Led Zeppelin are paid special tribute in a spectacular DigiGlass installment at the new Rock Art Building-01 in Abbotsford. In contrast to our usual discussions on special interlayers and high performance coatings, we are taking a little segue into rock history, visual rock history created by world renowned rock photographer Robert M Knight.
Robert Knight’s professional and personal relationship with Led Zeppelin provided the material for a unique DigiGlass corner façade in an iconic building in Abbotsford, Melbourne. Cooling Brothers was privileged to be a part of bringing to life two unique images some 45 years after they were taken.
For lovers of photography and/or rock, Robert Knight is indeed a legend in his own right. In 2018 he celebrates 50 years of capturing the deeply intimate to adrenaline filled images of artists such as Slash, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton, right through to more recent bands like Green Day and Maroon 5. Knight had the cameras turned on him when he was the subject of the 2009 documentary Rock Prophecies by director John Chester. The film follows his brilliant career beginning in 1968 when he arrived in Seattle with his camera and a single roll of film to shoot Jimi Hendrix. Knight’s ability to capture the energy of a soulful solo as well as earth shattering riffs propelled him to the status of photographic rock legend, forging lifelong friendships which gave him insights into the lives and intimacies of the stars and an honest portrayal of their performances.
©Robert Knight & Knight Bilham Photography
The enigmatic images of Jimmy Page and Robert Plant are a part of ‘Legends Corner’ for Rock Art Building-01 in Melbourne – a permanent public art exhibition. The installation is described as a ‘respectful tribute to rock music and to legendary rock musicians’. Taken in 1972 at The Seattle Centre Concert Hall in Washington State, Knight describes in the interview below from his gallery in Las Vegas how he came to meet with the band:
Knight describes:
I was really knocked out when the property developer reached out to me and said he was a fan of my work and would love to display my images on glass that were very large for the sides of the building. He was a fan of Led Zep and I was one of the first photographers to work with them in the US. Led Zep in my mind was the greatest rock band of all time and when these photos where done it was at their peak of performing live. It was amazing to still be a teenager when I first shot the band and over the years I still see the guys. I think Cooling Brothers did a great job and seeing them on glass just looks amazing!
Legends Corner was one of the first prints off the new DigiGlass line in High Wycombe, it certainly was impressive to see as each panel was over 4m in length and the figures of Robert Plant and Jimmy Page appeared very much larger than life! From the outside the creative homage to the stars is visually captivating, internally the soft interlayers used in the glass makeup throw the images gently across the concrete floors in this rare boutique building – an enviable work of art accessible both publicly and privately for any dedicated fan.
The property is currently available for viewing, contact Domain Hill
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