Nobody gives you a better peak behind the curtain than Neal Preston. As Queen’s longtime photographer, Neal has been embedded with the band for all their albums and phases. What he gives you now is his specialty — he puts you on the stages and in the rooms where the magic happens. Brian May wasn’t kidding when he said he feels like Neal is a member of the band. This is his most intimate collection of Queen photography yet, and that’s saying a lot.
We are very excited to share Jim Miller’s Origins Podcast Almost Famous Turns 20 series with you today. All five episodes are bingeable now! It’s a candid in-depth look at all aspects of the film.
In addition to Cameron, you will hear all new insights from Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Patrick Fugit, Jason Lee, Zooey Deschanel, Jimmy Fallon, Nancy Wilson, Peter Frampton, Neal Preston, Casting director Gail Levin and the real Pennie Lane!
There are many more Almost Famous surprises coming to celebrate the 20th anniversary. Stay tuned….
“I want the reader at the end of this book to feel like they’ve just spent a year on the road with Zeppelin with one day off, then six months with Guns ‘n’ Roses, with one day off and then five years with Bruce Springsteen. Exhilarated and exhausted.” -Neal Preston
Legendary rock photographer Neal Preston has officially announced his new book, Exhilarated and Exhausted. In addition to a collection of amazing photographs, the 336 page book is crammed with personal stories, backstage intrigue and plenty of Neal’s humor. It’s really much more than just a collection of photos, it’s an insightful look from Neal documenting his 50 years in the business. The book will also include an introduction by Cameron. The book will be released on October 24, 2017. You can pre-order your copy now at Amazon.com. More to come!
Freddie Mercury at Wembley Stadium. Photo by Neal Preston
We want to wish the one and only Neal Preston a very happy birthday today! His relationship (both personally and professionally) with Cameron goes back 40+ years and we all love him at Vinyl Films. Happy Birthday Neal!
Neal and Cameron (2003) Courtesy of Neal Preston
Aloha is out today in North America on Blu-ray and DVD. To celebrate, we thought you’d like to see a small clip from the Gag Reel. It features Mr. Alec Baldwin having a bit of trouble with his scene. There’s much more Alec, along with the rest of the cast on the entire Gag Reel. You’ll also find a commentary by Cameron, the original opening, an alternate ending, a 70 minute documentary The Untitled Hawaii Project: The Making of Aloha, additional deleted scenes, a photo gallery with photographer Neal Preston and much, much more.
Bob Marley, Santa Monica, 1979. Photo by Neal Preston.
In this piece from the archives, Cameron reports on the shooting of Bob Marley in a Rolling Stone story from January, 1977. Miraculously, Marley played a festival in Jamaica just days later.
Bob Marley: the shooting of a Wailer
Los Angeles – Bob Marley, one of the world’s best-known reggae performers, and three other persons were shot December 3rd when seven gunmen burst onto the grounds of Marley’s home in Kingston, Jamaica, where he and his band, the Wailers, were rehearsing. Miraculously, amid a shower of bullets, there were no fatalities.
Neal Preston is one of rock’s most celebrated and iconic photographers. Neal’s relationship with Cameron nearly goes back to the beginning of his illustrious career. We chatted with Neal on location in Hawaii about his career, his new iBook Led Zeppelin: Sound and Fury and much more.
When did you first meet Cameron? I know you guys worked together at Circus magazine and Rolling Stone, but had you met earlier while he was writing for the San Diego Door or Creem?
You know, I actually don’t recall the very first time we met — but I know that around the time we met he was definitely writing for the San Diego Door. I remember my girlfriend Bobbi (who was a publicist with rock p.r. agency Gershman, Gibson and Stromberg) shoving a copy of the Door in front of me, virtually demanding that I “read this kid’s stuff!! He’s only 14 years old!!!!”
Yeah, he could write, but what was far more astounding to me was that he was a really good ping pong player. There was a ping-pong table in the rec center where he lived. I was 5 years older than him, yet he probably beat me 80-90% of the time. I hated losing to him, more than he ever knew. In fact I’m still upset about it.
I recently stumbled across this 1977/78 Tour program for the rock band Kansas. The 28 page souvenir includes a huge selection of Neal Preston photos and a lengthy essay by Cameron. The main focus of the essay (through the many quotes from the band) is that they did it “their way”. Cameron also covers the band’s history and early days and I enjoyed how each section of the essay focused on a different band member (along with pics of their family, hobbies, etc.). I hope you like it. I’ve also included a few additional pics of the program below.
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