several times, and knew Bowie’s nuances and tricks. During a performance, when Bowie made ‘the archer’ pose, the crowd would applaud wildly. When the time was right, Bowie would drop his arms: his signal for the sound guy to lower the volume and fade to black.

David Bowie himself has said that ‘the Archer’ is his favourite portrait.

There is a restaurant in Palm Springs, California that became one of John’s favorite spots. Whenever John entered the establishment, the owner would shout, ‘Hey! Its ‘Almost Famous’!

From those days in Ottawa as a precocious 13 year old armed with his Dad’s camera, John Rowlands has earned his place among the most respected music photographers of all time.

He now lives in Gatineau, having re-kindled a relationship with his high school sweetheart Monique. It was an incredible thrill when John strapped on his trusty Nikon and photographed my husband’s band, ‘The Bushpilots’ this past July at Ottawa Bluesfest.

The master is home!

Don’t miss an opportunity to see some of John Rowlands’ work. In conjunction with ‘A Taste of Wellington’, there will be a Rowlands photography exhibit at the Elmdale Tavern, 1084 Wellington Street, this Saturday from 11:30 to 5:30. Photos will be available for purchase.

Here are more samples of John's work: