Steve Vai: jeff beck... rock prophecies

News:
09-04-2009:

AFI Dallas world premiere of ROCK PROPHECIES, the feature-length chronicle of
conflicted photographer Robert M. Knight, on a quest to find both himself and the
world’s next great guitar player.

video promo

Screening Friday, March 27th at 7:30pm at the Magnolia Theatre
LOS ANGELES, CA, March XX, 2009: Imagine seeing bands like Led Zeppelin or the Rolling Stones long before they became famous. Legendary Rock photographer Robert Knight did just that, and has the photos to prove it. ROCK PROPHECIES explores Robert’s amazing career and follows him on his quest to help the bands of today become the Rock legends of tomorrow, whether promoting Panic at the Disco before anybody has heard of them, or convincing Aussie band Sick Puppies to sell everything and move to the United States. When Robert stumbles upon Tyler Dow Bryant – a 16-year old guitar phenom from Texas – he’s convinced he may have found the next Stevie Ray Vaughan. Robert risks his reputation and career and takes a chance on Tyler. The two then set off on an unbelievable journey to take their own shot at making history.
The film features interviews and performances from Jeff Beck, ZZ Top, Carlos Santana, Slash, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, and Steve Vai, among others, and will have its world premiere at the AFI Dallas International Film Festival on Friday, March 27th at 7:30pm at Landmark’s Magnolia Theatre. Knight and director John Chester will stick around afterwards for a brief Q+A, followed by an after-party at The Loft,
with performances by Tyler Dow Bryant and Sick Puppies. A second screening is set for Saturday, March 28th at 4pm at the Magnolia Theatre. “It’s a true story about having a dream, and how to fulfill that dream,” Knight says of ROCK PROPHECIES. “For that matter, it’s the story of fulfilling other peoples’ dreams, too.” While building
relationships with established guitar royalty, Knight has always managed to keep his finger on the cultural pulse, leaping at the opportunity to photograph and promote emerging talent such as blues-rock star Joe Bonamassa, and rising bands Sick Puppies, The Answer and Panic At The Disco. Since Robert became involved, Sick Puppies have scored a hit single and viral video smash with “All the Same” and “Free Hugs,” The Answer has opened for AC/DC’s 2009 world tour, and Panic at the Disco has become one of the most successful bands on earth. A film by John Chester and produced by Tim Kaiser, ROCK PROPHECIES was shot in multiple locations in the U.S. and England. Kaiser has proclaimed Knight to be the “the Forrest Gump of Rock ‘n Roll” for
his ability to capture history in the making, namely the last photo ever taken of Stevie Ray Vaughn and some of the earliest of Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. “A lot of people take great pictures,” says Kaiser, “but Robert just captures history again and again.” In the words of director John Chester, Knight’s “ability to zero in on the legends of tomorrow is more than a little eerie. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t filmed it myself.”


In a venture with Samsung, ROCK PROPHECIES will also introduce the world to another way to capture historic Rock moments with the new Samsung Memoir™ – a full touch-screen mobile phone designed to look and feel like a point-and-shoot digital camera. Samsung is sponsoring the documentary to promote its new 8-megapixel camera phone with premium multimedia features, one of the highest quality imaging phones available in the U.S. In addition to the two screenings and concert, Robert Knight will be hosting a book signing at Borders Books on Saturday, March 28th at 1pm in Dallas, TX for Rock Gods: Forty Years of Rock Photography (Insight Editions, October 2008) which is a comprehensive collection of Knight’s work with over 200 full color images, plus commentary from artists that Knight photographed during the past four decades.
Selections from the book will also be featured in a gallery show in the lobby of the AFI Dallas Registration center for the duration of the film festival. For more information: www.rockprophecies.com

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