HEAVY METRO: ACCESS ALL ERAS is Gene Ambo’ s debut photography book. This unique and special photo collection spans his legendary career to date, with a specific focus on rock, hard rock, heavy metal, punk, and hardcore as captured through his peerless lens.
From G.B.H., Corrosion of Conformity, and the Cro-Mags to Metallica, Slayer, and Nirvana— and more than 130 additional bands in between— HEAVY METRO covers the most rebellious bands of our time, before and after they became legends themselves.
This visual journey and time-capsule of punk, hardcore, and metal, all dominating the Metro stage over the years, also features both iconic and little-known shots of such famous and infamous musical acts as the Ramones, Slash, Bad Brains, Garbage, Living Colour, Anthrax, Megadeth, Nick Cave, Babes in Toyland, Circle Jerks, Samhain, Ice T, Iggy Pop, Type O Negative, Hü sker Dü , Jane’ s Addiction, Korn, Goo Goo Dolls, Foo Fighters, and Chicago’ s own Smashing Pumpkins.
Published in the Metro’ s 40th anniversary year, HEAVY METRO: ACCESS ALL ERAS is a celebration unto itself through the punk, hardcore, metal, and rock bands who’ ve graced the Metro stage.
Chicago-based photographer Gene Ambo has immortalized countless artists spanning numerous genres over some 40 years. Gene spent many of those years shooting bands at the Metro--the most famous live music venue in Chicago and renowned as one of the most important worldwide. It’ s in this intimate setting, which has a capacity of 1,100 and no “ photographer pit,” that Gene found his photographic “ voice” and began shooting the heavy and hard-rocking bands he loved. One of the very first bands that Gene shot, in 1983, was Mö torhead. From there, he continued to make history as one of the greatest, most sought-after rock photographers in the world with his work prominently featured on album and magazine covers, and in publications worldwide.
