“See anything you like?” The other night I was walking along the Bowery when I remembered an invite I received for the opening of Rockers, an exhibit at the Morrison Hotel Gallery (which is housed in the former home to CBGB’s Gallery space) featuring the work of superstar rock photographer Bob Gruen. I missed the opening party by weeks, but I still wanted to check it out.

As I soaked up wonderful images of The Ramones sitting on the G train (with their guitars in shopping bags, mind you), the Sex Pistols mugging for Gruen’s lens, a fantastic live shot of Jimmy Page holding his double-neck Gibson SG in the air and all sorts of iconic images of John Lennon, the New York Dolls, Rolling Stones and The Clash, a salesperson sidled up to me—something I’ve never experienced before in a NYC gallery—and started to chit-chat like a used car salesman. Oh dear. As I nodded my head in approval of whatever he said, my two steps in the opposite direction was quickly followed by the clerk. “Great stuff,” I said rather earnestly. “He definitely captured some great moments in rock history.”

The salesman smiled—perhaps he picked up on my inability to spend $5,000 on a 40 x 50 signed print?—and approached the next customer. Though my comfort factor was diminished by this unexpected interaction, I walked away thinking Gruen isn’t the most technically skilled photographer (some of the gorgeous prints seem a tad out of focus), but his genius lies in his impeccable instinct and knack for being in the right place at the right time at critical moments in rock history. I’m sure even Mr. Salesguy would agree that timing is everything in life.

photos by Bob Gruen