Title: Rock Prophesies
Director: John Chester
Producer: Tim Kaiser, Bruce Friedman, Andrew Funnell (Exec), Tim Kaiser
Editor: Amy Wilson, John Chester
Year: 2008 (86 minutes)
Synopsis: Moments before his death, Stevie Ray Vaughn talked to Robert M. Knight, legendary rock photographer, one last time. “If anything ever happens to me,” he said, “you’ll know me when you hear me.” In the wake of tragedy, Knight would remember those haunting words, as they fueled his unyielding passion to find the next great guitarist. Smart, hip and funny, Rock Prophesies is a backstage pass into the eccentric work of rock ‘n’ roll from the vantage point of an obsessive photographer. Barely 18, Robert M. Knight stalked, captured and befriended Jimi Hendrix and Led Zepplin well before they became iconic. Years later, he snapped the controversial last photograph of Stevie Ray Vaughn. During photo assignments, mysteries about the creative process are explored as Knight revisits his lifelong guitar heroes. In the end, Knight finds and mentors a new guitar prodigy, Tyler Bryant, and unravels the meaning behind his final and foreshadowing conversation with Stevie Ray Vaughn.
Review: Throughout his unlikely career, Robert M. Knight photographed and befriended a who’s who of Rock’s premier guitarists. From Jimi Hendrix to Carlos Santana to Jimmy Page, Knight has documented Rock royalty. But it was his friendship with legendary guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn that has had the greatest and longest lasting impact on his life.
On a hot August night in 1990 in Southern Wisconsin, Vaughn was killed in a helicopter accident. Just before he loaded into the helicopter, he was photographed by Knight; the last photo ever taken of him. As Vaughn prepared to load into the helicopter, he told Knight, “If anything ever happens to me, you’ll know me when you hear me.” Vaughn’s final words to Knight would haunt Knight and set the course for the next several years of his life.
Rock Prophesies explores Knight’s career and his quest to honor the memory of Vaughn by finding the next great guitarist. In addition to looking at Knight’s relationships with guitarists such as Jeff Beck and Slash, the film looks into Knight’s struggles to care for his elderly mother. It is an intimate portrait of a man who is used to being on the other side of the camera.
Knight’s passion for his career and his quest are inspiring. He is an interesting character who has lived (and continues to live) a very interesting life. Rock Prophesies is a really well made documentary that any fan of rock-n-roll (and who isn’t) will enjoy.
(4.0 out of 5.0)
Film website: http://www.rockprophecies.com/
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