Welcome to the Astro Rock Photo gallery. Writing is not my strength, so I hope my photographs can speak for my personal experiences with the early Rock n’ Roll era of the 1960’s.

These photos are part of my collection taken while I was living in New York City during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. After I was discharged from the army in 1968, I became interested in photography as a hobby. My first photographic endeavors were of landscapes around New York City and the mountains of North America that my friends and I explored on many trips across the US and Canada. My subject interest expanded when a friend told me about a new place in the Village where new and established Rock n’ Roll bands were playing. On October 26, 1968 I was introduced to the Fillmore East with the Moody Blues and John Mayall. I was simply awestruck. That first concert was all I needed to become enthralled in the Fillmore experience. The new music groups Bill Graham introduced at the Fillmore East were raw and exciting. The outrageous personalities, light shows, and moods of the groups were all the inspiration I needed. I knew immediately that live concert photography would prove to be very exciting and challenging. The first concert I photographed was the Jefferson Airplane on November 29, 1968.

I shot mostly color slides so I would be able to re-live the concerts at any time. I often entertained my friends with slide shows accompanied by the particular group’s latest album. While the Fillmore East provided the stage for most of my concert photography, I also shot other venues around the Tri-State area with other theatres and outdoor concerts. I was inspired by the psychedelic scene during this era of Rock n’ Roll. The weekends provided the opportunity for me to see my favorite bands and also to fine tune my photographic skills. Sometimes, I would go to the early show and concentrate solely on my photography. Then I would put aside my cameras and return to the theatre. The “candy store” operating in the bathroom would provide all I needed to totally immerse myself into the music of the second show. These midnight concerts often lasted into the dawn of the following day.

The stage at the Fillmore East was graced by the Joshua Light show and other psychedelic backdrops. This only added more creativity to my photographs. The concert policies of that time were very lax, allowing concert-goers to take photographs during the show which many did so from their seats. I, however, roamed the aisles and the balconies of the Fillmore in order to obtain a variety of different angles and perspectives of the bands. As you explore the Astro Rock Photo gallery you will notice that I also enjoyed experimenting with multiple exposures and camera movement in order to achieve something different and unique.

With the advent of computers, scanners, and digital software, I am now moving my photo collection to another creative level. By digitally manipulating the various photos directly or by forming various sorts of collages, my Rock n’ Roll and landscape collection has taken on a new direction of its own.

I hope your visit to Astro Rock Photos takes you back to the past when love, friendships, and peace were the bonds that held a generation together through changing times. It is my greatest pleasure to be able to share with you my photographic memories. Please don’t forget to sign the guest book. I would love to hear your comments and stories. More photos are being added all the time, so check back again soon.
Peace and Love, George Pericharos 2002

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