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ICONIC 80’S ROCK & ROLL PHOTOGRAPHER MARK “WEISSGUY” WEISS FOR A SPECIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY THROUGH THE LATE 70’S AND 80’S ROCK MUSIC SCENE
“THE DECADE THAT ROCKED” – THE ROCK & ROLL PHOTOGRAPHY OF MARK “WEISSGUY” WEISS” FEATURES ARTISTS SUCH AS
BON JOVI, OZZY OSBOURNE, GUNS N’ROSES, LED ZEPPELIN, AEROSMITH, VAN HALEN & MUCH MORE
Preview Event Friday March 17th 2023 6-8pm
In gallery artist receptions Saturday March 25th 6-8pm and Sunday March 26th 1-4pm
Mark Weiss, was a 14-year old kid from New Jersey when he made a deal with a neighbor to cut his lawn in exchange for a 35mm camera. Thus began a lifelong journey of rock & roll mayhem that continues to this day. While in high school, Mark would sneak his camera into concerts, paying off security guards to get him closer to the stage. Mark developed the prints in his parent’s bathroom to sell the next morning out of his school locker and then in front of the concert venue that night. When KISS came to New York City in 1977 for a 3-day stint, Mark was arrested outside of Madison Square Garden for selling his photos for a buck a piece. After spending the night in jail, his peddling days were over. A week later, Weiss walked into the offices of Circus Magazine, the leading rock publication at the time, with his portfolio. Circus published Weiss’s photo of Steven Tyler of Aerosmith in their October 1978 issue. Within a few months he became a major contributor to the magazine and then a full-time staff member, shooting covers and features.
His connections with the bands and their managers led to album cover shoots including the famous Bon Jovi “Slippery When Wet” cover and more. In the 90s Weiss shot album covers for CMC records that included George Thorogood, Cinderella, Lynyrd Skynyrd to name a few. Weiss is also credited for introducing Zakk Wylde to Ozzy Osbourne and introducing Sebastian Bach to Skid Row.
One of Weiss’s classic photos features Ozzy Osbourne dressed in a pink tutu. To this day, Weiss continues to photograph Ozzy on tour as well as his family where he photographed his daughter Kelly’s album cover and his son Jack’s wedding in addition to promo photos for the hit MTV show The Osbournes.
In late 2015, Weiss’s photos filled Broadway’s Helen Hayes Theatre as his photography was showcased on the theatre walls during the entire run of the musical “Rock of Ages.” Weiss has also published “The Decade That Rocked” his bestselling book featuring a foreword by Rob Halford of Judas Priest along with an afterword by Sirius/XM DJ Eddie Trunk. Since the release of the book Mark has been inducted into the Album Cover Hall of
Fame as well as the Metal Hall of Fame where he was inducted by Twisted Sister front man Dee Snider. Check out video of the induction here: https://youtu.be/PbeJCqAw3y0 The Monmouth Museum hosted Mark Weiss’ book release event where his photographs were exhibited. John Bathke from Channel 12 news in New Jersey was there to interview
Mark at the Museum. See the video: https://youtu.be/ZVFS9cllmQQ Mark was recently interviewed by Gibson TV at the Rainbow Bar & Grill talking about his illustrious career. See the video here: https://youtu.be/ATebZPucb3g Here is what rock stars had to say about Mark Weiss and his photographs: https://youtu.be/tuS8mJmeqsM
Weiss will appear live at Gallery 725 on Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26 to greet fans and talk about the history behind his classic photographs. He will also team up with artist Michal Pellicone for a live demonstration of embellishing a large photograph on canvas with paints to create a one-of-a-kind collectible.
