January 20, 2026 Image Brian Garrity Minnesota Public Radio’s The Current has published a tribute to Twin Cities music photographer Brian Garrity, a fiercely independent artist whose work documented the region’s underground and alternative music scenes during the 1980s and 1990s. Garrity, who studied at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design from 1982 to 1985, was widely known for his intimate black-and-white concert photography and deep ties to the local music community.Garrity photographed defining moments in Twin Cities music history, including Nirvana’s 1991 performance at First Avenue, early shows by Babes in Toyland and Soul Asylum, and the first Lollapalooza festival. His images appeared in major publications such as Rolling Stone, Spin, Alternative Press, Interview, City Pages, and Twin Cities Reader.In addition to music photography, Garrity worked in fashion and commercial photography, published fiction, and made short films.Garrity passed away on November 11, 2025, at the age of 62. He is survived by his mother and three sisters. Plans for a memorial service are underway, and colleagues say his extensive archive of photographs ensures his lasting legacy in documenting the cultural history of the Twin Cities music scene.Learn MoreRemembering Brian Garrity, a fiercely independent Twin Cities music photographer(thecurrent.org—December 19, 2025)