Beginning in 1983 Charles Peterson was the premier chronicler of
the Seattle music scene. Unlike many music photographers working on
assignment, Peterson was an insider to that community providing him access
and intimacy to his subjects unavailable to most others. His images helped
to define the "Grunge" scene and Sub Pop Records. Many consider Charles as
one of the four main people responsible for that scene, the others being
Jonathan Poneman and Bruce Pavitt of Sub Pop and recording engineer Jack
Endino who recorded almost every local band in the Eighties.
Currently residing in San Francisco, Peterson is published in
nearly every major and minor periodical and newspaper worldwide. In 1995
Harper Collins published Screaming Life, his document of the Seattle music
scene. Next month Universal Publishers releases his collaboration with
Seattle photographer Lance Mercer, Pearl Jam: Place/Date, the only
authorized Pearl Jam book to date consists exclusively of photographs.
Aquarius Records is pleased to present a retrospective of
Peterson's images spanning his career from 1983-1999. The exhibit will
contain work from Screaming Life (Nirvana, the Fastbacks, Mudhoney) and
Pearl Jam:Place/Date, as well as more contemporary musicians
Sleater-Kinney, Richard Davies, and Jon Spencer. Peterson will also be
presenting images of several Bay Area bands such as A Subtle Plague and
Team Dresch and many never before seen photos of Nirvana and Pearl Jam.
Currently Charles is taking a break from the sweaty clubs and
focusing on travel photography and documenting the Tibetan Buddhists in the
Bay Area.
There will be an opening reception for the artist at Aquarius
Records on Wednesday, April 7, 1999 from 6:30 PM until 8:30 PM, giving
people a chance to meet Charles personally. Aquarius is located at 1055
Valencia Street near 22nd Street. Please call the store at 647-2272 for
any further information.
