FRANKENSTEIN: Up CLOSE

On September 26, 2019, I walked into the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City to see Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll. The Met had pulled together more than 130 instruments from 70 collections across the U.S. and U.K. Clapton’s “Blackie.” Jerry Garcia’s “Wolf.” Chuck Berry’s main guitar. Keith Moon’s drums. Gear from Hendrix, the Beatles, the Stones, Elvis, and Metallica.

And Eddie Van Halen’s Frankenstein.

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I started my career photographing Van Halen (See more here). I knew I’d probably never get the chance to see Eddie’s original Frankenstein again, let alone that close. So I brought my camera gear and set out to document it.

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I was there for four hours. Every time the crowd cleared, I rushed in, pressed my lens to the plexiglass, and hunted for every detail I could get: the tape, the paint, the wear, the scars of a guitar that changed rock n’ roll. Then I stepped back, let people have their moment, and waited for the next opening.

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When I posted a few of these shots on Instagram, the questions and DMs came pouring in. So I’m making them available here, free of charge, for everyone who loved Eddie and his music as much as I do.

How to Download:
1) Download Zip file for all photos at once

2) Preview and download from the gallery

All I ask:

• Don’t sell them.

• Be respectful of Eddie’s memory.

• If you post them, credit @iamtomprather

Building a Frankenstein tribute guitar and using these as reference? Tag me. I want to see it.

Enjoy,

Tom

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