Perhaps Jim Marshall’s most famous photograph depicts guitar legend Jimi Hendrix bathing his burning Stratocaster guitar with lighter fluid at The Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. Hendrix is on his knees and deep in an odd sacrificial prayer. This iconic photograph of Hendrix immolating his guitar is just one in a massive collection of some of rock n’ roll’s most enduring images. And, the man behind the camera for each photo in this illustrious collection is Jim Marshall. Marshall passed away yesterday in his sleep. He was 74.
Jimi Hendrix being...well...Jimi Hendrix
Marshall was born in Chicago in 1936 and raised in San Francisco. After purchasing a camera in high school, he began taking pictures of local musicians. After serving in the Air Force, Marshall had a chance encounter with John Coltrane. He gave Coltrane a lift and, in return, he allowed Marshall to take pictures of him. Marshall then moved to New York and was hired by Atlantic and Columbia to take studio pictures. After his stay in New York, he moved back to San Francisco during the height of the Psychedelic music scene. There, he took some of his most known photographs including the Hendrix photo.
This is a tough loss for the music community. Marshall was one of the most respected rock photographers and he will surely be missed. During the past few years he remained active in rock photography. Some of his latest subjects were The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Ben Harper. I was always struck by one of Marshall’s photographs of John Coltrane in 1960. The picture is a wonderful portrait of a genius in thought. It will always be one of my favorite Jim Marshall pictures.
And…here it is:
Check out Marshall’s Collection: http://www.marshallphoto.com/collection
The Music Court 
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