20 Years of PLSN in Pictures

When PLSN debuted 20 years ago, we were in need of a staff photographer to shoot shows. We found a young man out of the Bay area named Steve Jennings, who was producing great stuff. For the next 20 years he has turned his flair for catching rock stars on camera into a full-time career with us, becoming both a world renown photographer and writer. Here are some words from our ace on his career, a popular cover from each year, and an act he shot while at their peak that year.

Steve Jennings, Photojournalist

“When I started to go to concerts as a teenager, I always brought my camera to capture those moments of the artists whose albums I played all the time. Covering bands and eventually getting published was exciting. I later also got into the “lighting and production” design work of these big shows, seeing amazing shows by Pink Floyd, Elton John and Tina Turner, to name just a few. When I was contacted to contribute photos to the first issue of a new magazine called Pro Lights & Staging News in Feb. 2000, I was really happy to have a new editorial outlet for my “production” photos.

“At the time, I also had my association with lighting companies where, on occasion, I was hired to photograph concert tours they supplied; these included Bandit Lites, Upstaging, Vari-Lite and Morpheus Lights. My first “photo” feature for PLSN was called “Touring Season,” with my photos of Tina Turner, Britney Spears, Don Henley and the Dixie Chicks. That issue also included my photos of the Top 10 Tours that year, so that’s how it all started with PLSN. Then, with the September 2001 issue, I started writing for the magazine as well for the first time. That feature was a Production Profile on a Tim McGraw tour, featuring lighting designer LeRoy Bennett.

“Having photographed so many tours, developing good relationships with so many lighting designers, directors and tour staff over the years, it continues to be great fun. I think it was said to me back then, ‘Why don’t you write the features as well, since you know all these people.’  Well, my response was something like, ‘I’m a photographer, not a writer.’ After some thought, I decided to give it a go… and here it is, 2020, where it’s been nonstop, averaging three to five stories per issue — crazy… I guess I fooled em.’  It’s been a fun journey (despite lots of long nights), but I continue to enjoy seeing and capturing different genres of music with photos and text.”