Rock Star Guitars to Benefit the Les Paul Foundation

Press Release

108 Rock Star Guitars by photographer/author Lisa S. Johnson is a collection of stunningly personal and intimate portraits of the cherished guitars owned by the gods of rock. This new exciting book is scheduled to be on sale beginning on October 8, 2013 – so, watch for it!

It is a music and fine-art photography aficionado’s backstage pass to witness up-close these six-stringed works of art belonging to Les Paul, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, Lou Reed, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Nancy Wilson, Bonnie Raitt, Rick Nielsen, Slash, Jack White, Billy Gibbons, Ace Frehley and many others.

Author Lisa Johnson – photo credit: Ewasko

The book, to be published by Glitterati Incorporated, is offered for pre-order now at www.108RockStarGuitars.com and will be available at booksellers and online everywhere October 8, 2013. (108 Rock Star Guitars SRP: $108, ISBN: 978-0-9832702-5-6). A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Les Paul Foundation.

Alex Lifeson 1976 Gibson ES-355 Stereo

This exquisite, 396-page art book, bound in embossed red leatherette, features 300 images that reveal—through Johnson’s signature macrophotography style—the intimate details, etchings, totems, and personal touches that embody the true spirit of the musician and that few—save for their stage crew—have seen from this perspective. Alongside these images, Johnson provides personal anecdotes describing her long quest to photograph these iconic instruments and documents her travels from the backstage hallways of some the world’s most famous concert venues, to the artist’s private homes.

“I remember the first black-and-white pictures Lisa took of my guitars… they were wonderfully evocative,” writes the late legendary musician and inventor Les Paul in the book’s foreword. “I never could have guessed that she would one day produce the extensive, impressive collection of photographs presented here—images unlike any I have ever seen. Lisa’s passion for her subject is evident on every page of this magnificent book.”

Jeff Beck’s 1995 Strat with 1993 Neck

In addition, Glitterati will issue a deluxe, limited edition of 540 signed and numbered copies, packaged in a die-cut collector’s box. (SRP: $540, ISBN: 978-0-9891704-0-6).  Those books will include a hand-woven, silk chiffon scarf in deep purple, featuring the book cover design. Both editions will include a 16-page booklet, “The Inspiration Behind 108 Rock Star Guitars,” with additional behind-the-scenes photos and stories as well as a guitar pick printed with one of three custom holographic foil designs.

108 Rock Star Guitars is the culmination of Johnson’s 17-year journey that began when she photographed Les Paul’s guitar during one of his regular Monday night sets at New York’s famed Iridium Club. Renowned for his innovations and recognized as one of the pioneers of the solid body electric guitar, he wrote the book’s foreword a few months before he passed away in 2009. In his honor and memory, Johnson will donate a portion of the proceeds to The Les Paul Foundation, which supports music education, engineering and innovation as well as medical research.

Johnson’s innovative guitar photographs can also be seen in the book Eric Clapton: Six-String Stories, where 47 of her images are featured along with archival photos by acclaimed lensmen Lord Snowden, David Bailey, Terry O’Neill, Dominique Tarle and others.

As a former technical sales rep for Kodak, Johnson shot extensively, experimenting with processes and every type of film she had in her inventory. In 108 Rock Star Guitars, she showcases a variety of the last film stock ever manufactured for Kodak Professional and the transition to digital, in her gorgeous homage to image and music.

About Glitterati Incorporated:

Glitterati Incorporated is an intellectual property producer and publisher of distinctive illustrated books, ancillary gift products, and electronic media with offices in New York and London. Glitterati is an expert in producing and selling some of the most innovative products in the book industry. Working both domestically and internationally, Glitterati addresses the market needs of consumers while delivering products with the highest editorial, design, and manufacturing standards. Its offerings span across a variety of genres including fine art and popular culture, fashion and photography, architecture and design, cooking and gardening, children’s interest and lifestyle. Glitterati’s goal is to extend boundaries in the industry while creating deluxe products with broad appeal. http://glitteratiincorporated.com.

About The Les Paul Foundation:

The mission of the Les Paul Foundation is to honor and share the life, spirit, and legacy of Les Paul by supporting music education, engineering and innovation as well as medical research. The foundation awards grants to music, music engineering and sound programs that serve youth, establishes music-related scholarships at schools and programs for students, provides grants for medical research and programs related to hearing impairment, and supports public exhibits displaying Les Paul’s life achievements. http://www.lespaulfoundation.org/.