LINERnotes EP5: Rock Photographers

Music is made to be heard — but some of its most powerful moments are the ones we see. In Episode 5 of LINERnotes, the official podcast of Joey's Song, Joey's Song Founder Mike Gomoll and Andy McNamara of Code Zero Radio explore the art and magic of music photography. From the legendary images of John Lennon shot by Bob Gruen to Freddie Mercury's iconic lean at Wembley, Mike and Andy dig into why still photography has become one of rock and roll's most enduring storytelling tools. They explore what separates a great concert photographer from the crowd — knowing where to be, when to wait, and how to capture a fleeting moment that a video simply can't. The conversation turns closer to home as the guys touch on the talented volunteer photographers at Joey's Song, including Ruthie, whose instincts for finding the shot have become legendary in the Joey's Song community. Mike reflects on the joy of discovering stunning backstage and rehearsal photos weeks after an event — moments he felt but couldn't always see in the chaos of the night. Andy and Mike also geek out on music photography history: the scrappy ingenuity of sneaking disposable cameras into concerts, the iconic Morrison Hotel album cover story, the surprising connection between legendary photographer Henry Diltz and a pair of Joey's Song artists. Along the way, they tackle a fascinating question: why does a single still image capture the spirit of music so powerfully? Their answer might just change the way you look at your favorite rock photo. Joey's Song is a 501(c)(3) charity raising funds for epilepsy research through the power of music. Visit joeyssong.org to buy tickets, grab some merch, or make a donation. YouTube Chapters: 0:00 – Welcome to LINERnotes | Joey's Song Epilepsy Charity Podcast 1:25 – Intro: Why Music Photography? | Mike Gomoll & Andy McNamara 2:28 – Bob Gruen, John Lennon & the Photographers Who Defined Rock History 3:20 – What Makes a Great Concert Photographer? Knowing Where to Be 4:11 – Spotlight on Ruthie: Joey's Song's Secret Weapon Behind the Lens 5:48 – How Concert Photos Let You Relive Moments You Weren't There For 6:17 – Discovering Magic After the Show: Backstage & Candid Joey's Song Shots 8:22 – Why Still Photography Captures Music Better Than Video 14:17 – Do Concert Photos Increase in Value Over Time? 16:02 – Why Does a Single Photo Capture the Energy of Live Music So Powerfully? 19:27 – BREAK | Clean Your Lens 19:56 – Sneaking Cameras Into Concerts: Disposable Cameras & Audio Tapes 23:32 – Henry Diltz, Vicky Peterson & the Morrison Hotel Album Cover Story 24:08 – Pamela Springsteen, Gail Greenwood & the Joey's Song Connection 28:27 – Why Local Bands Need Concert Photography to Build Their Brand 29:03 – The Visual Side of Live Music: Playing to the Camera vs. Playing to the Crowd 30:31 – Bob Gruen & John Lennon: How Trust Built Iconic Rock Photography 32:18 – Annie Leibovitz & the Art of Capturing a Subject's True Personality 33:27 – The Abbey Road Cover: Six Shots, Three Walks & the "Paul Is Dead" Clues 34:45 – Wrap-Up & How to Support Joey's Song #JoeysSong #LinerNotes #ConcertPhotography #MusicPhotography #RockPhotography #EpilepsyAwareness #EpilepsyResearch #BobGreun #JohnLennon #HenryDiltz #MorrisonHotel #VickyPeterson #AbbeyRoad #LiveMusic #MusicPodcast #RockAndRoll #BehindTheLens #CharityPodcast #MusicCommunity #ConcertPhotographer #MikeGomoll #andymcnamara #codezeroradio