DATE: JULY 15, 2024

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/SRO PR

ROCK AND ROLL GALLERY
DEBUTS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH
LEGENDARY PHOTOGRAPHER JAMES FORTUNE
ON ITS “SHOT TALK” CHANNEL
VIEW IT HERE

ROCK AND ROLL GALLERY—a one-stop online photographic wonderland for classic rock lovers, offering a treasure trove of iconic images and limited-edition prints—continues its 25^th anniversary celebration this year. Following an exclusive interview on its “Shot Talk” channel with legendary photographer Neal Preston, Rock and Roll Gallery just debuted iconic photographer James Fortune’s first-ever in-depth on-camera interview featuring never-before-seen photographs of some of rock and roll’s biggest legends. View the interview HERE and read select quotes from Fortune below.

The interview was captured earlier this year by Rock and Roll Gallery owner Chris Vranian at Fortune’s Virginia home. Fortune reflects on his extraordinary career and the unforgettable moments he captured. Rock and Roll Gallery will be offering 25% off all of Fortune’s prints through Labor Day. View his work HERE.

Fortune is a photojournalist best known for his work documenting anti-war protests on the Sunset Strip to music and culture of the 1960’s and ’70s. (He had to pause his music photography from ’68-‘69 because he volunteered to serve in Vietnam and was a photographer for the U.S. Navy.) Beginning in college in the late ’60s, Fortune spent more than a decade capturing candid and behind-the-scenes images of rock and roll icons including The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Led Zeppelin, Jim Morrison, Elton John, and many others.  James’ work can be seen on album covers such as Led Zeppelin’s “How The West Was Won” and in books as recent as “The Doors, Night Divides The Day” by Genesis Publications. Fortune’s work is highlighted by the famous Robert Plant “Dove Shot” that became one of the most iconic posters in the 70’s. Many of his images appearing on posters that adorned the walls of American teenagers throughout the 1970’s and early ’80s, helping to define the visual language of a generation.

Here are a few highlights from Fortune’s interview on “Shot Talk”:

Image of James Fortune from his “Shot Talk” interview (2025)

LA Riots 1966:

“I called UPI and they said we already have photographers with film, I said they don’t have what I have!”

Photo Credit: James Fortune

Led Zeppelin Hyatt House Hotel Sunset Strip 1973:

“Peter Grant picked up Jimmy Page and said where do you want him, I said I want the group in that chair!”

Photo Credit: James Fortune

The Who “Tommy” premier party Hollywood 1975:

“He was a heavy partier; I loved to be around him because things just happened when Keith Moon was in front of your camera!”

Chris Vranian says that interviewing Fortune was “a truly long overdue labor of love. He is very private and a bit reclusive but he trusted me and knows that I always have good outcomes for him. We have done a lot over the years with licensing his images and the cover of Led Zeppelin’s ‘How The West Was Won’ album cover which he talked about in the interview. James was open, honest, and told it like he saw it—and he saw it!”

About Rock and Roll Gallery:

Rock and Roll Gallery is an online platform dedicated to celebrating the history of rock through photography. Curated by Chris Vranian, the gallery offers a wide selection of limited-edition prints, each capturing moments that define the sound and spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. With the tagline “What Music Looked Like,” Rock and Roll Gallery brings together the best in music and photography, providing a visual celebration of rock’s history. Vranian calls it a place where “the History Channel meets the Biography Channel at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”

About Shot Talk

“Shot Talk” is a leading platform that brings together photography enthusiasts, music lovers, and creatives for insightful interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and exclusive content. The platform is dedicated to celebrating the art of photography and the culture of music through the lens of legendary photographers and their iconic images.

Connect with Rock and Roll Gallery
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

Shot Talk Socials
YOUTUBE

For press inquiries about Rock and Roll Gallery, contact SRO PR:

Mitch Schneider, mschneider@sropr.com

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DATE: JANUARY 8, 2024

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/SRO PR

ROCK AND ROLL GALLERY
CELEBRATES 25^TH ANNIVERSARY
BY DEBUTING EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH
LEGENDARY PHOTOGRAPHER NEAL PRESTON
ON “SHOT TALK”

WATCH THIS RARE GLIMPSE INTO
HIS LIFE AND WORK HERE

ROCK AND ROLL GALLERY celebrates its 25^th anniversary this year by today (January 8) debuting an exclusive interview with photographer Neal Preston, one of the most renowned and celebrated figures in the history of rock ‘n’ roll photography. In this candid conversation, available via the platform’s “Shot Talk” YouTube channel, Preston dives into his remarkable career, from his early days in New York to becoming the official photographer for legends like Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Bruce Springsteen, and many others. See select quotes from the Preston interview below and view it here: HERE.

Titled “A Portrait of Neal Preston,” this rare 40-minute-plus interview offers fans and photography enthusiasts an unprecedented look behind the scenes of rock’s most iconic moments. Preston shares never-before-heard anecdotes, insights into his creative process, and reflections on the evolution of music photography. Viewers will also be treated to never-before-seen images that highlight the electrifying energy of some of the greatest superstars in rock history.

Throughout his illustrious career, Preston has had unparalleled access to the biggest names in music, capturing everything from intimate backstage moments to legendary live performances. His images have come to define rock and roll itself, and now, through this exclusive interview, fans can hear firsthand about his journey.

“We are honored to present this exclusive interview with Neal Preston, whose work has immortalized some of the most defining moments in music history,” said Chris Vranian, founder of Rock and Roll Gallery. “Via his engaging storytelling, this interview reveals the incredible depth of Preston’s career, from the 70s heyday to today.”

Recalls Preston about how he got to work with Led Zeppelin in 1975: “I was asked, do you still want that job with Led Zeppelin, I said yeah, and he (Danny Goldberg) said ‘get ready to go to Chicago!’ The Rolling Stones got all the press…meanwhile Led Zeppelin is eating The Rolling Stones for lunch every day…saw them both in 75 and Rolling Stones were nothing compared to Led Zeppelin.”

How to be a photographer on the road? “There was no instruction manual on how to deal with this job,” explains Preston. “Don’t act like you’re in the band because you are not. If you act like you’re in the band, the thing slipped under your door is a one-way ticket home—it ain’t going to be the room list for tomorrow.”

Looking back at his work with Queen—especially their 1985 “Live Aid” performance—Preston says: “I’m up there with Queen…and I didn’t know it was going to be the most famous 25-minute gig in history!” He adds: “Freddie Mercury’s favorite thing in the world was being Freddie Mercury!”

Rock and Roll Gallery is a one-stop online photographic wonderland for classic rock lovers, offering a treasure trove of iconic images and limited-edition prints. With the tagline “What Music Looked Like,” Rock and Roll Gallery brings together the best in music and photography, providing a visual celebration of rock’s history. Vranian calls it a place where “the History Channel meets the Biography Channel at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”

Rock and Roll Gallery has also announced a contest in which one lucky entrant will win an 11 x 14 Neal Preston Queen print valued at $800.00. By “liking” and subscribing to the “Shot Talk” YouTube channel, participants can enter the contest and indicate in the comments section what their favorite Preston photo is and why. Neal will choose the winner based on what he thinks is the best response. The winner will be picked next month, on February 14, and will be notified by email from “Shot Talk.”

About Rock and Roll Gallery
Rock and Roll Gallery is an online platform dedicated to celebrating the history of rock through photography. Curated by Chris Vranian, the gallery offers a wide selection of limited-edition prints, each capturing moments that define the sound and spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.

About Shot Talk

“Shot Talk” is a leading platform that brings together photography enthusiasts, music lovers, and creatives for insightful interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and exclusive content. The platform is dedicated to celebrating the art of photography and the culture of music through the lens of legendary photographers and their iconic images.

Rock and Roll Gallery Socials
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

Shot Talk Socials
YOUTUBE

For press inquiries about Rock and Roll Gallery, contact SRO PR:

Mitch Schneider, mschneider@sropr.com

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