Rock Prophecies is the story of a man, his camera, and the career he’s made of helping aspiring musicians become rock legends.

In this week’s E-News Spotlight, Maggie Lange previews the documentary, which comes to the Rhode Island International Film Festival on August 8th.

The E-News Spotlight was originally included in BRU’s weekly news magazine, the Brief. The BRU Brief airs weekly on 95.5 FM, recapping the week’s top local, national, and international stories, and taking a closer look at the issues of the day in Southern New England. Tune in on Monday nights at 11:00, or stream live at news.wbru.com.

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E-NEWS SPOTLIGHT: ROCK PROPHECIES
Maggie Lange

Rock gods have a very specific quality – an intensity, a drive, a genius.

This quality is something that can’t necessarily be defined or understood – only documented.

And that’s what famed rock photographer Robert Knight does with his life.

Robert Knight was there are the beginning – he photographed Jimi Hendrix when he was an opener, when Robert was 17 he toured with Led Zeppelin, he photographed Aerosmith, Slash, and the Stones in their prime.

But “Rock Prophecies,” the film documenting Robert Knight’s career, does not focus on the past.

“To me, it was really important that there was a modern day tale.”

That was John Chester, the films director and executive producer.

“Rock Prophecies” will premiere this Saturday at the Rhode Island Film Festival at the Columbus Theater.

The crux of this movie is about Knight’s dedication to music – a story about an artist that fights for success and fame.

“It’s really clicking with anyone who’s ever wanted something out of life and been curious about clues that indicate to you where you should go and what you should do. This is really their film.”

As their photographer, Knight also managed to make friends with his subjects – who came out in full force for this film.

In “Rock Prophecies,” Santana talks about forgetting to play the guitar, Slash reveals himself as a quiet, demure and down-to-earth guy.

Knight prides himself on discovering rock legends.

When Chester proposed making this rockumentary to Knight, this is what he asked him:

“We sort of challenged him and said over the next two years can you find us some legends. And we were kinda joking and he did.”

Instead, Knight rose to the challenge.

As Robert Knight documents these stars he also catalogues what makes them a genius.

“We asked to him to explain to us what was it that you found in the guys that you found and he said why don’t I just take you to them and well ask them. So he took us to meet Jeff Beck, Slash, Z Z Top, Santana and they were all saying such similar things about following this thread of these seemingly insignificant obsessions. And it’s funny the common trait about them all including Robert Knight himself is that they were a bit OCD about it and that led to the manifestation of these giant careers in the guitar world – and in Robert’s case he was obsessed with them.”

Even though Knight’s most iconic photographs are in the classic rock vein, the film focuses on the present, on current-day stars – just like Knight.

“Robert Knight is not content with the past. It is about this guy that sees himself as a teenager and does not stop. His thing is about finding the next great act. So yeah, he shot Hendrix in the early days, yeah he shot the very first photos of Led Zeppelin in the United States and followed them for a year – but that doesn’t matter to him. What matters to him is finding the next great guitar player or the next great musical act. And for us that was very exciting we are very fortunate to make a film about a guys whose mission it is to never stop.”

If you’re interested in a great soundtrack and rock legends that spans from Hendix to Panic at the Disco, check our “Rock Prophecies” this Saturday at the Columbus Theater. Chester and Robert Knight will be there after the film to take questions, and maybe let you snap their picture.