Photos by Chester Simpson

It’s been my pleasure to know photographer Chester Simpson for roughly 23 years now, all the more so because he has colorful stories to share from his days in the ’70s and ’80s as a shutterbug for Rolling Stone, NME, Melody Maker, and other big music publications.

While by no means all he has photographed in his long and memorable career, Chester was at ground zero for the punk and new wave scenes in San Francisco after his art school days, and I love to hear about his encounters with Debbie Harry, Duran Duran, Nick Cave, Siouxsie Sioux, and a host of other favorite musicians of the day.

You can hear some of those tales too, as Chester hosts a solo exhibition of his photographs at Principle Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia, on Friday, Oct. 15, and Saturday, Oct. 16.

Chester Simpson
Solo Exhibition

Outtakes: Tales of a Rock-N-Roll Photographer

Exhibit Dates: Oct. 15-16, 2021
Reception: Oct. 15, 6:30-9pm
Gallery Talk, “Chester Simpson’s Tales of a Rock-Roll Photographer”: Oct. 15, 7:30pm
Chester Simpson’s Website: www.Rock-N-RollPhotos.com

Book Signing: Oct. 16, 1-4pm
Chester’s guests, DC radio personality Cerphe and co-author Stephen Moore, host a book signing and sale for “Cerphe’s Up: A Musical Life with Bruce Springsteen, Little Feat, Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, CSNY, and Many More!”
Author Talk: Oct. 16 – 2pm: Cerphe and Stephen Moore talk about the rich Washington-area music scene and share stories of the many musicians he’s known while at WHFS, WAVA, DC101, WJFK, and now MusicPlanetRadio.com.

Chester Simpson: Solo Exhibition
Outtakes: Tales of a Rock-N-Roll Photographer
Exhibit Dates: Oct. 15-16, 2021
Reception: Oct. 15, 6:30-9pm
Gallery Talk, “Chester Simpson’s Tales of a Rock-Roll Photographer”: Oct. 15 – 7:30pm
Chester Simpson’s Website: www.Rock-N-RollPhotos.com

Principle Gallery
Address: 208 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-739-9326
Website: www.principlegallery.com

Free Admission
All ages