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| Photography Collection ‘Hopped-Up’ by David Biene Released June 2009 sees, after five years of research that have taken the Berlin photographer around the whole of Europe, the release of David Biene's photography collection 'Hopped-Up'. From an insider's point of view, 'Hopped-Up' portrays the European hot rod scene: the American 'lifestyle' of the '40s and '50s, the rock 'n' roll, the old-timers – all lovingly laid out alongside the excitement of rockabillies in hot rods fighting it out on the racetracks of Europe. Biene's book documents a way of life with its origins in late '40s America; one that has left its mark on the country's image worldwide. Like Ford cars or Jack Daniel's whiskey, the oil-smeared mechanic, the pomaded rockabilly or the gum-chewing peroxide blonde are integral elements of American cult(ural) history. This culture is currently enjoying something of a renaissance in Europe and David Biene provides, over the course of more than 200 pages of images and interviews, a genuine and honest insight into this world – his world. 'Hopped Up' will be released on 13.06.2009 by Berlin publishing house Onkel & Onkel – introduced with a photography exhibition followed by a party in the Berlin rock 'n' roll institution White Trash Fast Food, complete with DJ and live band. Alongside the top chops and the flatheads – climaxes of the car side of his observations – Biene focuses, without staging, without retakes or retouches, primarily on people. Powerfully and always authentically, his pictures show individual characters, belles perfectly styled in the '50s look, proud car owners with their unique vehicles, car-racing, dancing couples and sweating musicians. HOPPED-UP is the book for lovers of analogue photography, analogue technology and analogue music. The predominantly black and white photographs are supplemented with eleven interviews carried out by David Biene over the course of his travels, ranging from Spain to Norway, with selected protagonists from the European scene. This special edition of the book contains two audio CDs. The first is a genuine sixty-minute hot rod race 'soundscape', recorded in situ, which allows the beholder of the book the experience as if directly there in the middle of one of the racing events. The second CD is a compilation that has been put together especially for 'Hopped-Up' with a number of rare tracks and one song that has been written and recorded exclusively for 'Hopped-Up' by Berlin musician Tex Morton. There are also great contemporary rockabilly hits from Mystery Gang, Omar Romero, Star Mountain Dreamers, Billy Lee Riley and many more. David Biene (david-biene.de) has been living and working as a freelance photographer in Berlin since 1999. As a photographer he has worked for magazines such as Stern and Galore, as well as record labels, arts agencies and publishing houses. Besides the subjects of people and music, Biene is particularly concerned with reportage and documentary photography. After having contributed to solo exhibitions and exhibitions in cooperation with other artists between Japan, Lebanon and Germany, he has been working on 'Hopped-Up', his first photography book, for several years. It will be released worldwide. It was no accident that Biene found himself working on this project: he has been listening to rockabilly and rhythm 'n' blues since he was fifteen and has been regularly attending hot rod festivals across Europe since 2000. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Jazz News :: home page |