BEHIND THE LENS OF ROCK N ROLL CULTURE
Skyhooks performing live, a young woman from the crowd desperately climbs on stage to touch the objects of her desire but is swiftly carried off by road crew. The band plays on unaffected amidst a rain of confetti and streamers. c. 1975
IMAGES FROM THE VIOLET HAMILTON COLLECTION CAPTURE THE SPIRIT OF THE 1970s.
They reveal an authenticity and vulnerability behind the facade of the rock and roll culture.
This was something incredibly difficult to do in an industry that was consumed by idealised and manufactured identities.
Throughout the Collection, singers and band members known for strong, theatrical and energetic stage presence become trapped in time, caught for a brief moment between the characters they embody onstage and their personalities off stage.
These sometimes blurred, often grainy and gritty images suggest a world where the glamour of being a rock and roll star masked a harsher reality.
MANY OF THE BANDS THAT ARE NOW HOUSEHOLD NAMES WERE JUST AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR CAREERS DURING THE EARLY 1970s
In the Violet Hamilton Collection, Australian bands such as Cold Chisel, Rose Tattoo, Skyhooks, AC/DC, Hush and Dragon were becoming known not only locally, but globally. Some of these young performers met with tragic ends, unable to resist the allure of a rock and roll lifestyle. One of these stars, Bon Scott, was photographed by Violet in his youth. She captured the vitality and vibrancy behind his rock n roll identity.
Violet photographed all the members of AC/DC, in both group and individual portraits before their stardom.
Around this time AC/DC had not left Australia and were still very much a local band, performing at the popular Bondi Life Savers in Sydney.
Rock and roll in the 1970s was dynamic, reflecting a period in Australian history that was rife with cultural, social and sexual revolution.
Although bands depended heavily on record sales to make a living, live shows gave fans the opportunity to see their idols in the flesh. Having a connection to and working with these often large and unruly crowds, live performances could culminate in unexpected and chaotic events. It was during these times that Violet was an exceptional observer and captured the action that took place on stage.
In 1975, Skyhooks was the most popular band in Australia, they had both a unique image and a powerful stage presence. Their live performances were often described as a cross over between theatre and rock n roll.
