On June 17th, Morrison Hotel Gallery will honor Dave Matthews Band’s 25th anniversary with an immersive photo exhibit spanning the band’s quarter century history. The show will feature the collected work of the band’s favorite photographs and photographers. The exhibit will be open to the public from June 17th thru July 10th. All images in the exhibit are available for purchase at www.morrisonhotelgallery.com. During that time, the band will be playing in the region as part of their summer tour, but will be taking a break from touring in 2017. 
Dave Matthews Band formed in Charlottesville in early 1991 when vocalist/guitarist Dave Matthews sought out a few local musicians – including drummer Carter Beauford, saxophonist LeRoi Moore, bassist Stefan Lessard and violinist Boyd Tinsley – to help him record a demo of some songs he had written. RCA Records signed Dave Matthews Band and released its first studio album, Under The Table and Dreaming, in 1994. Dave Matthews Band has sold more than 20 million tickets since its inception and a collective 38 million CDs and DVDs combined. It is the first group in history to have six consecutive studio albums debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 – Before These Crowded Streets, Everyday, Busted Stuff, Stand Up, Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King and Away from the World.
The photographers showing in this exhibit will be C. Taylor Crothers, Danny Clinch, Rene Huemer, Sam Erickson, and band member Stefan Lessard.
Danny Clinch has established himself as one of the premier photographers of the popular music scene. He has photographed a wide range of artists, from Johnny Cash to Tupac Shakur, from Bjork to Bruce Springsteen. His work has appeared in publications such as Vanity Fair, Spin, Rolling Stone, GQ, Esquire, The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine, among others. Clinch has presented work in numerous galleries and published three books: Discovery Inn (1998), When the Iron Bird Flies (2000), and Still Moving (2014).
C. Taylor Crothers was born in Rising Sun, MD in 1971, graduating Washington & Lee University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1993. A self-taught photographer, Crothers moved to New York City in 1995 and quickly established himself as a go-to shooter in the entertainment industry. While initially known for his live performance photography, Crothers expanded his repertoire into record label work, magazine features, and celebrity portraits. His credits in entertainment include countless album and publicity shoots for nearly every record label from the 1990’s through the present, dozens of concert tours for Dave Matthews Band and Phish, thirteen years at Bonnaroo, and numerous tours with AC/DC. He was the set photographer for two IMAX films and several MTV series. In recent years, Crothers has continued his entertainment work, while also diversifying into architectural and fine art aerial photography. Much of this work is done flying in helicopters or atop skyscrapers. Crothers still draws from his earliest lessons in live concert photography. The privilege of access, lack of a safety net, and need to capture a moment, regardless of situation.
Sam Erickson has had a long and varied career documenting the creative process of rock musicians. Originally from Charlottesville VA, Sam got his break in the industry when his friends in Dave Matthews Band asked him to take some pictures for their debut album. A multi-decade creative relationship ensued. As a rock photographer, Sam has created arresting images of such icons as Dave Matthews Band, Bob Dylan, Steve Winwood and Jon Bon Jovi. His love of music – and his deep interest in the creative processes behind it – eventually drew him into video and film, as he went on to direct concert DVDs, music videos, and documentaries featuring some of the most influential musicians and performers of our time: Bob Dylan, John Mayer, My Morning Jacket, and Steve Winwood, as well as such Nashville fixtures as Kris Kristofferson, Keith Urban, and Brooks & Dunn. More recently, Erickson created documentary and performance series for cable television, including the gonzo travel show Young Broke & Beautiful for IFC and a series for American Express called Pairings, which brings together musicians, chefs, and winemakers. Currently Sam is Head of Production for Arcade Creative Group, a division of Sony Music creating music and branded content.
Aaron Farrington is a photographer and filmmaker living in Virginia. In 2008 he began working with longtime DMB lighting designer Fenton Williams on several projects, including the Boyd Tinsley film Faces in the Mirror, the music video for the Away From the World song “Rooftop,” and video content for Dave Matthews Band’s live shows. He has also photographed and made videos for many other artists, including Old Crow Medicine Show, Mike Doughty, Vusi Mahlasela, and the North Mississippi Allstars. But mostly he makes wet plate photographs of mannequins and walks in the woods taking pictures of mushrooms and turtles.
Rene Huemer is a Vienna, Austria based photographer with a passion for people, music and travel. Rene’s dedication to photography has led to a portfolio brimming with live concert images and intimate portraits for some of the largest names in music: The Rolling Stones, Metallica, Leonard Cohen, Amanda Palmer, Skin, Lemmy and ZZ Top to name a few. His work has appeared in both print and digital publications such as Rolling Stone, Relix, Esquire, The Red Bulletin and Jazzed. Rene accompanies both Dave Matthews Band and Phish as an official tour photographer.
Stefan Lessard is more commonly known as the bassist in Dave Matthews Band. Through his travels with the band, he developed a love for photography and quickly honed his craft by documenting many of the beautiful places the band has toured. His photograph in this show is of the Gorge, in George WA, where the band has played over 50 times and has become a quintessential fan destination.
About Morrison Hotel® Gallery
Morrison Hotel® Gallery (MHG) was founded in 2001 by former record company executive Peter Blachley, music retail industry professional Richard Horowitz, and legendary music photographer Henry Diltz.
MHG is the world’s leading brand in fine art music photography representing over 100 of the world’s finest music photographers and their archives. Their vast catalog of photography encompasses jazz, blues, and rock imagery spanning several generations through to today’s contemporary music artists and now includes iconic photographs in the world of sports as well. MHG has a robust online presence, featuring over 50,000 images searchable by photographer, music artist, band or concert.
FOR MORE INFO: www.morrisonhotelgallery.com // www.davematthewsband.com