In the world of music magazine publishing, Jim Marshall was probably just as important as the musicians he photographed. In
an industry where image so frequently becomes perception, Marshall’s
keen eye and skilled craftsmanship produced thousands of photographs
which may have done more to shape many artists’ images than
the artists did for themselves.
As voyeurs of all things guitar, we have seen many of these iconic
images: Duane Allman practicing in a motel bathroom, Hendrix with
his fist in the air, Jerry Garcia sitting in the dirt at Woodstock, and other
equally powerful shots. In some ways, Marshall’s photos propelled the
artists farther than the printed words that accompanied them.
In the 26 years I knew and worked with Jim, I never met a photographer
more dedicated to the purity of his craft, or more solid in
the belief that his photos were an integral part of the fabric of the
music scene.
When I began my career as a magazine designer, Jim Marshall was
a larger-than-life figure. Even as we grew to become friends and collaborators,
I was always a bit intimidated by his intense demand that
the standards he set for his own quality and attention-to-detail be
matched by everyone. To me, he will always be the gold standard for
music photography.
Jim passed away in New York on March 24, as he was embarking
on a book signing tour. He was a unique fixture in the framework of
our professional and personal lives. The industry will be poorer without
him.