Unreleased Classic Rock Photos Vol.1: ELP - The Mike Hill Series

Emerson Lake & Palmer Boston Garden July 12, 1977 ClassicRockHistory.Com - Mike Hill © 1977

Recently we were contacted by a photographer named Mike Hill who had seen one of his photos published in one of our rock star interviews. Many times, rock and roll personalities will hand us photos to use as part of the interview process. Occasionally they may hand over a photo that they received from a fan many years ago that they actually kept in their collection. There is no malice intended they just simply forget who send it to them and failed to mention that to us.

We are very careful when publishing photos to always make sure that we pay for the rights or are given permission to publish the photos that go along with our articles. In this case, Mike produced the original slide that he had taken of the photograph and simply just asked for photo credit. Of course, we instantly gave Mike the photo credit and appreciated his professionalism in the manner. However the picture in question was so good, I emailed Mike and asked if he had any others to show me. I just had a feeling about Mike, that there might be something special there. Turned out I was right.

The original purpose of our site ClassicRockHistory.com was to give those who have lived and loved rock and roll their entire lives, a voice to share their love of rock and roll music. This is a site written by real rock and roll fans who grew up with this music. Yes, we have many highly respected journalists that write for the site, but our core goal has always been to keep the spirit of the rock and roll fan’s love for music fueling the basis of the site. We have asked Mike to share some of his classic rock and roll photographs that have never really been seen before. They are from a time before cell phone cameras when it was tough to get a great camera into a concert hall. Mike did it. Today we start to get a look back into the past courtesy of Mike’s talent for rock and roll photography.

A word from Mike Hill……….

I grew up in a suburb of Boston. Being very shy in high school, music, and later photography, were kind of escapes for me. Bought my first album when I was 16 – Closer to Home by Grand Funk Railroad – and was hooked on rock & roll. Then one day a friend handed me an album and said “you have to listen to this!” It was Brain Salad Surgery by Emerson, Lake & Palmer. It completely changed my taste in music. ELP, Genesis, Yes, & Supertramp albums were added to my collection.

I took some photo classes in high school, and worked on the yearbook staff. After spending a year at Northeastern U., I changed to the Art Institute of Boston -not part of the chain of Art Institutes, but a small school in Kenmore square. Majored in commercial photography and worked for a short time in the field. This is when I thought I could combine my two loves, and started taking my camera to any concerts I went to. There were times where security wouldn’t allow it, but I was successful at others. I found a club south of Boston that became a concert venue and this was where I got the best results. General admission, no seats in front of the stage and the ability to get close. It sadly closed after a few years, and with acts prohibiting cameras and other things becoming more important -as in real life- I moved on. I wish I could have shot more of the bigger name bands.

Recently I was doing some organizing and decided to digitize a bunch of my old slides, thus giving me the chance to relive a little of classic rock history……

Volume 1 of the Mike Hill Series features Emerson Lake & Palmer

These photographs were taken at the Boston Garden on July 12, 1977. ELP performed at The Boston Graden as part of the Works Tour of 1977. At the Boston Garden ELP did not perform with the orchestra that they had performed with at Madison Square Garden on July 7, 8, and 9th 1977.

Emerson Lake & Palmer Boston Garden July 12, 1977

Carl Palmer

Keith Emerson & Carl Palmer

Carl Palmer

Keith Emerson & Carl Palmer

Greg Lake

Keith Emerson

Keith Emerson & Carl Palmer

Emerson Lake & Palmer 1974 – Cape Cod Coliseum

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