I recently had the honour of speaking to Micha Thieme, a German photographer and huge rock music fan who has captured many famous bands over the past forty years. Micha saw Rory perform on three occasions, taking some wonderful photographs of him at Out in the Green 1987, which I am delighted to share below.

How did you begin your career in photography?

I really don’t have a “career” because I never earned any money with my pics. Taking pictures is a hobby I developed in my teens. Soon I learned, that I like taking pictures of people more than, for example, landscapes.  Since Music is my biggest passion (as a listener only), it was a small step to do concert photography.

When I started, no one cared about cameras in the audience. I wasted many films with lousy pics, cause I taught myself the basics of a concert-photographer. At the age of 20 I started writing about music, did some fanzines and worked for the local press. But only as a writer. Sometimes I changed the official pics from the record company with mine, when I considered them good. At least, no one else had them printed 🙂 But still, I earned no money with them.

The the mags I wrote for went broke, I had to earn my living with my “real” job and taking pictures was forbidden at bigger shows. Until the smartphones came.

Why was it not allowed to use a camera when it was ok to use smartphones, when they had to use flashlight and the results mostly sucked? Every club owner had other answers, so I started again. In 2013 I bought my first digital camera. Around that time I started writing for a local blog a former print-colleaque started, just for fun. I asked local organizers, when necessary, if I could join the photopit. Sometimes I am allowed to, sometimes not. Depends on the size of the venue and of the kind of music which is played. I have a small reputation now for guitar bands, but I also like Jazz, Hip Hop or electronic music. Chances are small that I am allowed to shoot someone like, for example, Kendrick Lamar. But I was recently allowed to shoot Kiss. And that was really fun.

How and when were you introduced to Rory’s music? What do you love most about Rory’s music?

The older brother of a friend of mine spend a year overseas, so my friend used his room to invite her crew. This guy, whom I’ve never met in person, had a hell of a record collection. Part of it was the Irish Tour Live-Album. I was deeply in love at that time with Live-Double-Albums from 70ies icons, starting with „Made In Japan“ by Purple. Blues-based Hard & Heavy-Rock was the real shit for me at that time. I never saw Rorys incredible performances on german TV (Rockpalast) in that time, ’cause my parents used to sleep very early and therfore I could not watch it, but I bought his appearences later on DVD. I fell deeply addicted with the harder rocksongs with wonderful melodies Rory did, like „Philby“ or „Bad Penny“, so the first album I bought was his newer live-record „Stage Struck“. I started reading music mags like the german „Sounds“ (no, they did not write about Rory at that time, but about Punk, which was also very interesting for me) and the „Musik Express“, which presented Rory several times on the cover. Reading interviews with him I always had the feeling, that he is a guy I would like to hang out with. That never changed, btw. Next studio album which came out was „Jinx“, I bought it and witnessed him on tour for the first time. It was a blast.

How many times have you seen Rory live? Tell us briefly about each concert you attended.

Unfortunately, I only had the chance to see him 3x. First was Offenbach/Stadthalle May 11, 1982. Later the Out In The Green Festivals: July 6, 1986 @ Freilichtbühne Loreley along with Status Quo, Jethro Tull and Mamas Boys (among others), lastly Out In The Green 1987. The festival I wrote a review of after 35 years.

Offenbach (May 11, 1982): Tell us what it was like to photograph Rory at this concert. What do you remember most?

I didn’t, sorry. Films were expensive for me then and I just started. After ruining the pics from Mother’s Finest in the same venue, I practiced first in clubs. The moment from the gig I remember most is the part, when Rory picked the acoustic instruments and played songs like „Ride on Red, ride on“. Maybe because this part was different from the rest.

Out in the Green (1987): Tell us what it was like to photograph Rory at this concert. What do you remember most?

I did not ask if I was allowed to bring my camera, I just did and nobody stopped me. The place wasn’t very crowded, so I wasn’t very far away from the stage (but was to shy to go even nearer). I only had a small amount of films, so I stopped taking pictures after 10. Some of them are completly useless, the others aren’t very good as well, but I had some Rory-pics, that was all I wanted. Rory, Quo & BÖC. All of them were terrific live, not just there, but everywhere, anytime. Was it as good as the 1982 gig? No, it wasn’t, but it was brilliant anyway. As far as I remember, I had the feeling that performing on stage wasn’t as easy for Rory as it looked like in 1982. 

Did you have a chance to photograph Rory on any other occasions?

I’m afraid not.

Did you ever get to meet Rory? If so, what were your lasting impressions of him?

No, would have loved to. But, on the other side, I was never good at contacting artists I adore, so I don’t do it. Back in the days while working for the local paper/Fanzine I did some interviews, but they weren’t very good.

Do you still work as a photographer today? If so, which artists have you recently photographed?

Last concert I shot was The Afghan Whigs in my hometown Frankfurt. Love them.

And finally, what would you say is the highlight of your career?

I have never made that one, perfect shot, still looking for it. The pcs I did that got the most attention weren’t the best, but showed people who aren’t active any more. Time is my buddy, so to say.

When it comes to meetings it is definitely my encounter with Lemmy. Motörhead is my favorite band, that hasn’t changed over the years, while many other bands I adored aren’t of any interest for me anymore, for various reasons. I did an interview with him which I failed to tape (yes, always a pro you can count on) . I was as professional an one can be (beside the non-taping) , but after the conversation I went fanboy, giving him gifts (Livepics I did in the past) and receiving an autograph. All the other journalists had to wait because of that. Lemmy watched my photobook and spoke highly of some of the people in that book, for example Tony McPhee of the brilliant Groundhogs. I am very grateful for that experience.

Thank you so much, Micha, for your time!