Photography: Pub Rock - Various Artists
National Portrait Gallery | Until 14 February 2021
Reviewed by Brian Rope
A backstage pass to 70s and 80s pub rock sounds and scenes, this exhibition features works from the National Portrait Gallery collection alongside images by leading Australian music photographers. We are invited to celebrate pub rock and its enduring impact on our identity.
I suspect many of those who visit will be more interested in the subjects than in the quality of the images. They may also be more interested in the performance shots and the atmosphere portrayed, than in the staged portraits and publicity shots. Be that as it may.
The photographers include Peter Brew-Bevan, Wendy McDougall, and Rennie Ellis, whose work I have long admired. Brew-Bevan’s portraits of famous Australians, such as Julia Gillard, Jane Campion, and Gough Whitlam, are fine works in the NPG collection. One on display here is an equally good study of Paul Kelly.
Ellis is also represented in the NPG collection with diverse images, some of which are on show here. They include his instantly recognised shot of Angus Young of AC/DC on stage in Los Angeles. For me, his monochrome portrait of Young with Bon Scott in an Atlanta, Georgia dressing room is a more interesting image.
Angus Young, AC/DC, LA 1978 © Rennie
Ellis
type C photograph on paper
Collection: National Portrait Gallery Purchased 2006
Bon Scott and Angus Young, Atlanta, Georgia 1979 by
Rennie Ellis
Collection: National Portrait Gallery, Purchased 2010
© Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive
McDougall’s image of The Church is simply great. So too her image of Doc Neeson of the Angels. He is posing dramatically for her camera – or was he performing for her – in a corner.
Another exhibitor whose work I did not know so well is Bleddyn Butcher. This artist brings us an excellent image of Nick Cave and Rowland S. Howard (of The Birthday Party).
Nick Cave and Rowland S. Howard (of The Birthday
Party) 1983 by Bleddyn Butcher
Collection: National Portrait Gallery, Gift of the
artist 2002
© Bleddyn Butcher
And there is a fine portrait of Archie Roach, by Bill McAuley.
Archie Roach 1992 (printed 2010) © Bill
McAuley
type C photograph on paper
Collection: National Portrait Gallery Purchased 2010
Perhaps the best-known shot is Lewis Morley’s of the nude Sherbet, from 1974.
Sherbet 1974 (printed 2002) ©Lewis
Morley
gelatin silver photograph on paper
Collection: National Portrait Gallery Gift of the artist 2002
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts
Program
Or maybe it is Jimmy Barnes at The Coogee Bay Hotel, by Grant Matthews.
Jimmy Barnes at The Coogee Bay Hotel 1984 1984 © Grant
Matthews
type C photograph on paper
Collection: National Portrait Gallery Gift of John McLean 2008
Or possibly the already mentioned Renee Ellis shot of Angus Young. Or Chrissy Amphlett in Sydney in 1988, by Stuart Spence? Many will recognise lots of the images.
Untitled#15 from Tour of Duty series (Kylie Minogue
performs at Tour of Duty concert at Dili Stadium, East Timor, 21 December 1999) 1999-2000
© Matthew Sleeth
type C photograph on paper
Collection: National Portrait Gallery Gift of Patrick Corrigan AM 2010
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts
Program
There are also portraits of rockers who were big outside of the 70s and 80s. For example, Johnny O’Keefe who amazed me in a capacity crowd at the Odeon Theatre in Goulburn in the late 50s. Sadly, that architectural and cultural treasure was demolished 40 years ago. But all present that night would have memories of the dust clouds raised when The Wild One scared us by intentionally “collapsing” and then laying prone on the floor for some minutes during his frantic performance.
Then there is an image of Col Joye taken in 1957 by Ern McQuillan - of interest to me as I recall seeing Joye perform in Queanbeyan around that time.
But, perhaps, the most interesting part of the exhibition for locals is Capital Cool - featuring a group of works by ‘pling, the late Canberra performance photographer, Kevin Prideaux. These include excellent portraits of Annalisse Morrow of The Numbers at the ANU Refectory, and Sharon O'Neill at the Hellenic Club.
The Numbers, Annalisse Morrow (bass, vocals), ANU Refectory, 18 September 1979, © ‘pling
We can enjoy and reminisce about acts seen in other venues - the Captain Cook Uni Bar, The Jam Factory, the ANU Union, Kingston’s Boot and Flogger, the Ainslie Rex, CCAE, and the Kingo. From the punk energy of The Young Docteurs to the indie sound of The Lighthouse Keepers, and many others in between – The Saints, Ramones, Men at Work, INXS – ’pling was there capturing the performances, and the community that rapturously supported them.
As well as photographs, some prints and paintings, there are eighteen video clips on show, and you can listen to all the artists on Spotify whilst browsing the exhibition. Entry is free, but timed bookings are essential via https://www.portrait.gov.au/calendar/timed-ticketing.
This review originally in the Canberra Times of 26/9/20 here.
It has also been published on the author's own blog here.