Gary Hacking, PhotographyG

Photographer for Stage Diving

Interview by: Ellen

Favorite PH Song: Beneath Your Watching Eyes
Favorite PH Album: From Strength to Strength
Favorite PH Live moment: Was probably July 91 (?) when Pete took the crowd from the 7th St Entry show to Lake Calhoun for the rest of the gig. This was the first and only time for me, and I think the first time he ever did this.

Another favorite moment of mine came from our meeting at the First Ave. show where I originally showed Peter my work. When we spoke before the soundcheck that night, I told him how much I had loved a song he played at 7th St years before, called In My Veins. I had never forgotten it. He was like, "Oh yeah, that is a good tune... Kinda forgotten about it..." So during soundcheck, he worked it up with the band. I remember Al going, "What's up with this tune?" Peter said, "That photographer guy wanted to hear it." Then he went on to actually open the gig with it. After the show, he signed one of my prints "to Mr. In My Veins" That was a pretty memorable night indeed. I'd love to get a copy of that song! Maybe he'll put it on a Vault release... It's amazing if you haven't heard it...

How did you actually first meet Peter?
I first met Peter in my hometown of Minneapolis, MN at my cousin’s wedding shortly after the release of Gematria. I had been hearing "Waning Moon" on the radio and shared my cousin's enthusiasm for his music. Peter and his band went to the same high school as my cousin, and graduated with him.

How did you decide to start photographing Peter?
I have been photographing bands professionally since 1985 and after being turned on to Peter’s music and more importantly to his amazing live shows, Peter has been a staple of my live performance photography. This culminated in my having the honor of my live shots being used in Stage Diving.

Can you tell us more about how your photos ended up on Stage Diving?
Being we are from the same town, I had met Peter several times through the years. Meanwhile, I had also been photographing him throughout that time and had accumulated a number of shots of him. As I mentioned above, I met with Peter at a soundcheck for a gig at First Ave. (probably around 95-96) and showed him some of my work both of him and of a few other artists. He really was blown away. On the spot, we traded one shot from the Skin Tour for a litho he was selling. He then told me to be sure to shoot that night as he was releasing a live album soon of an acoustic show. Although the band was there, I concentrated on Peter by himself that night with the live album in mind. Some of the shots on Stage Diving are from this First Ave. gig, one is from the 7th St Entry run in 91 and some are from the Skin Tour. Peter put me in touch with Plump, and they selected the photos from among some of my favorites I had sent them.

Do you get to photograph Peter much these days?
I currently live in Boulder, CO where I look forward to seeing Peter each year at some of our famous outdoor festivals. So yes, I continue to photograph him. The photo above is one I took of Peter at the Lyons Rocky Mountain Folk Festival a while ago, back in 1998.

Do you make your photos available for purchase?
Yes, anyone who is interested in purchasing photos of Peter (or of any of the other artists I photograph) should please feel free to inquire about my photographs via my website at www.photographyg.com as I am happy to make them available to my fellow Himmelfans.

Gary, thank you for the wonderful work you do, and for taking the time to speak with us!