Stereo Stories photographer Eric Algra has completed putting the finishing touches to a wonderful collection of photographs that are now published in a new book, Rock ‘n’ Roll City.
Eric captured the heady days of post-punk and pub rock for Adelaide music newspaper Roadrunner from the late 1970s to the early 1980s.
“My intention was always to catch that special moment where the essence of rock’n’roll was distilled in one click of the shutter,” says Eric.
He was there as bands from near and far graced the stages of sweaty Adelaide pubs and intimate concert venues: Bob Marley, Elvis Costello, The Clash, Talking Heads, Graham Parker, Paul Kelly, The Angels, Cold Chisel, The Divinyls, The Boys Next Door, Icehouse, Skyhooks, The Sports, No Fixed Address…
“When I look back now,” says Eric, “and consider that I was able to experience and photograph acts like The Boys Next Door (even though I was never big on punk music), I was fortunate to witness what proved a seismic upheaval in rock music.”
“The photos are stunning,” writes Paul Kelly, “so vivid they jump off the page. Beautiful, dramatic black and white – you can’t beat it. The photographs of Don Walker in a darkening field and of Peter Garrett with one hand on his heart are worth the price of the book alone.”
The book will be launched in early 2022 at the opening of the exhibition Rock’n’Roll City, organised in partnership with the Performing Arts Collection of South Australia. The exhibition will be staged in the Ian and Pamela Wall Gallery of the newly refurbished Her Majesty’s Theatre, an Adelaide landmark.
Stereo Stories has been fortunate that, over the past seven years, Eric has kindly allowed us to use some of his classic photos to accompany stories on our site.
He has also been official photographer for our band promo pics and for several of our concerts.
Plus, he wrote his own Stereo Story, about Neil Young, and about growing up in South Australia.
Thank you Eric.
Rock’n’Roll City retails for $75, plus $15 postage. Contact Eric via email: ericalgra@gmail.com
The sequel to Rock’m’Roll City is Adelaide Babylon, published in 2023
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Eric Algra
Eric Algra is an Australia-based photographer. His documentary style encompasses both commissioned and personal work. Photography, as an art form, a record, an expression of unnameable yearnings, remains a driving passion. Challenging and developing his vision is important so Eric seeks out new thinking and stimulation.
I’ll be buying a copy!