Chris Cuffaro has spent the past 40 years photographing history’s most significant musicians. In his latest exhibition, GREATEST HITS: GRUNGE, Cuffaro opens up his archive to illuminate the subversive 1990s Seattle grunge scene.
GREATEST HITS: GRUNGE is open now at Paddington’s Blender Gallery. To celebrate, we’ve asked Cuffaro a few burning questions we had about his artistry, his latest exhibition, and his career trajectory.
You’ve shot some of the most iconic and influential musicians in history. How did you get your break?
I wouldn’t call it a break, more like hard work and luck. Being at the right place at the right time and being smart enough to see it. I knew a Playboy Playmate way back in 1984/85. Her boyfriend was producer Keith Forsey (Billy Idol, Charlie Sexton, Breakfast Club soundtrack). I asked her if I could shoot a portrait of him for fun. He said yes, I did it, made a promotional card from it and then sent to every magazine I could. I was then lucky that Gary Koepke/Creative Director from Musician Magazine liked it and hired me for my first official music shoot with legendary jazz keyboard player Joe Zawinul from Weather Report. From that day on I worked my ass off to meet and shoot all my musical heroes!
Did you set out to become a music photographer, or is that something you gravitated towards naturally?
I started photography to shoot and meet girls. Duh! When I was twelve I shot my first models. By the time I was in High School my dream was to be a fashion photographer. I moved to LA full-time when I was 21 with a dream of being a fashion photographer but found out fast it was not the place to be for fashion.
I had been shooting concerts since I was 16 and loved music just as much as photography it was natural for me to fall in love with music photography. I saw myself as just a photographer cuz I shot everything from fashion, celebrities, fine art, musicians and more. I never wanted to be put in the box of just music photography. NOT to this day! I’ve done it all and can do it all!
Could you tell me about your latest exhibition, GREATEST HITS: GRUNGE.
How do I explain my BIG vision in a simple way? Here’s the basics… GREATEST HITS: GRUNGE is a small part of my BIGGER project GREATEST HITS. This project started 8 years ago and my goal is to celebrate my love of music and photography with exhibitions around the world. I’ve done more than anyone knows and I want to share it with everyone. Grunge is what I call a themed show. We did GREATEST HITS: GEORGE MICHAEL here last year at Black Eye Gallery and it was huge!
GREATEST HITS: GRUNGE is a celebration of my experiences with the “grunge” bands, the city of Seattle and ALL things Grunge in my life at that time. I’ll say it once and again… I am not the Grunge photographer or expert. I’m just a photographer who got a backstage pass to the best party ever! This exhibition will be at Blender Gallery in Paddington for the Head On Photo Festival here in Sydney! I’m so excited to share my Grunge story with everyone!
I’m working on my biggest exhibition ever GREATEST HITS: AUSTRALIA that will show ALL my work in November. I’ll just say this… I have enough photos in my vault that I could do a new exhibition every month for the next 5 years and not repeat myself. I have that much after 40+ years of photography!
What was it about the grunge movement that struck a chord with you?
The first thing was the music and the musicians. The second thing, the people and the energy I got from them.
We were all a bit “angry youth” and feeling rebellious. Anti anything normal or annoyed by everything. My first trip to Seattle was love at first sight. I felt at home with these friends from the beginning and they welcomed me with open arms (and Starbucks).
The experiences and the moments I had were life changing! NONE of it wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the publicists, managers and musicians. They trusted me and I never took that for granted.
Do you have a favourite photograph you’ve taken?
There are TOO many to say just one. Actually impossible cuz I love them ALL. But for you, I’ll give you a few…
Chris Cornell – in the desert shooting the Jesus Christ Pose video, cuz the song is about my photo of Perry Farrell. Eddie Vedder – flipping the bird cuz that was at Lollapalooza in Seattle and it was the best day ever! Mudhoney – sitting in chairs of my living room. I loved these guys and the band. To this day my favorite band to come from Seattle! Nirvana – in the bathroom of my apartment cuz it’s my bathtub. DUH!!! Layne Staley – the close-up of his face cuz it’s fucking Layne Staley!
Do you have an unforgettable anecdote you could share with us?
Too many to fucking count! Like I always say, I have a million stories and the photos to prove it.
Here’s the first one that comes to my mind… One night in Seattle while hanging out with Eddie Vedder and his girlfriend Beth we had a few drinks. I talked about how I wanted to direct music videos and they both were cheering me on. Encouraging me and telling me I could do it. We went to RKCNDY and saw Soundgarden do a surprise show for the release of Badmotorfinger and it was awesome. The next day I sobered up and just knew I had to direct. I asked Eddie if he would ask the band if they would let me direct a video. They said yes, I direct my video for Jeremy and the rest is history. I’ll always be grateful to Eddie and Pearl Jam for trusting me and believing in me.
Check out Pearl Jam’s ‘Jeremy’
Who were your early influences?
Richard Avedon, Irving Penn and David Bailey were my Gods! They could do no wrong. I loved everything they did and studied them since I was 10. They did it all and they did it great! That’s all I ever wanted and want.
What advice would you give to aspiring creatives?
I mentor anyone who needs help. Some of the basic thoughts I have on life and being creative is pretty simple… First, you gotta learn the rules before you break the rules. Second, never settle. Like NEVER! Third, do the fucking work!!! Fourth, make shit happen! DON’T wait for shit to happen. Fifth, be nice always!!! Treat everyone the way you want to be treated! Manners matter. Sixth, Go big or shut the fuck up. Seventh, if you don’t listen you don’t learn. Eighth, respect is given when it is earned. Ninth, give back, help others and live life with love! Always be grateful. LAST, as Omar Little from the TV Show The Wire said it best…
“All in the game yo! It’s either play or get played.”
Greatest Hits: Grunge
A Chris Cuffaro Exhibition
Showing until June 1st.
Blender Gallery
16 Elizabeth Street, Paddington
https://blendergallery.com/
