Kirk West, renowned Macon photographer, Allman Brothers Band ‘Tour Mystic’ heads to HOF
Kirk West, Macon photographer, rock personality and Allman Brothers Band archivist and road-managing “Tour Mystic,” is being inducted into the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame this weekend.
It’s the people who make Macon’s art and entertainment world great so I wanted to talk to West and get a better glimpse into his story. I was on the phone with him and his wife, Kirsten, as they drove across the Iowa state line heading to weekend festivities and he read me the “Welcome to Iowa” road sign as they passed then laughed and read the next billboard: Cheap smokes and whiskey.
The road, not just that road but a whole lot of them crisscrossing the U.S. and elsewhere, are not unfamiliar to West and not just because of the 20-something years he photographed and managed tours with the Allman Brothers.
No, just out of high school and after six short weeks of college which didn’t agree with him, the self-proclaimed “small-town Iowa farm kid” who liked taking pictures at drag races and hot rod shows traveled to Chicago because he wanted to hear the blues music he loved in the big city.
After a couple of years of listening, driving a cab and taking only a few pictures here and there, he felt the 1960s hippie call to San Francisco and headed there staying a few years before going out to spend several more years just traveling the country in his van.
He went to a lot of concerts and festivals and a whole lot of Allman Brothers shows but still took only a smattering of photos. Having fun was the thing and taking pictures, well, that took concentration.
West’s travels brought him back to Chicago where he ran into guys doing music photography who inspired him to get serious about his camera.
“We shot anything and everything but had our own special interests,” West said. “Once guy loved extravagant shows like KISS and another liked jazz clubs. I centered on blues and country but, yeah, we all shot whoever we could get in front of cameras.”
His work got notoriety but how does that translate into becoming the Allman Brothers road manager?
Sorry, ABB Tour Mystic.
“I got an OK for a book about the Allman Brothers that never actually happened but let me spend a lot of time at Dickey (Betts’) house and Gregg (Allman’s) place,” he said. “In ‘89 they got together to do a 20th anniversary tour and I went out as photographer. They’d hired a young tour manager who thought he could make Dickey and Gregg move faster by yelling and that just caused problems.
“They asked if I’d be his assistant so didn’t have to talk to him. The next year they brought another guy in and I assisted still but after that they hired me. I guess I did OK — I did that until 2010 when I was 60.”
West had met and married Kirsten, a successful businesswoman, in 1991. Off the toad meant back to Chicago but West still traveled around doing photo work, including a project in Mississippi of historic blues spots.
Wondering what he and Kirsten would do for the future, a trip to Macon and a special tour of the Big House – the Allman Brothers’ Macon HQ on Vineville Avenue – while it was a private house, gave them ideas.
“I didn’t want to be on tour or manage anybody else,” he said. “It’s a tough job and you have to love the people you’re working for plus I wanted to learn how to see again as a fresh-eyed photographer without the tour-manager’s cynical gaze. As a tour manager you’re always looking for trouble and who might cause it so you can try to solve problems before they happen.”
That original nice guy, but effective guy, who took great pictures and Allman and Betts trusted upon first meeting him was back.
“So my past became our future but in a different way,” West said. “We moved to Macon in ’92 and I brought along all the Allman Brothers stuff I had collected. It was Kirsten who managed everything but we bought the Big House, started renovating and put my stuff in a couple of rooms. We were going to make it a bed and breakfast but that didn’t work out.”
Eventually, after tiring of being woken up at home at all hours of the night by fans from Japan, Poland, the U.S. and elsewhere, they decided to move out. The Big House and West’s vast collection plus more would become a museum run by a foundation. But Macon was, and is, home so they didn’t leave town.
After being highlighted in Macon Magazine and having a show at the Macon Arts Alliance in 2013, Kirsten began work to open Gallery West at 447 Third St. to show and sell West’s photos of hundreds of different artists, heavy on the Allman Brothers, but ranging from Johnny Cash to Emmy Lou Harris and Billy Idol to the Bee Gees, and other genre artists through the decades.
It’s quite something to see.
The gallery opened eight years ago when downtown was almost lifeless different making the Wests among the originals who sparked its current heyday. The performers they bought in for shows and photos on first Friday’s each month, including the likes of Tommy Talton of Cowboy and Capricorn Studio’s house band, helped modern First Fridays become what they are.
Because, like the road, the story could go on forever, here are a few added West highlights:
Began Hittin’ the Note, an Allman Brothers-centric magazine
Directed the critically-acclaimed documentary “Please Call Home” about ABBs early Macon years
Shot 10 ABB album covers plus covers for other bands and record labels
Helped produce numerous ABB music compilations
Did first concert shoot at age 18 of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention
Work featured on CNN
Featured in MasterCard’s Chicago Blues Legends Show and countless other shows and exhibits around the country
Published “Les Brers - Kirk West’s Photographic Journey with the Brothers” and other books of his photos like “The Blues in Black & White”
And more. Lots more.
Hall of Fame worthy? You bet, and if you get the chance to meet the guy you’ll be extra glad he’s getting all the kudos. Too bad a Georgia rock hall of fame is out of the picture now. He’d fit in right at the top.
At www.kirkwestphotography.com, you can learn more plus see and buy West’s photos.
First Friday lineup
Speaking of First Fridays, today’s the day. Featured in the month’s art crawl is work done by artist-muralist Kevin “Scene” Lewis whose work you can see in the Quill’s alley, Macon’s MLK Jr. Boulevard gateway bridge, Triangle Arts and many other places. He’s featured in Washington, D.C., at both the Smithsonian and the Hip Hop Hall of Fame but this month you can see work at the Arts Alliance gallery on First Street. There’s a First Friday reception from 4 to 7 p.m. and artist talk at 7 p.m.
Also:
At 830 High St. from 5 to 8 p.m. Walter Elliott’s large format photography of Macon scenes will be on display. Anna Richards and Rudy Mendez art will also be available.
The new Green Light Gallery, 452 First St., is open from 4 to 7 p.m. featuring Hazel Caldwell with live music and refreshments.
The 567 Center for Renewal, 456 First St., exhibits “From City to Soul,” photography by Tyler Horne, and ceramic sculpture by Heatherly Wakefield from 5 to 8 p.m. Meet the artists and enjoy light refreshments.
McEachern Art Center, 332 Second St., extends “PROOF: From the Archive of Absolute Color” 4 to 8 p.m.
The Green Man: An Art Show by Quill Cocktail Bar, 350 Second St., features live painters from 6 to 10 p.m. with a DJ and special guests.
Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.
