I’ve been traveling from Helsinki to Amsterdam to Troyes, France to Toronto to Liverpool to London … and Debbie Harry sang at my birthday party! see it all here….
May 12 – NYC – The Edition Hotel opened with a permanent exhibition of salon style photos in the restaurant/bar area. In the billiards room most of the photos are mine, with a few by Maripol, here with me at the opening party.
May 18 - Jesse Malin, Supla, Joao Suplicy and Kris Gruen in Newcastle, England.
May 27 – Helsinki, Finland – A large installation was created for my “Rockers” exhibit at Kaapeli Museum.
May 27 – Helsinki, Finland – The US Embassy was a sponsor of the exhibition and held a reception in my honor. Above, Elizabeth and I with US Ambassador to Finland Bruce Oreck & exhibition curator Caroline Taucher.
May 28 – Helsinki, Finland – We were lucky to be in Finland at the right time to catch local heroes the Michael Monroe band. Sami Yaffa, Karl Rockfist, Rich Jones, Steve Conte & Michael Monroe backstage at Jaahalli.
May 29 – Amsterdam, Holland – My son Kris Gruen on stage at the famed Paradiso for the final show of a tour featuring Kris, Brothers of Brazil and headliner Jesse Malin.
May 29 – Amsterdam, Holland – Jesse Malin and his band on stage at the Paradiso.
May 30 – Troyes, France – Philippe Manoeuvre, me & Bruno Blum during the “Exile On Rock Street” book fair.
June 2 – Helsinki, Finland – I got great press coverage for my exhibition in the Ilta-Sanomat newspaper.
June 8 – NYC – Prima Donna photo session outside my studio.
June 9 – NYC – Dennis Dunaway with Snooky & Tish Bellomo playing at the signing event for his new book “Snakes! Guillotines! Electric Chairs!: My Adventures in The Alice Cooper Group” at The Strand book store.
June 18 – Toronto, Canada – Bob Gruen exhibit at the Liss Gallery introducing my large silkscreen prints to Canada.
June 22 – NYC – Debbie Harry sings at the City Parks Foundation Summerstage benefit in Central Park.
June 24 – NYC – Billie Joe Armstrong & Norah Jones presented a live concert of their recorded collaboration of Everly Brothers songs, “Foreverly” on stage at Bowery Electric.
July 1 – Raleigh, NC – Rolling Stones on stage at the Carter-Finley Stadium.
July 28 – NYC – David Johansen as Buster Poindexter at the opening of Jesse Malin’s new East Village club, Berlin, at 2nd street and Ave A.
Aug 7 – Homdel, NJ – Chris Janson on stage at PNC Arts Center. Chris wrote and recorded my favorite song of the summer, “Buy Me A Boat”.
Aug 12 – NYC – In collaboration with the owner Sebastian Achaval, I created a limited edition of Art Skateboards for his Three Monkeys Eyewear store on Spring Street in Soho.
Aug 27 – Liverpool, England – I was in Liverpool for the opening of a permanent exhibition of my photos at the Beatles Story Museum. Also unveiled was a piano used by John Lennon that had just arrived from New York. Here at the press conference I’m with May Pang, Museum director Martin King, and John Lennon’s half sister Julia Baird.
Aug 27 – Liverpool, England – Lynda-Louise Tomlinson showed me her great tattoo of my photo of John at the opening of the exhibit at the Beatles Story Museum. I also debuted the new edition of my book, “John Lennon – the New York Years”, with 16 new pages of previously unseen photos.
Aug 31 – Liverpool, England – A highlight of my trip was a visit to John Lennon’s childhood home.
Aug 31 – Liverpool, England – The featured headlining band of the International Beatle Week festival was “The Boys Who Knew The Lads” who all had a connection with the Beatles. Backstage at the Royal Court Theatre are Joey Molland (Badfinger), Earl Slick (John Lennon), Mark Hudson (Ringo), Denny Seiwell (Wings) and Gary Van Scyoc (Elephant’s Memory Band).
Sept 17 – NYC – Anna Sui looked great at the opening of her new store on Broome Street in Soho.
Sept 17 - NYC - Shepard Fairey exhibited a new edition of prints at the Jacob Lewis Gallery and then had his after party at the Dream Hotel where I took this photo of him.
Sept 21 – London, England – Tommy Hilfiger celebrated his 30th anniversary in the fashion business by showing the photos that inspired him. I joined him at the opening of the “Rock/Style” exhibit, curated by Jeffery Deitch, at Sotheby’s S/2 Gallery.
Sept 21 – London, England – John Dunbar (the man who said “John, I’d like you to meet Yoko”) and photographer Gerard Mankowitz with me during the opening at Sotheby’s S/2 Gallery.
Sept 28 - NYC - Robert Kennedy Jr. was a speaker at the Turtle Conservancy Benefit at the Bowery Hotel.
Oct 2 - Brooklyn, NY - Barb Wire Dolls brought an energy filled night to the Grand Victory club.
Oct 4 - NYC - Yoko Ono brought her unique musical style to Central Park’s Summerstage series.
Oct 19 - NYC - Lady Gaga danced with Bill Murray at the party for his new film “Rock the Kasbah”.
Oct 23 – NYC – Jesse Malin organized the best 70th birthday party I could have at his new club Berlin, located under 2A, at 2nd Street and Avenue A.Photo by Jeff Smith.
Lexi and David Bryan with Bob Gruen during Bob’s 70th birthday party at Berlin. Photo by Jeff Smith.
At my birthday party Handsome Dick Manitoba, Debbie Harry sang their version of Sonny & Cher’s ‘I Got You Babe!” and they were the highlight of a great musical show that included Jesse Malin, Robert Gordon and Walter Lure. . Photo by Jeff Smith.
Oct 26 – NYC – Ringo Starr was interviewed by Little Steven Van Zandt during the “Photograph” book release event at The Strand bookstore.
