LOS ANGELES, CA.- Imagine seeing bands like Led Zeppelin or the Rolling Stones long before they became famous. Legendary Rock photographer Robert Knight did just that, and has the photos to prove it.
ROCK PROPHECIES explores Robert’s amazing career and follows him on his quest to help the bands of today become the Rock legends of tomorrow, whether promoting Panic at the Disco before anybody has heard of them, or convincing Aussie band Sick Puppies to sell everything and move to the United States. When Robert stumbles upon Tyler Dow Bryant – a 16-year old guitar phenom from Texas – he’s convinced he may have found the next Stevie Ray Vaughan. Robert risks his reputation and career and takes a chance on Tyler. The two then set off on an unbelievable journey to take their own shot at making history.
The film features interviews and performances from Jeff Beck, ZZ Top, Carlos Santana, Slash, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, and Steve Vai, among others.
“It’s a true story about having a dream, and how to fulfill that dream,” Knight says of ROCK PROPHECIES. “For that matter, it’s the story of fulfilling other peoples’ dreams, too.” While building relationships with established guitar royalty, Knight has always managed to keep his finger on the cultural pulse, leaping at the opportunity to photograph and promote emerging talent such as blues-rock star Joe Bonamassa, and rising bands Sick Puppies, The Answer and Panic At The Disco. Since Robert became involved, Sick Puppies have scored a hit single and viral video smash with “All the Same” and “Free Hugs,” The Answer has opened for AC/DC’s 2009 world tour, and Panic at the Disco has become one of the most successful bands on earth.
A film by John Chester and produced by Tim Kaiser, ROCK PROPHECIES was shot in multiple locations in the U.S. and England. Kaiser has proclaimed Knight to be the “the Forrest Gump of Rock ‘n Roll” for his ability to capture history in the making, namely the last photo ever taken of Stevie Ray Vaughn and some of the earliest of Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. “A lot of people take great pictures,” says Kaiser, “but Robert just captures history again and again.” In the words of director John Chester, Knight’s “ability to zero in on the legends of tomorrow is more than a little eerie. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t filmed it myself.”
In a venture with Samsung, ROCK PROPHECIES will also introduce the world to another way to capture historic Rock moments with the new Samsung Memoir™ – a full touch-screen mobile phone designed to look and feel like a point-and-shoot digital camera. Samsung is sponsoring the documentary to promote its new 8-megapixel camera phone with premium multimedia features, one of the highest quality imaging phones available in the U.S.