Sherm’s Euro Trip: On Stage with Donovan Frankenreiter

posted by / Photos / July 31, 2012

The first time I met Donovan was on a SURFING Magazine trip almost 20 years ago. We had a great time and I got some incredible images of him. I found him to be a great visionary. Last March I was in Byron Bay, Australia recording some music with Sal Masekela at the Corona house that Taylor Steele had set up. Donovan was there to record and hear the percussions I played with Sal. He immediately asked me if I wanted to play with them on some dates near my home in San Diego. I ended up playing at the Belly Up and the Fiesta Del Sol gigs. After the first show, Donovan asked me if I was interested in maybe joining him on his European tour for three weeks. I would play percussion, make a short film and produce images for a book about the tour. What an opportunity! At the moment, I’m in Germany, getting ready for the gig. Here’s a few images I shot over the last week.

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Moments after finishing their first show in Portugal, Donovan leaves the stage. Playing percussion alongside gives me a really unique perspective. I switch between my conga or bongo drums to my still camera and video camera for the documentary.

Moments after finishing their first show in Portugal, Donovan leaves the stage. Playing percussion alongside gives me a really unique perspective. I switch between my conga or bongo drums to my still camera and video camera for the documentary.

During certain shows, Donovan will bring up one of his boys (this time Ozzy) to play drums with him during the encore. The audience always goes crazy.

During certain shows, Donovan will bring up one of his boys (this time Ozzy) to play drums with him during the encore. The audience always goes crazy.

Petra and the boys grab a quick nap on the airport floor in Portugal.

Petra and the boys grab a quick nap on the airport floor in Portugal.

The cool thing about this tour is that Dono has brought the whole family along with him. There is never a dull moment with Hendrix and Ozzy. Here we have the whole family striking a very Beatles-esque pose in the streets of Milan Italy.

The cool thing about this tour is that Dono has brought the whole family along with him. There is never a dull moment with Hendrix and Ozzy. Here we have the whole family striking a very Beatles-esque pose in the streets of Milan Italy.

In Turin, Italy, the concert didn't have the biggest turnout. So, mid-set Dono invited the audience to come up on stage for a bit more intimate performance. It turned it into a really special moment.

In Turin, Italy, the concert didn't have the biggest turnout. So, mid-set Dono invited the audience to come up on stage for a bit more intimate performance. It turned it into a really special moment.

Right before the gig in Milan, Italy, the rain came pouring down. The stage had no cover. Instead of cancelling the gig, we set up everything in this 500-year-old hallway. Visually, it was insane. As usual, Dono rocked the joint!

Right before the gig in Milan, Italy, the rain came pouring down. The stage had no cover. Instead of cancelling the gig, we set up everything in this 500-year-old hallway. Visually, it was insane. As usual, Dono rocked the joint!

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7 Responses to “Sherm’s Euro Trip: On Stage with Donovan Frankenreiter”

  1. Grey says:
    July 31, 2012 at 2:49 am

    Washed…

  2. Olli says:
    July 31, 2012 at 5:00 am

    Hey Sherm,
    was a great evening at IC Vienna!
    Sounds good, that you are now in good old Germany. Have fun on the tour and a great show on thursday in Cologne.
    Greets Olli & Annabelle

  3. Agate form http://www.byronbeachresort.com.au/ says:
    August 1, 2012 at 4:31 am

    Nice one. :)

  4. Andy says:
    August 1, 2012 at 1:17 pm

    Hey Sherm,
    enjoyed a great concert in Munich.
    Ho knows how to get us Germans to the ocean – at least in our mind.
    Hopefully I´ll meet him again soon.

    Greetz
    Andy

  5. wyatt says:
    August 1, 2012 at 4:39 pm

    Just a quick reminder folks that the sentence “I found him to be a great visionary” in the above article is in reference to Donovan Frankenreiter. Yes, that guy. Floppy hat, sort of a neutered James Taylor, lots of songs about “freedom” and dolphins and sunshine or whatever. Once again, the author of this article “found [Donovan Frankenreiter] to be a visionary.”

  6. wayn0 says:
    August 1, 2012 at 11:15 pm

    i saw him play in byron recently he did not cut the mustard we do have musicans in this town that are at another level

  7. IsoceleseTriangle says:
    August 2, 2012 at 1:35 pm

    i find you ( wyatt ) to be a funny fucker.

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