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In the confines of a dressing room, Jerrems uses mirrors to capture Skyhooks lead guitarist Red Symons (b. 1949) applying flourishes of face paint to complete his glam-rock persona. Tight crops, reflected images and layered bodies recur consistently in Jerrems’ portraits of the members of Skyhooks, suggesting that the backstage energy was as chaotic and performative as the band itself.
Known for their flamboyant costumes and makeup, Skyhooks rose to fame with their 1974 debut album Living in the 70s, which depicted young Australian life with a bluntness that shocked conservative audiences. Songwriter Greg Macainsh recalls Jerrems as quiet and patient when she photographed the band for Skyhooks: Million dollar riff, a publication she worked on with author Jenny Brown.
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Gift of Mrs Joy Jerrems 1981.
© The Estate of Carol Jerrems
Carol Jerrems: Portraits is a major exhibition of one of Australia’s most influential photographers. Jerrems’ intimate portraits of friends, lovers and artistic peers transcend the purely personal and have come to shape Australian visual culture.
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