Rock in Faces: How Mark Weiss Created a Visual Chronicle of 80s Music

Everyone knows that there are photographers who take portraits. But few know that among these masters, there are even more specialized fields. For example, American photographer Mark Weiss—"The Guy Who Rocked the '80s"—takes only portraits of rock musicians. His work captures the look, spirit, and aesthetic of 1980s music—a true touch of history, as many of the stars are no longer with us.

Mark Weiss was born in 1955 to a middle-class family in Matawan, New Jersey. His mother worked in community service, and his father was a door-to-door salesman. Mark earned his first camera, a Bell & Howell Canon FP, at age 13 by spending the summer mowing his neighbor's lawn. Weiss learned photography in his school's photography club, where he took a course in film development.

Having mastered the camera, Mark turned it into a money-making tool. He took photos of rock stars at concerts without permission and then sold the photos to fans. Taking photos without accreditation was prohibited, so Mark had to show off his resourcefulness and dexterity. He wasn't always lucky: in 1977, Mark was arrested for selling photos of Kiss at Madison Square Garden in New York City. A night in jail, and he had to give up his "illegal" work.

The next day, Weiss showed up at the office of Circus, a leading rock magazine, with his portfolio. In October 1978, his first publication was published there: a centerfold with Aerosmith's Steve Tyler. Soon, Mark became the magazine's staff photographer. A young man who had been in the rock scene since his youth, he easily found common ground with stars and managers, which gave him unique access.

Mark signed contracts with many musicians and labels. He became the staff photographer for Ozzy Osbourne, Mötley Crüe, Poison, Metallica, Twisted Sister, and others. Weiss spent months following his "mentees" around the world. His photos appeared on album covers for such artists as Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet" and Twisted Sister's "Stay Hungry." In 2020, his book "The Decade That Rocked" was published—a bestseller in four languages, with over 1,300 five-star reviews on Amazon.

Weiss introduced Sebastian Bach to Skid Row. His photos have appeared in Rolling Stone, Spin, and the Washington Post. He captured the backstage at Live Aid with Black Sabbath, and the early days of Bon Jovi, Van Halen, and Kiss. Fans and Créem polls named him the top photographer of the '80s.

Mark Weiss's photographs aren't just snapshots, but an entire era, captured in the faces of those who defined the sound of the 1980s. His images have become part of the visual history of rock, preserving an atmosphere of wild freedom, drive, and rebellion. Do you think a contemporary photographer can capture the spirit of his musical era as accurately as Weiss did?