Jim Plotnick and writer Mark Summeria joined other fans of rock-and-roll at our Vernon Hills bookstore during Barbara’s Palooza on June 15th. The co-authors were there to sign their book, Classic Rock: Photographs from Yesterday and Today.
The coffee table book features the original, high-quality performance photography of veteran photojournalist, Summaria. Through his camera lens, he allows readers get a front row view of many Rock and Roll Hall of Famers in performance as well as other artists often overlooked but whose contributions are compelling.
This mostly full color, 7”W x 10”H premium-quality publication draws intriguing visual contrast between artists in their prime – and, if still performing, as they have appeared more recently. The addition of interesting facts, figures, trivia and quotes researched by Mark Plotnick gives readers even more to enjoy about these celebrated performers.
It was a day called Barbara’s Palooza because the day included other featured notables in the world of rock, such as guitar designer and builder, Dean Zelinsky.
“I started building professionally in 1976. As soon as I got Dean Guitars up and running, I spent my days building guitars and my evenings backstage at big rock shows hustling my guitars to major rock bands. Kerry Livgren of Kansas was the first to purchase one of my guitars and the first to play one onstage. Soon after, I was working with top bands of the late ’70s and early ’80s like like Heart, The Doobie Brothers, Elliot Easton of the Cars… and many more. Then a bigger break was hanging out with Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. I made him an ML model guitar and shipped it to him. He phoned me when he was recording the Eliminator record and said he used the guitar for the entire album. I was soon making guitars for their tour. With the advent of MTV, ZZ Top had a big resurgence and their ‘Legs‘ video featured the Spinning Fur Guitars I built for them.”