TV Guide Magazine's 60th Anniversary: Record-breaking Photographer Gene Trindl
Aug 29, 2013
by Elizabeth Wagmeister


With a repertoire including Merv Griffin, Steve McQueen, the Monkees and the Brady Bunch, Gene Trindl holds the record for shooting TV Guide Magazine covers — more than 200 of them!

We went behind the lens with the late photographer's grandson, Skylar Schofield, who calls Trindl's impressive roster of cover images his "ultimate résumé."




David Cassidy, "The Partridge Family", July 15, 1972

Teen heartthrob David Cassidy appears to be rocking the mic for millions of fangirls, but this cover shot most likely came out of an exclusive TV Guide Magazine photo session.

"He rarely shot live, so I doubt this was actually on stage," says Schofield. "It was probably staged in his studio, like, 'Be a rock star — hold this cord!'"

http://www.tvguide.com/News/TV-Guide-Magazine-1069708.aspx

A photo from a real live concert would likely have different shadows on the performer and the background would not look merely black, not likely.
I think it is a staged photo.