Your contribution (an inside look)

[Nobody]

Hi Marc,

I know you've spoken a little bit about putting money into the band in various ways and I was just wondering based on looking through the Reckless Road book and seeing the volume of pictures you took (I'm sure there were MANY more you left out too), if it's not too personal, how much money and TIME do you estimate you were putting into the band in those early days? I imagine that just the act of buying tons of rolls of film, then developing them etc. would have to have taken so much time and dedication on your part , not to mention the monetary aspect. How many hours do you think you put into the archiving of your photographs. Was it ever hard for you during those times to come up with the money to continue to document the band the way you wanted to (and did)? Did you develop the pictures yourself?

Also, in terms of the actual layout of the book, how many hours/weeks /months/years did it take for you to "complete" it ? Was it incredibly hard for you to select the pictures you used for the book, or have you always had favorites that you really wanted included?

Sorry, I realize that's a bunch of questions , so feel free not to answer but I'd be interested in hearing any info on your behind the scenes contribution and creative decisions that ended with you creating such an amazing book and document of the band.

Thanks!

Edited September 24, 2013 by Nobody

[recklessroad]

Hi Marc,

I know you've spoken a little bit about putting money into the band in various ways and I was just wondering based on looking through the Reckless Road book and seeing the volume of pictures you took (I'm sure there were MANY more you left out too), if it's not too personal, how much money and TIME do you estimate you were putting into the band in those early days? I imagine that just the act of buying tons of rolls of film, then developing them etc. would have to have taken so much time and dedication on your part , not to mention the monetary aspect. How many hours do you think you put into the archiving of your photographs. Was it ever hard for you during those times to come up with the money to continue to document the band the way you wanted to (and did)? Did you develop the pictures yourself?

Also, in terms of the actual layout of the book, how many hours/weeks /months/years did it take for you to "complete" it ? Was it incredibly hard for you to select the pictures you used for the book, or have you always had favorites that you really wanted included?

Sorry, I realize that's a bunch of questions , so feel free not to answer but I'd be interested in hearing any info on your behind the scenes contribution and creative decisions that ended with you creating such an amazing book and document of the band.

Thanks!

I took about 10,000 photos. It was just about 4 or 5 rolls of film for each gig. I took them to a one hour lab which was about $18.00 to $20.00 a roll to get done. No one asked me to do it. I did it because I wanted to. As far as helping the band, I was living at home with no expenses so all of my money went into the band. As far as the book, I started it in 1993 after asking talking to Axl about it and it took me 15 months to finish the first layout. I spent about 4 to 5 hours a day starting at midnight each night 7 days a week and spending $18,000 of my own money to get it done. I was very OCD about it and printed a lot of the photos in different sizes incase I wanted them that way in the layout. I also had everything printed in B/W to see how they looked that way. It was all laid out by hand. No computers or photo shop. I laid them on 11x17 art boards so it would be 2 pages per board of 8 1/2 x 11. It was the hardest thing I ever did

As far as picking the photos, in the first draft I put about 2,000 photos in it thinking that the band might not like some of them. This way what ever they didn't want, I would still have so many to use. Axl was the only one I really cared about as far as making sure he was happy with the photos. Axl looked at the draft at least 2 times but didn't really ask me to edit any photos. I guess out of respect for me, he didn't want to make a fuss. So I ended up taking out about 8 hundred of them. See at first I went a little crazy and had 10 or 12 pages per show. The book was 340 pages. Then I cut it down to 280 pages which was about 1200 photos and that was the draft I turned in. My publisher cut it down to about 900 photos but put a few in that I didn't approve. He got them because they were on the same negative strip as ones that I did want. Also because we did so many interviews, the book ending up being 348 pages. Also they made some photos bigger so that took up more space too. There are still many photos that didn't make it into the book that I really wanted in but overall I'm happy that book is out there.

In 2007 I put another 6 months into the book to help get it to what it now is. It feels like I put my whole life into this project.

Edited September 24, 2013 by recklessroad

[Nobody]

Thanks so much for your thoughtful and detailed answer Marc, it's fascinating learning about all the details that went into your crafting such an amazing book .I feel like I have a more complete picture now of your journey in creating something we all love so much. It's a real piece of art . I can't thank you enough for all your hard work and the great gift you've given all of us !

The original 2,000 photo first draft edition must've been amazing!!

[Crash Diet]

Marc,is there any chance to these other photos see the light of day on some form?

[recklessroad]

Not right now but maybe someday I will find away to get them out.

[Crash Diet]

Would be seriously awesome

[aranrod]

I love your answer. Being a photographer myself I can so relate to this. What a tough - yet very fulfilling job- that must've been. Thank you!! I love your book.