NAMM '19 news: Neal Preston rock photo collection to be displayed

NAMM/Lippin Group

Famed rock ‘n’ roll photographer and author Neal Preston has spent decades capturing rock’s most pivotal moments and the personalities who have defined music and pop culture.

For over 40 years, Preston has toured with the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Who, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen, among others, and through his work in TV and film, has amassed one of the largest and legendary archives in music photography.

His new photo collection has traveled the world, and showcased in Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and now, the timeless images make their way to The 2019 NAMM Show, the global crossroads of the music products, pro audio and event technology industries, in Anaheim, California, January 24-27.

At The NAMM Show, the Lightpower Collection will present coveted images from Preston’s extensive body of work, featuring more than 50 of his iconic pictures spanning legendary album covers, views behind the scenes, moments that made history – the essence of rock ’n’ roll and concert touring.

The Lightpower Collection showcases will be located in two separate areas and take on two themes. The first area will be located at the NAMM Member Center (lobby of the Anaheim Convention Center) and will feature the most iconic and thought-provoking image from Preston, curated by Lightpower and NAMM’s Museum of Making Music.

The other location will be in Hall A – at the Behind-the-Scenes booth. The booth display will feature a collection of images, including three never-before-seen of the late frontman of Queen, Freddie Mercury, as well as select shots of Led Zeppelin from Preston’s time as the band’s official tour photographer.

In addition to the displays, a selection of Preston’s books, “Exhausted and Exhilarated” and “In the Eye of the Rock’n’Roll Hurricane”, along with prints of his most famous and well-loved photographs will be on sale.

All sales will benefit Behind The Scenes, a charity whichprovides tailored grants to entertainment technology industry professionals, or their surviving family members, who are seriously ill or injured. Proceeds will also help fund The NAMM Foundation, which works to advance active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs.

Preston’s work is just one part of the Lightpower Collection, from Lightpower. Lightpower was founded in 1978 in Germany as a lighting rental company. Since then, Lightpower has grown to be an internationally established distributor for stage and studio lighting equipment. The Lightpower Collection was born out of a company culture that has grown over several years with a passion for collecting rock ’n’ roll art. The collection features photography and album cover artwork from many of the world’s greatest photographers and designers.

The 2019 NAMM Show, the global gathering crossroads of the music instrument, pro audio and event technologies industries, returns to Anaheim, California January 24-27 and will welcome attendees from over 130 countries and regions.

Registration is now open for The NAMM Show by visiting www.namm.org

About Neal Preston

Preston’s legendary music images include some of the most memorable ever made of rock’s most iconic stars. His photographs have appeared in every conceivable media outlet: on the covers and pages of world-class magazines and newspapers, to books, television shows, feature films, Broadway show programs and billboards, vinyl, CD and DVD packages … literally everywhere. His client list is a virtual who’s-who of rock royalty. 

His archive, a body of work spanning over four decades, is regarded as one of the music industry’s most extensive and significant photo collections. It was the key source of photographs for VH-1’s acclaimed “Behind the Music” documentary series, providing over one thousand still photos used in 50 episodes. Rock fans best know Preston as the legendary photographer who has toured with Led Zeppelin, The Who, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen, and countless others.

In 1985, Preston was chosen as one of the official photographers for Bob Geldof’s “Live Aid” concert at London’s Wembley Stadium. In 1988 his association with Bruce Springsteen helped land him the job as official tour photographer for Amnesty International’s landmark “Conspiracy of Hope” tour.

Freddie Mercury photo by: Neal Preston

Aside from his elite status as one of music’s most important photographers, Neal Preston has done much more than shoot musicians.

He is also a sport photographer, the most assigned photojournalist in the history of People Magazine, with almost 700 shoot days to his credit.

Additionally, Preston is a member of the International Cinematographers Guild, for which he worked as the unit and special photographer for feature films like “Almost Famous” and “Vanilla Sky.”