ATELIER ACE PRESENTS: EYES ON MUSIC, A CONVERSATION WITH BOB GRUEN AND MICK ROCK, MODERATED BY LEGS MCNEIL

Bob Gruen and Mick Rock – the photographers most responsible for how we remember a legendary decade of rock and punk – shared a stage for the first time on September 30 at Ace Hotel New York’s Liberty Hall. Writer and rock historian Legs McNeil moderated. The invite-only hourlong talk, served as a precursor to Atelier Ace’s celebration of Gruen’s new exhibition Rock Seen, and coincides with this year’s LDNY Festival — http://www.ldnyfestival.com. A Q & A session and dance party with DJ Howie Pyro followed the discussion.

Mick Rock, “The Man Who Shot the Seventies,” is known for his iconic images of Syd Barrett, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Queen, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Blondie and more. He continues to work with artists like Snoop Dogg, The Killers, Johnny Marr, Janelle Monae, Jimmy Fallon, The Black Keys, The YeahYeahYeahs, Ellie Goulding, Kate Moss, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Alicia Keys, Michael Buble, Daft Punk, Perry Farrell and Motley Crue.

Mick’s new book, Exposed, features a blend of the classic, the very recent and never-before-seen photos. Exposed is also the name of Mick’s current exhibition at the Sumo Gallery at 37 Walker Street in Tribeca. It is open Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 7pm and runs until October 19.

For my sins in a former life, I’ve been forced to spend an inordinate amount of time with musicians in this life. Of course, I love them.

A camera is a wonderful ally. It requires minimal maintenance and provides entry to a world of endless imagery.

My ambition was not to be a great photographer (though that certainly would have been a worthy stance). It was a lust to embrace anything that startled or energized me.

I am not in the business of documenting or revealing personalities. I am in the business of freezing shadows and bottling auras.

Without the rock ‘n rollers, I would not have developed as an image man.

You want to shock people with a bit of mystery and beauty. That’s my favorite kind of shocking.

I’ve never felt like a voyeur, although I’ve certainly done plenty of looking!

There’s an art to looking back - how to celebrate the past without being entrapped by it. Photographs provide the great physical link.

My allegiance was always to the act. I wanted them to be happy. I wasn’t owned by a magazine or a record label.

I smell pictures more than I see them and I hear pictures more than I can smell them. It’s very habit forming.