Friday 28 June 2013

"Paper The Beatles" from Keigo Yasuda



Keigo Yasuda, a film producer, has released his unique film "Paper the Beatles" on YouTube.  The film’s subject is the British rock band The Beatles, who recently marked their 50th anniversary.

"Paper the Beatles" is a stop motion film representing the Beatles by using paper.  The story is Keigo's original, based on images of jam sessions by the band members.  All the objects shown in the film, including the people, musical instruments, equipment, and music studio are made from paper.

Keigo did not use real film images of the Beatles in order to emphasize the uniqueness of his film.

The music used in the film was created exclusively by Yuji Yasuda, Keigo's father, and Naoki Yasuda, Keigo's old brother.

For more information visit the website for this fabulous work at http://p.tl/wpaS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jYBCzSvOG8

Former business journalist discovers the hidden secrets of the Beatle legacy

PRESS RELEASE

For more than 25 years, Joel Benjamin was a leading business and economics journalist.

Deciding he needed a new challenge- he retired and embarked on a two-year, investigative research project on the music and historical legacy of the Beatles.  

Although he now calls himself a "music historian"- when he started researching the legacy of The Beatles Benjamin had never studied or written about music or played an instrument. He has no college degree nor any academic standing - in any subject.

He also had absolutely no hypothesis or outline of the research project he chose from himself- deciding instead to trust his investigative, researching instincts to take him to that part of their story that has yet to be told.

Benjamin says that what he has done that is unique is to look at the subject of the legacy of The Beatles with an entirely objective perspective- as if he came from another planet and asked people he met:
"Remember that rock group from the 60s- The Beatles. What was their story about? How come they were so good- and so successful in influencing and impacting the world?

He claims none of the official historical record of their phenomenon makes any logical or rational sense- both on the music side- but more importantly- of their influence on the world over the past 50 years. He wonders:
Considering where they came from- how could four young men of their background have conquered the world in such a short period of time?  Not as musicians- but as global cultural and social icons?

In a span of under two years Benjamin wrote twelve separate books on all 225 songs on their 12 studio albums. An additional three books are focused on the influence and impact The Beatles have had on the world in the past 50 years. Additional content on all 15 books can be viewed at the website of his Cypriot-based publisher- www.ArjonPublishing.com

There is currently about 25 universities in the US that offer courses on The Beatles- and one UK university that offers an actual MBA program. Beatle scholarship already exists. Benjamin says it needs a huge boast forward by global academics to put it on equal footing as any other academic subject universities spend public money to teach and investigate.

Benjamin's idea is for a few dedicated and capable academics to step forward and create an official "Beatle Studies Association" so that the nascent field of Beatle scholarship can become a  proper academic discipline.  He adds: " As I am not an academic it is up to someone out there that is- and believes in the need for the world to take Beatle scholarship more seriously."





HELP! IS ON iTUNES! -- OUT NOW!




THE BEATLES’ RESTORED 1965 FEATURE FILM RELEASED DIGITALLY WORLDWIDE, EXCLUSIVELY ON THE ITUNES STORE

“Absurd, delightful and exuberantly messy, Help! is a pure pleasure to watch.”
The New York Times


The Beatles’ second feature film, 1965’s Help!, has made its worldwide digital release debut, exclusively on the iTunes Store (www.iTunes.com/TheBeatles).  The digitally restored film and 5.1 soundtrack features iTunes Extras including a 30-minute documentary about the making of the film, memories of the cast and crew, an in-depth look at the restoration process, an outtake scene, original theatrical trailers and radio spots, and detailed art, including a companion piece with an introduction by the film’s director, Richard Lester, and an appreciation by Martin Scorsese.

Help!’s debut on the iTunes Store and Blu-ray follows the 2012 release of The Beatles’ digitally restored Yellow Submarine and Magical Mystery Tour feature films on iTunes, Blu-ray and DVD with extensive extras.  Help!’s restoration for its 2007 DVD debut wowed viewers, earning five-times platinum sales in the U.S. and praise from a broad range of top media outlets around the world, including USA Today heralding the DVD as “a grand re-release,” The Guardian’s appreciation of the film’s director, Richard Lester, saying “Lester matches The Beatles’ ‘star’ power with smart, colourful visuals and casual surrealism,” The Los Angeles Times’ restoration rave:  “With dynamic compression that was standard in the 1960s lifted for the digital age, the full range of the group’s musicality comes through – it’s like several coats of dust have been cleaned off an old master’s painting,” and four-star reviews from Rolling Stone and MOJO with the latter saying, “They really don't make them like this anymore.”



Directed by Richard Lester, who also directed the band’s debut feature film, 1964’s A Hard Day’s Night, Help! follows The Beatles as they become passive recipients of an outside plot that revolves around Ringo's possession of a sacrificial ring, which he cannot remove from his finger. As a result, he and his bandmates John, Paul and George are chased from London to the Austrian Alps and the Bahamas by religious cult members, a mad scientist and the London police.

In addition to starring The Beatles,
Help! boasts a witty script, a great cast of British character actors, and classic Beatles songs “Help!,” “You're Going To Lose That Girl,” “You've Got To Hide Your Love Away,” “Ticket To Ride,” “I Need You,” “The Night Before,” and “Another Girl.”

Help!’s iTunes digital download pairs the digitally restored original film with these iTunes Extras:  
• “The Beatles in Help!” – a 30-minute documentary about the making of the film with Richard Lester, the cast and crew, including exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of The Beatles on-set.
• “A Missing Scene” – a film outtake, featuring Wendy Richard
• “The Restoration of Help!” – an in-depth look at the restoration process
• “Memories of Help!” – the cast and crew reminisce
• 1965 Theatrical Trailers – two original U.S. trailers and one original Spanish trailer
• 1965 U.S. Radio Spots (hidden in menus)


CAST
The Beatles:
John………..………………………………………………………...John Lennon
Paul………………………………………………………………Paul McCartney
George……….…………………………………………………George Harrison
Ringo……….…………………………………………………………...Ringo Starr
Clang………………………………………………………………….Leo McKern
Ahme…………………………………………………………………Eleanor Bron
Foot…………….........................................................................Victor Spinetti
Algernon…………........................................................................Roy Kinnear
Superintendent........................................................................Patrick Cargill
Bhuta………………......................................................................John Bluthal
Jeweller……………………………………………………………...Peter Copley
Doorman…………………………………………………………………Alfie Bass
Abdul…………………………………………………………..…Warren Mitchell
Lawnmower………………………………………………………...Bruce Lacey
Cross channel swimmer……………………………………………...Mal Evans
Women in street……………………Dandy Nichols and Gretchen Franklin

PRODUCTION
Director ……………………………………………………………Richard Lester
Producer ………………………………………………………...Walter Shenson
Screenplay…………………………………..Marc Behm and Charles Wood
Story by………………………………………………………………..Marc Behm
Director of Photography…………………………………………David Watkin
Production Manager……………………………………………….John Pellatt
Art Director………………………………………………………Raymond Simm
Colour Consultant and Titles………………………………...Robert Freeman
Costume Designer…………………………………………………….Julie Harris
Musical Director………………………………………………………Ken Thorne
Songs composed by…………………..John Lennon and Paul McCartney
                                                                                 and by George Harrison
Songs performed by………………………………………………...The Beatles
Songs produced by……………………………………………..George Martin

* * *

Tuesday 25 June 2013

THE BEATLES STORY’S ‘ELVIS AND US’ EXHIBITION TO EXPAND AND EXTEND ITS STAY FOLLOWING HUGE SUCCESS

           


Having attracted in excess of 125,000 visitors since its opening in 2011, Liverpools 'Elvis and Us' exhibition is to extend its stay in the city through to 2014 a year longer than originally planned. 

And to celebrate this success, Gracelands official curator Angie Marchese was in town on Monday June 17th bringing even more artefacts all the way from Memphis to include in the exhibition.

New items include Elvis' 1965 Gretzch Country Gentlemen Guitar and his white Tunic top - both used during his 1969 Vegas comeback engagements at The International



Co-curated by Graceland and Liverpool's award-winning Beatles Story attraction, the 'Elvis and Us' exhibition uses artefacts most of which have never been seen outside of Graceland before - and multimedia to explore the huge influence The King of Rock 'n' Roll® had on the Fab Four.

Formally opened in October 2011 by Jack Soden - president of Elvis Presley Enterprises - 'Elvis and Us' has wowed thousands of Elvis and Beatles fans alike.

Centring around the historic meeting between The Beatles and Elvis at The King's Bel Air mansion on August 27th 1965, the exhibition collects artefacts from Elvis's childhood through to his spectacular Vegas years, and even includes the bass guitar Elvis used to jam with The Beatles!

There are exclusive video interviews with those present at the meeting between Elvis and The Beatles including Priscilla Presley, NME journalist Chris Hutchins and The Beatles PR guru Tony Barrow. The insights given by the interviewees are incisive and often surprising. In addition original Beatle Pete Best and The Quarrymen are interviewed about the influence of Elvis on pop music and The Beatles early incarnations. 



In addition to displaying many incredibly rare artefacts, 'Elvis and Us' also stocks official Elvis Presley memorabilia otherwise only available at Graceland ideal for gifts. There are even Elvis jumpsuits for the truly dedicated fan.

The exhibition has even been visited by Elviss co-star in the film The Trouble with Girls Marlyn Mason and James Burton, legendary guitarist from Elviss own TCB Band - who backed The King of Rock n Roll® in concert between 1969 and 1977. Both have given the exhibition their seal of approval.

You can visit the 'Elvis and Us' exhibition at the Pier Head site for just £6.00.

For more information on 'Elvis and Us' visit www.elvisandus.com

To see the BBFC review of this fabulous exhibition, click HERE

Jameson & Hills Perform Songs of the Beatles, Leeds, June 28


For more information click HERE

Monday 17 June 2013

John, Paul, George and Rio!


Samba Beatles fly in from Brazil to headline UK’s biggest Brazilian carnival event

A host of top Brazilian bands and artists will hit Liverpool on Saturday 20 July when Brazilica Carnival Day takes over the city centre, rounding off a week-long programme of festival events! As well as a 500-strong evening parade which will fill the city’s streets with colour, sparkle and music, Williamson Square will for the third year running host a music stage throughout the day and evening, hosted by DJs from 107.6 Juice FM. Revellers will be able to eat, drink and be merry as they experience a great programme of music and samba dancing, with an outdoor ‘cocktail shack’ and stalls offering the best in Brazilian food. 
Rio-based Beatle Band Sargento Pimenta visit Brazilica for the first time this year and will headline the Juice FM Williamson Square stage. Commanding an audience of up to 100,000 people in Brazil, Sargento Pimenta samba band have helped maintain the global legacy of our city’s greatest musical export The Beatles - in fact, Brazil boasts one of the World’s most avid Beatles fanbases. Sargento Pimenta perform Beatles classics in a fun samba style and are set to have Brazilica crowds singing and dancing along in no time! 


Innovative samba & jazz fusion quartet Tribo Da Pesada will make a welcome return to the Brazilica main stage. Featuring renowned singer Fabio Allman, frontman for Rio superstars Monobloco, a showman used to performing all over Brazil to 100,000 people a time, Tribo Da Pasada wowed crowds at Brazilica 2012. Their 2013 appearance will be even more exciting as the band’s current incarnation boasts even more members! Now featuring 7 musicians, the band incorporates horns and percussion in an exciting fusion of their usual samba sound and sakara (popular Nigerian music). 

UK-based Brazilian funk and samba band The Fontanas will this year grace the Williamson Square stage, after playing a great set at last year’s Festinho presents Brazilica Nation charity club night at Nation. Joining them will be Solo Sagrado. Walter Jesus de Magalhães Junior, the band’s lead singer, came to Liverpool from Brazil, became friends with Liverpool Carnival Company’s Roger and Maeve and wrote the Liverpool Samba School’s Enredo in 2008. Roger and his band have since relocated to Barcelona but they are excited to return to Liverpool and perform again at Brazilica.

Liverpool Samba School, Viva Brasil Dance Shows and DJs Gary Garamendi, Silvao & Fabio will also be on hand to ensure Liverpool keeps dancing to the samba beat all day long. Samba schools from around the UK who are visiting the festival and participating in the parade will also appear on stage throughout this scorching spectacle of samba.

Debbie Boyd of Brazilica co-organisers Orb Events said: “The reaction of Brazilian people to Liverpool’s own Brazilian carnival event is amazing - when we mention the city we can hardly believe the great response and the way our musical history has had such a massive impact on a country so far away! Brazilian artists have been so honoured to be asked to join the festival which has now become the biggest in the UK. In addition to Sargento Pimente there is also a wealth of other brilliant musicians and performers that have come to the festival from all over the World.”

Get yourself down to Williamson Square on Saturday 20 July for a real carnival bloc party in the heart of Liverpool!

More information can be found at www.brazilicafestival.com
Keep up-to-date with Liverpool Carnival Company's events on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/brazilicafest

BRAZILICA is operated by registered charity; The Liverpool Carnival Company.
Company Registration No: 6208453
Charity Registration No: 1123036
Registered office: 25 Rodney St, Liverpool, L1 9EH



Sunday 16 June 2013

STOP WORRYING... HELP! IS ON THE WAY ON BLU-RAY!


 © Apple Corps Ltd

“Absurd, delightful and exuberantly messy, Help! is a pure pleasure to watch.”
The New York Times


The Beatles’ second feature film, 1965’s Help!, is on the way on Blu-ray.  On June 24 (June 25 in North America), Help! makes its eagerly awaited Blu-ray debut in a single-disc package pairing the digitally restored film and 5.1 soundtrack with an hour of extra features, including a 30-minute documentary about the making of the film, memories of the cast and crew, an in-depth look at the restoration process, an outtake scene, and original theatrical trailers and radio spots. An introduction by the film’s director, Richard Lester, and an appreciation by Martin Scorsese are included in the Blu-ray’s booklet.

Help!’s Blu-ray edition follows the 2012 release of The Beatles’ digitally restored Yellow Submarine and Magical Mystery Tour feature films on Blu-ray, DVD and iTunes with extensive extras.  Help!’s restoration for its 2007 DVD debut wowed viewers, earning five-times platinum sales in the U.S. and praise from a broad range of top media outlets around the world, including USA Today heralding the DVD as “a grand re-release,” The Guardian’s appreciation of the film’s director, Richard Lester, saying “Lester matches The Beatles’ ‘star’ power with smart, colourful visuals and casual surrealism,” The Los Angeles Times’ restoration rave:  “With dynamic compression that was standard in the 1960s lifted for the digital age, the full range of the group’s musicality comes through – it’s like several coats of dust have been cleaned off an old master’s painting,” and four-star reviews from Rolling Stone and MOJO with the latter saying, “They really don't make them like this anymore.”

 © Apple Corps Ltd


Directed by Richard Lester, who also directed the band’s debut feature film, 1964’s A Hard Day’s Night, Help! follows The Beatles as they become passive recipients of an outside plot that revolves around Ringo's possession of a sacrificial ring, which he cannot remove from his finger. As a result, he and his bandmates John, Paul and George are chased from London to the Austrian Alps and the Bahamas by religious cult members, a mad scientist and the London police.

 © Apple Corps Ltd

In addition to starring The Beatles, Help! boasts a witty script, a great cast of British character actors, and classic Beatles songs “Help!,” “You're Going To Lose That Girl,” “You've Got To Hide Your Love Away,” “Ticket To Ride,” “I Need You,” “The Night Before,” and “Another Girl.”


 © Apple Corps Ltd
 Help!’s Blu-ray package pairs the digitally restored original film with these extra features:   
• “The Beatles in Help!” – a 30-minute documentary about the making of the film with Richard Lester, the cast and crew, including exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of The Beatles on-set.
• “A Missing Scene” – a film outtake, featuring Wendy Richard
• “The Restoration of Help!” – an in-depth look at the restoration process
• “Memories of Help!” – the cast and crew reminisce
• 1965 Theatrical Trailers – two original U.S. trailers and one original Spanish trailer
• 1965 U.S. Radio Spots (hidden in disc menus)




To view the trailer follow this link: http://youtu.be/_TPE-VRXaQw

CAST
The Beatles:
John:  John Lennon
Paul:  Paul McCartney
George:  George Harrison
Ringo:  Ringo Starr
Clang:  Leo McKern
Ahme:  Eleanor Bron
Foot:  Victor Spinetti
Algernon:  Roy Kinnear
Superintendent:  Patrick Cargill
Bhuta:  John Bluthal
Jeweller:  Peter Copley
Doorman:  Alfie Bass
Abdul:  Warren Mitchell
Lawnmower:  Bruce Lacey
Cross channel swimmer:  Mal Evans
Women in street:  Dandy Nichols and Gretchen Franklin

PRODUCTION
Director:  Richard Lester
Producer:  Walter Shenson
Screenplay:  Marc Behm and Charles Wood
Story by:  Marc Behm
Director of Photography:  David Watkin
Production Manager:  John Pellatt
Art Director:  Raymond Simm
Colour Consultant and Titles:  Robert Freeman
Costume Designer:  Julie Harris
Musical Director:  Ken Thorne
Songs composed by:  John Lennon and Paul McCartney and by George Harrison
Songs performed by:  The Beatles
Songs produced by:  George Martin

* * *

 © Apple Corps Ltd

‘Help!’ follows in the great tradition of classic comedy chase movies.

In this instance, John, Paul, George and Ringo, find themselves being pursued across the world by not one but two groups of fanatics with separate agendas.

Ringo possesses a ring with a large red stone set in the middle, sent to him by a fan. Unknown to him this artefact is the sacred sacrificial ring of Goddess Kaili: the deity of an Asian religious cult led by Swami Clang (Leo McKern).

The younger sister of High Priestess Ahme (Eleanor Bron) has been selected by Kaili’s thuggish followers as a human sacrifice. However, panic breaks out when, as she is about to be dispatched by the ceremonial-sword wielding fanatic, Swami Clang, he realises that she is not wearing this religious bauble.

The human sacrifice is promptly placed on hold.  Clang, Ahme and a bunch of bumbling henchmen organised by Blutha (John Bluthal), set about tracking down the wearer with the aim of retrieving the ring by covering Ringo in bright red paint and sacrificing him in the process.
Even before he realises he is the object of these fanatics attention, Ringo finds that he can’t slip it off his finger. It’s stuck!

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Clang, the lovely Ahme is a secret Beatles fan with a shine for Paul.               

These cult followers of Kaili frantically pursue The Beatles first, through London, then up the snow-covered Austrian Alps, followed by Buckingham Palace across Salisbury Plain and finally along the sandy beaches of the Bahamas.

Amidst this turmoil, two scientists named Foot (Victor Spinetti) and Algernon (Roy Kinnear) have become involved, being called in by the Government to try and remove the ring from Ringo’s finger. Algernon is a harmless fool, however, Foot is a megalomaniac and sees the ring as a means to “rule the world!” and is prepared to go to extremes to get his hands on the ring.  Following up the rear is dapper Scotland Yard Police Superintendent (Patrick Cargill),

Fortunately, all attempts to remove this religious artefact from Ringo’s hand are thwarted at every turn often by John, Paul and George. This wild chase eventually culminates on a beach in the Bahamas when the ring suddenly falls off Ringo’s finger and those in pursuit are suddenly afraid to pick it up in case they themselves become splattered with red paint and selected as the sacrificial victim!


 © Apple Corps Ltd



7 BEATLES TRACKS ARE FEATURED IN THE MOVIE

• ‘Help!’
• ‘You're Going To Lose That Girl’
• ‘You've Got To Hide Your Love Away’
• ‘Ticket To Ride’
• ‘I Need You’
• ‘The Night Before’
• ‘Another Girl’


Saturday 15 June 2013

Yoko Ono Meltdown!

Thanks to The Beatles Shop - www.beatleshop.co.uk - for allowing us to share these photos of Yoko and Sean at last night's concert at the Royal Festival Hall, London, for Meltdown 2013!

c. The Beatles Shop
www.thebeatleshop.co.uk

c. The Beatles Shop
www.thebeatleshop.co.uk


c. The Beatles Shop
www.thebeatleshop.co.uk

c. The Beatles Shop
www.thebeatleshop.co.uk

c. The Beatles Shop
www.thebeatleshop.co.uk

c. The Beatles Shop
www.thebeatleshop.co.uk


NB: These photographs are published with the kind permission of  The Beatles Shop.  Please do not download or otherwise reproduce without the express permission of the copyright holder.


"Photograph" by Ringo Starr - Out Now!

PHOTOGRAPH, THE NEW EBOOK BY RINGO STARR
RELEASED ON JUNE 12 2013 ON THE IBOOKSTORE
 FEATURING NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN IMAGES
TAKEN BY RINGO AND FROM HIS PERSONAL ARCHIVE

Ringo Starr with Photograph - May 2013
c. Genesis Publications / RingoPhotograph.com

Ringo Starr’s new ebook, PHOTOGRAPH, a collection of his never-before-seen photographs, is released on June 12 2013 on the iBookstore and RingoPhotograph.com

Unseen images taken by Ringo and from his personal archives, accompanied by his audio, text and video captions, are showcased in ‘Photograph’ for the very first time to give unprecedented insight into the life of a Beatle. The ebook is available exclusively on the iBookstore.

‘These are shots that no one else could have.’ – Ringo

p97 - Photograph - Copyright Ringo Starr and Genesis Publications

Ringo shares forgotten photographs and stories of his childhood home, family holidays and all-night parties on his road to stardom. He candidly captures his Beatles bandmates in pensive and playful moments: washing, eating, recording, smoking, drinking and playing monopoly. Pictures of ‘the boys’ are joined by Ringo’s travel photography, taking you inside the car with The Beatles as they toured the world. From the position of a friend, bandmate and skilled photographer, Ringo portrays four lads from Liverpool trying to live normal lives amidst the frenzy that surrounded them. This is the album of Ringo’s life, from his time in hospital, where he played a drum for the first time, to growing up in Liverpool amidst the excitement of the emerging Merseybeat scene, to playing in the biggest band in the world.

‘A good time was had by all in those days.’ – Ringo

p118 - Photograph - Copyright Ringo Starr and Genesis Publications
  
Readers can pick up and zoom in on 140 photographs as they scroll through Ringo’s memoir, while 69 audio clips narrated by Ringo tell the previously unheard stories behind the photos.  Ringo has also filmed 11 exclusive videos for this ebook, featuring music and animation and new interviews from Ringo Starr. Ringo’s first multimedia edition is a must-have for fans of The Beatles and anyone passionate about modern music.

 p72 - Photograph - Copyright Ringo Starr and Genesis Publications

 Genesis did a great job on my book POSTCARDS FROM THE BOYS – so why would I go anywhere else? I did my first book with the father and now my second with his son.– Ringo 

Genesis Publications have been making fine limited editions since 1974. On the eve of their 40th anniversary, Genesis are delighted to be making their very first ebook, especially with an author that is an integral part of their company history. Using Apple software to bring their designs into the digital dimension, the ebook was created exclusively for the iBookstore. A limited-edition hand-bound book, signed by Ringo Starr, will follow in December 2013. Each copy will benefit The Lotus Foundation.


Ringo Starr's new ebook, Photograph, is brought to you by Genesis Publications. Now available to order from the iBookstore at itunes.com/RingoPhotograph and www.RingoPhotograph.com, price £9.99


c. Genesis Publications / RingoPhotograph.com
Buy Online:
Available now on iTunes ® and the iBookstore ℠  


Publication: June 12 2013, price: £9.99 / $12.99 / 11.99 Euro


 All images copyright www.Ringophotograph.com / Genesis Publications and used here with kind permission.  Please do not download or otherwise reproduce these images without the express permission of the copyright holder.


  

About Genesis Publications:

‘It’s an honour to publish Ringo Starr and create a first-ever ebook for Genesis Publications in aid of The Lotus Foundation.’ – Nick Roylance, Genesis Publications

In the late 19th century, under the influence of William Morris, the private press flourished in Britain, creating books that were works of art in themselves. Similarly inspired, Genesis Publications was founded as an independent publishing house true to the arts of printing and craftsmanship. 

In an interview with The New York Times, Genesis’ late founder Brian Roylance commented, ‘I don’t know of many people who go to this much trouble to produce a book anymore. But I think there is a future for it.’ Inspired by this idea, Genesis is proud to create some of the most sought after books in the world.

Authors and contributors who have participated in Genesis limited editions include David Bowie, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Pete Townshend, Yoko Ono, Sir George Martin, Jimmy Page and The Rolling Stones.

Genesis dispatches books to a global community of readers in over 50 countries. Around 100 signed limited editions have been created with renowned authors, as varied as they are many. Their editions feature in the collections of the world’s finest libraries, including New York Public Library’s Rare and Fine Printed Book Department.

Genesis Publications... creators of lushly designed rock photo books.’ – The New York Times