March 19, 2024 #1 Local News, Forum, Information and Event Source for Venice Beach, California.

Venice Remembers Guy Webster

By Keldine Hull

Long after the final note of the final song on an album, the images on that album cover are what linger and connect us to the artist just as deeply as the music itself. From the Rolling Stones’ “Aftermath” to the Simon & Garfunkel’s  “Sounds of Silence,” Guy Webster was the prolific photographer behind iconic album covers throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s that transcended time and continue to have a profound impact to this day. On February 5 in Ojai, California, Guy Webster passed away at the age of 79 leaving behind a lifetime of photographs and a legacy that has touched the lives of so many, including in Venice where Webster kept a studio. 

Guy Webster was born on September 14, 1939 into a uniquely musical household. His father, lyricist Paul Francis Webster, won Academy Awards for Best Original Song for “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing,” “The Shadow of Your Smile” and “Secret Love.” From the hallways and classrooms of Beverly Hills High School and Whitter College, to the barracks at Fort Ord in California, Webster entered the Army where he quickly learned how to use a camera and eventually headed the photo department. After his discharge, he studied photography at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. While playing basketball, Webster was introduced to Lou Adler through Terry Melcher, Doris Day’s son. Adler was impressed by Webster’s work and hired him as the house photographer for Dunhill Records. Webster would go on to shoot legendary artists and actors like Jimi Hendrix, the Who, Pete Townshend, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, the Mamas and the Papas, the Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkel, Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson, Jeff Bridges, Stevie Nicks and Liza Minelli (to name a few).

Guy Webster throughout the years. Photo: guywebster.com

Webster’s biographer, co-author of “Big Shots: Rock Legends and Hollywood Icons: The Photography of Guy Webster” Harvey Kubernik was familiar with every image Webster photographed long before a chance encounter with Webster at a wrap party in Santa Monica. “When I would find albums in the mid ‘60s and later ‘60s, I noticed he did the front covers through the back covers of Love and Doors and Mamas and Papas. You don’t do the math then when you’re a teenager. This was a world pre-FM radio and pre-internet. Those album covers in the big cardboard were very important to look at. Those covers and those pictures brought you inside the cardboard where the vinyl was. So Guy Webster was our spirit guide for a lot of us.”

In 2014, during an event to launch “Big Shots: Rock Legends and Hollywood Icons: The Photography of Guy Webster” on Sunset Boulevard, fans of Webster’s work were able to share the magnitude of the kind of affect his photographs had on their life. Kubernik reminisces about the once in a lifetime event. “That was a second barmitzvah for me because I was able to bring a lot of my friends and musicians who really wanted to meet Guy Webster. You don’t get to meet Guy Webster. He was not around. He wasn’t at bookstores every six months. He wasn’t in hiding, it’s just he never had a book out before. It’s very interesting to invite friends of mine, and they’re able to say to him you have no idea what the ‘Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass)’ Rolling Stones front cover did to my life. You get to hear the impact of the photo on people and then you find out people were buying extra copies of the records and cutting up the cardboard and framing them. It was a really rewarding experience being his biographer.”

Kubernik also explains what made Webster’s photography so groundbreaking and a perfect reflection of the photographer’s immense talent. “He didn’t do a lot of live concert shots. There’s mostly studio portraits, so he wasn’t your usual rock photographer shooting concerts all the time. And you can see that he took Simon and Garfunkel up a road, the Mamas and the Papas in that house, and things like that and you can tell that he was doing fine art photography. You could tell he had the ability and the luxury of doing what he wanted to do behind the camera. And we all benefit from that.”

His ability to freely do with his camera what he wanted resulted in decades of work that withstood the test of time. Kubernik explains, “The album cover is a stationery object and that’s not even counting the literature and liner notes on the back. That album cover is usually the first impression. And even though you see the album covers online today, you’re seeing them on a computer screen even smaller than a compact disc. When you are a vinyl person or a mono person, the albums resonate and the album covers resonate. When you realize he did the Stones, the Doors, the Mamas and Papas, Simon and Garfunkel- these albums are now hitting the 50 year mark. You’re dealing with half a century which means those art statements hold up, and they still cause goosebumps and chills on occasion.” 

Sunny Bak, President of Venice Art Crawl and professional photographer, – who herself has photographed album covers, including the Beastie Boys – talks about meeting Webster in Ojai and the scope of his career. “As the president of the Venice Art Crawl, I had heard about Guy’s studio; he opened it for one of the art crawls. I knew Guy mostly as a Venice local who also had a huge motorcycle collection in Ojai. Ojai is actually where I first met him through a mutual friend, photographer Bobbi Bennett. He was Bobbi’s mentor. At the time I met him, I didn’t even know he was such an accomplished photographer. I was just getting to know him more and was amazed at the span of his work.”

Whether or not you knew his name, the images Webster was able to capture with a camera resonate with anyone who has ever held one of his album covers. Kubernik continues. “There is a romantic aspect to vinyl. You must be stationery to hear it by yourself or with some people. You don’t really have a record player in your car playing vinyl. It’s a one on one relationship with the needle and your record player and that’s kind of why Guy’s work really radiates. The music drives the product, but the album cover is important.”

Related Posts

California: Pioneering the Future of Online and Digital Payments

January 11, 2024

January 11, 2024

In the fast-paced digital economy of the 21st century, California has emerged as a powerhouse in the realm of online...

A Guide to the Current Gambling Situation in Canada

January 1, 2024

January 1, 2024

For centuries, gambling has woven itself into the fabric of human culture; in recent years–marking an era where evolution pervades...

Smart Strategies to Save Money in Your Entertainment Budget

December 30, 2023

December 30, 2023

Many individuals and families in today’s fast-paced world share a common goal: finding ways to save money. The entertainment budget...

California’s top sports teams.

December 1, 2023

December 1, 2023

California is known worldwide for a multitude of exciting things. They’re known for their incredible beaches, glorious sunshine, and fabulous...

Your Lucky Numbers: Six Tips Towards Lottery Success

November 30, 2023

November 30, 2023

Have you ever wondered how people win money from the lottery? They may not always hit the jackpot, but they...

Five different ways to unwind.

October 1, 2023

October 1, 2023

Modern life is always busy and it can feel like your to-do list is never ending. When you’re not working,...

Over Half of Short-Term Rentals Advertised in LA Don’t Comply With City’s Home Sharing Ordinance

April 4, 2023

April 4, 2023

Better Neighbors LA report highlights the inadequacies of enforcement measures for short-term rentals in Los Angeles, calling for increased regulation...

Venice Beach Attempted Murder Suspect Arrested in West Virginia

December 22, 2022

December 22, 2022

Brandon Manyo Dixon arrest in West Virginia By Sam Catanzaro A man has been arrested for the attempted murder of...

The Current Gambling Situation in California

December 1, 2022

December 1, 2022

Here’s what to know about everything from online casinos to betting in the state. In the U.S., gambling is a...

Cancer Cartel Provides Financial Help To Cancer Patients

November 16, 2022

November 16, 2022 1

Cancer Cartel is helping cancer patients focus on their treatment, not the financial stress of living with a diagnosis. Learn...

100 Miles of Bus-Only Lanes Within Five Years on City Council Plans

October 17, 2022

October 17, 2022

L.A’s public transportation network is known for being slow due to traffic congestion. A new motion by L.A. City Council...

What Is the Most Effective Way to Sell a Used Car?

October 6, 2022

October 6, 2022

It’s no secret that selling a used car can be difficult. You have to find the right buyer, negotiate a...

How Do I Know What Types of Commercial Trucking Insurance Coverage I Need?

October 1, 2022

October 1, 2022

Running a small trucking company is expensive. You must comply with many rules set forth by the Federal Motor Carriers...

Best Ways To Show Your LA Baseball Love

August 10, 2022

August 10, 2022

Los Angeles is a sports lover’s paradise. In every sport except for the NHL, locals have two teams to choose...

Inspiring Others Through Body Positivity

May 13, 2022

May 13, 2022

Navy Officer Janae Carey Teams-Up with 2022 Herbalife24 Triathlon Los Angeles . Video brought to you by Pudu Pudu.