I still remember the day in the late '90s when I walked in to say hello to (then-music editor) Chris Handyside at Metro Times. Music writer Greg Baise had introduced us. I was a big fan of Metro Times' then-staff photographer Bruce Giffin, so I doubted they needed any photo help. I had been shooting a lot of bands after punching out at my record store job, though, so I just wanted to let him know I would be thrilled to contribute. As fate would have it, I walked in the day Bruce had quit, and then-arts editor George Tysh offered me a bunch of assignments for the upcoming summer guide. The rest is history, as they say. One story, band, writer or friend led me to another great musician, and the entire amazing music community of Detroit slowly unfolded before me. It seemed there wasn't a genre of music this city didn't do in style. All I was trying to do then was document and pay tribute to one of the most inspiring, diverse music scenes in the world. It's still the same today. Detroit never lets up.
Danny Brown: I remember Danny smoked blunts for a couple of hours during the Metro Times cover shoot, rocking Lil B the entire time. I definitely had a contact buzz at the end of the shoot. Fast forward one year: Danny is on the cover of The Fader, Lil B is on the cover of The Wire.
Eminem at a rave 1999: From shortly before The Slim Shady LP came out. Hell’s Angels were doing security (apparently nobody running the show had ever seen Gimme Shelter). This was the closest I ever came to experiencing Beatlemania. I was getting smashed against the stage by women just trying to touch him (lots of photos of sweet manicures reaching in front of the camera). Exiting to avoid getting crushed, I was inadvertently knocked off the stage leaving me with a scar I have to this day. It was totally worth it.
Invincible: This is at the up escalator out of the IMAX theater at the Detroit Science Center. Alana and I must have gone down the up escalator at least 20 times to get the right shot. The security people just smiled at us the whole time. Wherever you are, thank you.
Saturday Looks Good to Me: It is true: Sometimes, as a photographer, all you have to do is show up. This is completely Fred Thomas' brilliant, ridiculous idea. I think, as a photographer, it always pays off to roll with other people's ideas.
Iggy: The very first shot I took at the Michigan Theater show. Shooting live shows can be a huge challenge sometimes, and sometimes it's a piece of rock 'n' roll cake.
Doug Coombe along with Trever Long (who teamed with author Jeff Milo to self-publish the book Detroit:Now) and Marvin Shaouni (whose work has graced several years of MT Best of Detroit issues) are featured in Detroit Music: A Photographic Retrospective through April 28, at the Whitdel Arts Gallery, 1250 Hubbard, Detroit; whitdelarts.com. Opening reception is 6-9 p.m., Friday, March 30, with music by DJ Carjack.
