Blender Gallery is pleased to present AC/DC EXPOSED! – A collection of photographs by Philip Morris.

This exhibition has been timed in conjunction with original AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott’s birthday of July 9th.

This exhibition one of Blender Gallery's feature exhibitions of 2008.

More than three decades into a career that shows no signs of slowing down or letting up, AC/DC, like electricity itself, provides the world with an essential source of power and energy. Since forming in 1973, AC/DC's high voltage rock 'n' roll has flowed out into the world via consistently sold-out concert tours and global sales totaling more than 150 million albums and counting.

The exhibition AC/DC EXPOSED! showcases the legendary rockers in their original line-up - before the death of original lead singer Bon Scott in 1980.

AC/DC EXPOSED! will include the publicity photographs of High Voltage & Jailbreak, with unseen shots from the studio sessions of Dirty Deeds and still shots from the filming of High Voltage.

Philip Morris is the inimitable Australian rock photographer who today boasts one of the most extensive photo archive library of Australian rock music. This collection is being made available to the public for the first time through Blender Gallery.

Born in Narrandera, Australia, Morris started his career behind the lens in Sydney at the age of 15. He got his first official gig as a contributing photographer for the first national Australian pop publication “Go Set” in the late 1960s.

Being on the scene and at the concerts, Morris quickly added to his portfolio with every big name to come to town. His career continued to soar in the 70's when he was a contributor to all the major music magazines in Australia, including “RAM” and “Juke.” During this time he shot Australia's legends, the Easybeats, on their last national tour, as well as almost every international band touring the country including the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Paul McCartney among the list. Shooting AC/DC's first ever photo session in 1974, Morris is still the only photographer to have shot the Hard Rock legends at the famed Alberts Studios.

Morris has shot album jackets for such bands as Midnight Oil's (“Head Injuries”), John Paul Young (“Hero”), Johnny O'Keefe, Sherbet, Daddy Cool, Marcia Hines, and The Angel's “Face To Face,” which won a best album cover award in 1978, and he has contributed much of his work to various books including AC/DC's “Highway to Hell,” Peter Allan's “Boy From OZ” and most recently to two highly acclaimed contemporary music history books, “The Real Thing” and “Friday on My Mind.”

Philip Morris first meet Bon Scott when he was in the band Fraternity in 1971 as Go Set featured them as a musician’s band.

“The first time I met and photographed AC/DC was in 1974. I was then photographing for GO SET the OZ music Bible.

Their manager Ray Arnold contacted me to arrange a photo session as they were not signed yet. The members at this time were: Angus Young, Rob Baily, Peter Clark and Dave Evans was the singer.

This lead to their first gig at Chequers Night Club in Sydney” – Philip Morris

The exhibition AC/DC EXPOSED! will showcase a selected collection of over 60 images from the period of "High Voltage", “Highway To Hell "and to the last live performance with Bon Scott at the Cremorne Hotel in 1979.

“My most fondest recollection was after finishing the photographs from the Albert's Studio sessions of Dirty Deeds, on the way to the lift with my lighting gear, I passed Bon on the floor ripping up pages of lyrics cursing with frustration - unable to find the right lyrics” – Philip Morris.

As the Go Set photographer Morris was privileged to photograph many of the Albert's bands: The Angels, John Paul Young, Rose Tattoo, William Shakespeare and Stevie Wright.

During this period Morris also photographed many concerts of bands that AC/DC were influenced by such as Led Zeppelin, Muddy Waters, The Rolling Stones, Free and Paul McCartney of the best of which have been selected to include in this exhibition.

AC/DC EXPOSED! by Philip Morris opens on Thursday June 26th 2008 from 6pm-8pm at Blender Gallery, 16 Elizabeth Street, Paddington.

The exhibition will run until July 29th 2008.
Blender Gallery hours: Tuesday–Saturday: 10am - 6pm.
16 Elizabeth Street
Paddington NSW 2021
ph: +61 2 9380 7080
email: info@blender.com.au
www.blender.com.au