Herb Greene, Renowned Rock Photographer Who Shot San Francisco Greats, Dies
by Jeff Tamarkin
Herb Greene photographed Jefferson Airplane for the cover of this classic 1967 LP in front of the wall in his San Francisco living room.
Herb Greene, a photographer best known for chronicling the nascent San Francisco rock scene of the ’60s and early ’70s, died at his home in Maynard, Mass., on March 3, 2025, following a long illness. He was 82.
Greene’s subjects included bands such as Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead and, later, Santana, Led Zeppelin, Sly Stone, Bob Dylan and others. He often photographed his subjects in front of a wall sporting hieroglyphic-like figures, which stood at his Baker Street home in San Francisco.
Greene, born on April 3, 1942, in Indio, California, received his first camera in 1959 after initially showing an interest in the art of drawing. He studied photography in the early ’60s and befriended local San Francisco musicians, including Jerry Garcia, at the dawn of the exploding music scene there. His first paying gig as a photographer was to capture the Warlocks, which would evolve into the Grateful Dead.
Greene’s Facebook page confirmed his death and provided the following obituary:
“Herbert ‘Herbie’ Bower Greene passed away at his home in Maynard, MA, in the early hours of Monday, March 3. A gifted photographer and devoted gardener, he leaves behind a remarkable collection of iconic images and a garden that was both his passion and an oasis for friends and family.
“Herbie spent his formative years on his family’s pear orchard in Medford, Oregon, and later moved with his family to Yuba City, CA. In his final years of high school, Herbie discovered photography, and his teachers recognized and encouraged his talent.
Herb Greene (Photo from his website)
“Once he graduated, Herbie headed for San Francisco State and set up housekeeping in what would become the birthplace of the Summer of Love. In college, his photography skills were developed and informed by his studies in anthropology. Not much later, he left school behind to become staff photographer at Joseph Magnin, photographing the latest in high end fashion: bell bottoms, miniskirts and platform shoes.
Book of the Dead, Greene’s collection of Grateful Dead portraits
“In his spare time, his love of music embedded him in the emerging music scene where he began capturing images of bands like The Charlatans, Jefferson Airplane and of course the Grateful Dead. He embraced the new age lifestyle, fell in love, and married Maruska Jiranek. Maruska landed a job with producer Bill Graham and later moved on to work for the Grateful Dead. At the same time, Herbie’s opportunities expanded, photographing Led Zeppelin at the beginning of the British Invasion and moving to Los Angeles to photograph and design album covers. The young couple parted ways, but only well after the birth of their daughter Eden Heather Greene (Tavares).
“Years later, Herbie moved into a Noe Valley townhouse with his old friend and her roommate, Ilze Kaneps. Ilze and Herbie were married within a year and six years later moved to Novato, CA with their infant daughter Charlotte Rose Greene. Ten years later, Herbie moved to Maynard to support Ilze’s career at Polaroid. He loved life in Massachusetts and soon developed a network of fast friends who shared a love for music and fantastically fun road trips to hear Rat Dog and The Dead.
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“Herbie’s work is part of the permanent collections of both the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the De Young Museum in San Francisco. His design for the Pointer Sister’s album That’s a Plenty was recognized with a Grammy Nomination for Best Album Cover.
“He was predeceased by his parents, John Worthington Greene and Lupe Valencia Greene, his brother, John C. Greene, and his former wife, Maruska Greene Nelson. He is survived by his wife, Ilze Greene; his sisters, Delfina Cecelia Greene and Rene Cress, along with her husband, Jim Cress; his daughters, Charlotte Greene and Eden Tavares, with her husband, Lou Tavares; and Herbie’s cherished granddaughters, Elleana and Gianna.
“Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Herbie on Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. –6:00 p.m. at the Fowler-Kennedy Funeral Home, 42 Concord Street, Maynard. A private celebration of Herbie’s life will be held at a later date.
“In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Rex Foundation (Help Rex Foundation meet the mark of $10,000,000 in grants written since 1983!) or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.”
Watch a video of Greene discussing his photography
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