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July 30
Brighton today, to see my son graduate from Brighton University - by the sea and the sand. The venue was the Brighton Pavilion where I saw Jeff Beck last year and afterwards by a strange coincidence we had lunch in Fishy Fishy where I'd eaten the same night as well.
Here's a slightly mature Halfin and a graduating Oliver Halfin. I should play the Cat Stevens song Father And Son...
July 29
Worn out today - that's what getting old does, I just cannot do those late nights. I got up at 9am and felt lethargic all day.
Richard Whitbread sent me a fantastic poster from Hong Kong for The Bridge On The River Kwai. I wanted it, not because of the film, after going to see it twice and my uncle built it as a prisoner of war.
Luke Morley sent me The Union cd which I love, the singer sounds like Chris Cornell...
July 28
A big shoot today in the company of Senor Billy Gibbons.
Started with Senor Gibbons in the North - the North side of Wandsworth bridge. Shot him in various styles of expensive clothing as this is for a fashion piece set around the wilds of South West London, also known as Chelsea.
Found a suburban street where a goal post had been painted on a wall, which made a good backdrop. While driving Billy and Pete Makowski spotted the Vintage Guitar Emporium, so we stopped there and I got Billy to sit at a bus stop with a guitar with Parsons Green in the background - a thank to Rick Zsigmond for digging out some classic guitars.
The next thing a footballer appears demanding to know who we are, 'Are you paparazzi?' he demands, with panic in his face. I ignore him, he gets more aggressive, we continue to ignore him and carry on shooting. This throws him and he looks angry and goes back to join whoever he's kicking his ball with.
Billy puts on a suit and I get him with a pint of beer in the White Horse pub. It was good, a bit odd with all the locals standing around as well, drinking.
Finish early evening with a studio session of Billy with his Pearly Gates Gibson Les Paul and a Gretch Billy Bo. I was going to ask if I could keep it when he asked where it came from. I had no idea, it was sent from America. 'Man, that's amazing, it's my prototype and its been missing. Hey, you can have the Pearly Gates,' and gives me his guitar which he signs on the back with the date. Now, if only I could play...
Oliver Halfin had come along to help and I have photos of Billy, Oliver, and I in Miami when Oliver was five so we recreate it as the older versions. A big thank you to Cara O'Dowd who saved the day as I'd loaned her my big format cameras months ago and I'd forgotten. She rushed them over from Hackney. Strange shooting film, it was all nearly all done on 120 Ilford black and white which Billy was impressed with. 'Film, how cool.' It took me a while to think re-think the way I like to expose it.
The evening ending with Billy, Gilligan (his partner), Kazuyo, Peter and I dining in a private room at Bam-Bou in Percy Street, with Billy celebrating by ordering several bottles of champagne. I took photos of Billy in the early hours in an empty Percy Street. Yes it was late - and he had to be up at 6am to fly to Houston.
July 27
A hot, muggy, oppressive day. I find this weather depressing, or as the police in Florida call it, "Mad Season", because it sets off the lunatics.
Did some errands then went record browsing, Picked up John McLaughin/Devotion (I have never seen this and didn't know it existed) on Douglas 4 label, Mose Allison/Wild Man On The Loose, The Pirates/Out Of Their Skulls. I used to shoot the Pirates all the time around 1977 in the Nashville Rooms and at The Marquee Club. If you play Don't Munchen It, you can hear where Wilko Johnson totally got it from Mick Green.
Came home and have been playing a Mahavishnu Orchestra cd that Jon McLaughlin gave Pete Makowski, 'Pirated straight from the Pirates and we are on fire that night...' And from a bit of fusion to the new Loudon Wainwright III - 10 Songs For The New Depression
I've been a bit lax with the diary over the past week but for those of you that are interested I've filled in a bit more detail in the last few days below...
July 25
I got to bed at 4am and was wide awake at 7am, could not sleep at all.
Peter had discovered a new cafe at the end of my road, open Sunday for roast dinner or all day breakfast. He ate, I went to the gym. He told me he had bacon with tomato, egg, sausage, toast and beans - so people will think he's healthy.
Back to the far east in the afternoon for some Ian Hunter and Joe Elliott plus ELP who are closing the event with a seven-hour set.
Jimmy came along to see Ian Hunter - surprisingly they have never met. I introduced them and Ian told Jimmy he used to book him in shows at the Embassy Club in Northampton, which JP remembered. Saw Phil Anselmo, Dave Snake Sabo - my new assistant, John Varvatos, carried my bag. Mike Kobayashi looked after us and made sure Halfin Makowski Page had our own dressing room. I even had my own physician, Doctor Anita Lim, who arrived by bike with her doctors bag.
Shot the end of Joe's set and was just getting into Ian Hunter when the power was pulled after two songs by ELP. Now if I say the situation was ugly that is an understatement. Joe Elliott and Ian Hunter got into an "altercation" with ELP's crew, fists flying. It ruined the whole day, a real bad 70's thug-like atmosphere. Jimmy and I went in to see Ian and offer our support and Joe was pragmatic, 'Fuck it, what can you do?'
Doctor Anita, Jimmy, Peter, John Varvatos and a helpful Rick Canny (from ZZ Top) watched ELP from the crowd but by now the fun element had, well, soured is the best way to put it. Only John and I knew the songs, bits of Tarkus and long meandering pieces, the band had no cohesion. We left leaving ELP playing a piano concerto (it was getting dull) and drove back across London to console ourselves with a bucket of KFC - from ELP to KFC. Yes, that has a nice ring to it. "Welcome Back My Friends To The Bucket That Never Ends".
More from the east - Jooooooooe Elliott and Ian Hunter, a true rock and roll star.
July 24
A day in the garden, joined by Peter Makowski. It was kind of relaxing, with Peter making a huge mess - which drove me crazy. He did make the coffee so he sort of redeemed himself.
We drove up to Transylvania to collect his Royal Darkness, Jimmy Page, then all headed off too the far east - Hackney, Victoria Park - to rendezvous with ZZ Top to get Bad And Nationwide.
Spent the evening with Billy Gibbons and even got the band to sign my vinyl copies of Rio Grande Mud and Tres Hombres. It was a delight to shoot, a great show, great lights, great band. We saw John Varvatos who told us we can have free clothes at any of his stores. - I quite like John now...
Instead of running we all stayed after the show with Billy Gibbons playing host. Ending up lowdown in the street. Drove back in the early hours of Sunday morning via Shoreditch, which was eye opening. Back to the civilised world of the western hemisphere...
ZZ Top unleashed in the east - okay, the east end of London. See more...
July 23
Had lunch today with my friend from the Fatherland, Ulf Zick, and his partner Bonna, in the Charlotte Street Hotel, which seems to be the place to be in London. Well I like it. Jimmy Page joined us, then Jimmy and I went for a look around JB's Records in Hanway Street to find some vinyl. I got Arlo Guthrie, Alice's Restaurant, a record that was played by my older cousin when I was about twelve. I always found it annoying but it was a £1 and mint. Also got Wasted Youth, Girl (also £1), and a nice Dutch The Best Of Steppenwolf on Stateside with a cover shot that's an outtake from At Your Birthday Party.
Bought some more pens, paint and canvas as I'm into doing some more painting, except I start then go off the idea. Painting is like running, it's all in the mind, you need to concentrate.
Came home and got Trio Of Doom and John McLaughlin Shakti sent by Bill McCue from NY and a couple of photo books from Christophe in Paris, - Rocks Off by Dominique Tarle, It's Only Rock And Roll by Alain Dister.
Not a bad day at all. Played the Jethro Tull 25th Anniversary Box Set, The Beacons Bottom cd where they have re-recorded some songs. It is horrible, Martin Barre's modern guitar sound is plainly wrong - compare it to Carnegie Hall 1970 which is a show of classic Tull. And I've re-discovered Devotion by The Faces, a beautiful song.
Spent the rest of this evening in a thespian way in the company of Gemma Arterton plus husband Stefano and Gordon. We had dinner at the San Lorenzo in Wimbledon, a relaxing end to the day - it beat a Friday night at Waitrose.
The cover of a cd I shot last year for Hanan, The Year I Lived. Shot in Berlin from dusk till dawn. The inside photo is of Hanan by a part of the Berlin wall.
July 22
Had a peaceful day today sat in my garden - no Kazuyo moaning or smoking. At one point there were huge white thunder clouds I even got my camera for five minutes and took some photos. I was going to stay in when Mike Kobayashi phoned me and told me Joe Elliott was playing the Borderline and I'm invited,so as it was a summers night I thought why not. Drove up and saw more amazing sky and I will make myself shoot this next week.
I hadn't been in the Borderline for so long I can't remember when it was - I think when Mick Wall was still out and about and had a mullet....
Saw Jooooooooooooooe as he was warming up and we "gossiped", as you do. Told him I'd like to see ELP at High Voltage but everybody I know says what "VILE" humans they are - it kind of attracts me to them.
Went to watch the show from the back of the crowd and a strange looking gaunt man was there wearing sunglasses. At first I thought it was Micky Finn from T Rex then remembered he was dead. After a bit of looking I think it was guitarist Ray Major.
Now to be honest I was not expecting too much, I was thinking this is going to be an awful pub band and I was pleasantly surprised. In today's market of supergroups and rubbish like the Led Zeppelin Experience it was refreshing to see a good old fashioned rock band. They were tight, opening with Love Lies Bleeding then One More Chance To Run (A British Lions song, who I then remembered shooting at Hammersmith opening for Status Quo). Joe dedicated Storm to Ray Major so it must be him and not Micky back from the grave.
I moved to the side of the stage during Overnight Angels and found myself next to Ian Hunter who told me he just arrived from NY, then Joooooooooe played the best song of the night, Whizz Kid. "She came on flash monster mash motors at her feet". I might have got the lyric wrong but still a great song and Mott never ever played it. Who Do You Love, One Of The Boys, England Rocks, Rock And Roll Queen played too fast. I left for a look around Soho as I couldn't face hearing All The Young Dudes, a song I've never liked. If you go to High Voltage on Sunday you will have a nice singalong with Joe.
I browsed in one of the many remainder book shops and found for £5 Re-make/Re-model, Michael Bracewell's book on Roxy Music and the art scene. A pretentious book, it has a cover with Kari-Ann from the original Roxy Music cover shoot which is why I bought it.
Had a late dinner in Old Compton Street with my friend Gordon Gheller, watching the river flow, so to speak...
July 21
A beautiful day, makes you want to be beautiful too, not that that's going to happen to me.
Spent the day trying via NY, Nashville, Berlin, France and London to organise a big photo shoot for next week, which I think will come together.
Later I drove across the south via Battersea to Soho, bathed in the end of day light, and you know, I must do this with a camera. Went to meet Rich Robinson for dinner. I haven't seen him for a year or so, he is in London with wife D'yani and son, Beau. We all had dinner with Kate Hudson and Matt Bellamy at Tamarind in Mayfair. It was a nice enjoyable evening. I hadn't seen Kate for a long time - I asked her if she knew Lucy Liu in case she could fix me up for a date...
July 20
A day shooting Jimmy Page in 3D for a special Guitar World cover. Brad Tolinski was over from NY to interview Jimmy about his new book. Shot him with his twin neck guitars and his Harmony Acoustic which he used to record Led Zeppellin III (it is the 40th Anniversary of the record) plus a satanic red back ground for a bit of "Do what thou wilt" - Aleister Crowley would have been proud. I took some of my satanic assistant posing with the guitars too, plus some of me as too much Jimmy may make you have evil thoughts.
We finished the day having dinner at Hakkasan, looked after very well by the manager Yvonne Lee. A prolific working day for me was a bit fried at the end of it.
Came home to find an "Aishitemasu" present from General Noriega, sent from Japan - a set of the Faces LPs on cd in cardboard covers, remastered with the original posters reproduced.
Mr Page, Mr Halfin, and the Satanic Kazuyo Horie shot at the Worx Studio London. "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law".
July 19
Oliver Halfin at Angkor Wat, Cambodia from my travel book....
I remember Oliver telling his teacher at his school he'd gone there and the teacher telling him he was lying, nice of him. What I like in this photo is you have to look for Oliver, he blends in like a ghost as if he's ethereal.
More Kings of Leon. See more...
July 18
Sunday. Got up, played a perfect Sunday LP - I found Fillmore, The Last Days given to me by photographer Jim Marshall (many years ago) only out on vinyl. It has Santana doing In A Silent Way (a Miles Davis song), a definite Sunday song.
I've also been playing Be-Bop Deluxe, who I never discovered in my youth - they didn't grab me. Excellent now, nice to find stuff I've never heard before, although Live In The Air Age is not that good.
Turned into a nice day. I went up to London to Marylebone High Street for a walk. Went into Daunt Books, got Shaped By War by Don McCullin, one of the great war photographers (If you can call photographing war that). It has his Sunday Times covers from the '60s and his contact sheets published by The Imperial War Museum.
Stayed in Sunday night and read the papers. To my surprise The Independent had a large photo of mine of Loudon Wainwright III, shot a couple of years ago at the Sunset Marquis Hotel on an oddly overcast day.
The new issue of Classic Rock has a guide of how to buy Chris Cornell, with Phil Wilding saying avoid Scream which is a bit short-sighted - it's my favourite Cornell solo record. You just need to give it a few plays...
July 17
Off to the "Loony Fair" at Earls Court today. It's Movie and Science Fiction and full of loonys who think Star Wars is real and dress up. I was looking at old movie posters. Took Jimmy Page along with me and my friend Gustavo from Columbia. It did not disappoint in the loony stakes, full of sad people dressed up as Jack Sparrow and those silly robots in the white suits.
Jimmy was asked if he was Jimmy Page. 'No I'm not, I'm paid to dress up as Jimmy Page.' Best of all as we walked along the Brompton Road was seeing all the people from the fair outside a pub drinking pints of lager and eating hamburgers and chips in full costume. I wished I'd had a camera - this lot need to get a life.
Beautiful day in London. I went home and forced myself to go for a run, felt better for it.
Roxy Music were playing Victoria Park in the East. I was tempted to go but after seeing them on TV the night before giving an under-rehearsed performance, plus Bryan Ferry was coasting (and I'm being kind) I thought I'd remember them as they were.
Jimmy wanted to see Wilko Johnson so we had dinner at Bam-Bou in Charlotte Street then walked around corner to the 100 Club. I like it here as they don't ram it to capacity. As we waited for the show a big figure is circling us. He stands in front of me leans in and says 'Sorry Jimmy, I'm Peter Buck from REM.' I tap him on the shoulder, 'You don't have to apologise for being in REM.' He ignores me and says 'I'm in London making a folk album.' Wow, a FOLK album, so he can show he's the new Nick Drake - he couldn't make a rock album could he? And he was knocking back pints of beer - I thought he'd given up boozing since he got arrested for fighting on airplanes. Maybe he wants to be the new John Marytn as well. Funny how Americans try to re-invent themselves as something they are not. REM go folk - can't wait. As Wilko comes on he comes back and plants himself next to us. I realise he is not going away, he announces that 'Wilko was such an influence on my playing.' I suggest we move, which we do, to the side of the stage.
The crowd were odd, a bit like earlier today without the costumes - very young or old looking men with staring eyes drinking themselves into a stupor, walking up and down while Wilko was playing, doing all his moves, bug eyes, his walk, the whole bit. And a few old mods with silly hair cuts - and I must say Wilko was magnificent, dressed in black with a red scratch plate and lead, he was kind of like a manic Frankenstein.
I finished the evening by walking along Oxford Street. Something I haven't done for years, looking at all the girls in high heels staggering along the road, it was, ermmm, interesting...
July 15
Came home tonight after going running. The sun was shining in that end of day special way. Found my house to be peaceful and serene with the light bathing my living room, it made my day...
Oliver Halfin and cat Jinxi, found this having a clear out and I'm putting it up just because I like it. Taken a little while ago.
The sunset is over Koln, the clouds are above London. What is the saying? "When one is tired of London, one is tired of life".
John McLaughlin, shot in his apartment in Monaco. Sometimes a photo session just works well and you feel you have got something, which is how I felt with this shoot. So here's some black and white, shot on film of course.
More of Ozzy from the Itunes show at the Roundhouse... See more...
July 14
Here I am from the Mojo Contributors page in the new issue of Mojo, labeled a "Firebrand Photographer". I had no idea what that even means. According to the dictionary it is "A person who passionately supports a particular cause". So it's nice to be thought of as passionate. I'll take that, I do tend to believe in what I do - sometimes... Actually, more than people think.
Here is a selection of recent magazines I've shot.
Had lunch today in the Charlotte Street Hotel with my good mate Danny Francis. Also went record shopping (like old men do), picked up Kiss Alive 35 In Paris recorded at the Bercy 17 June 2008, a show I went to and at which I phoned John Bionelli (whose Birthday it was). Paul Stanley sang him Happy Birthday down the phone... Going to play a bit of Hotter Than Hell this evening.
July 13
Was going a bit stir crazy at home, so I went off to London for a wander. Ended up having coffee in Harvey Nichols and then walked along Sloane Street. Came home and an old friend, Sandy Einstein, phoned me. Sandy had read my diary and remembered my father very fondly. I'd first met Sandy in (I think) 1980 in San Francisco. He did PR for Journey and also managed a band called 415 which later morphed into the Eric Martin Band. Then for his sins he managed Mr Big (a truly awful AOR Band) who were very successful. Sandy told me how much he respected my father and what a good person he was. He also reminded me of going drinking in the Ship Pub in Wardour Street with Peter Makowski and his vile junkie girlfriend Maria (Peter still has her name tattooed on his arm and will not have it covered up). To this day Sandy says it was the worst hangover he's ever had and the most fun. Strange, I don't think of Peter and I as fun, maybe we were more of a nuisance...
My father Bob Halfin photographed in 1979-ish... He would sit at the top of the stairs with the toilet door open reading the paper. So instead of a formal portrait here he is enjoying life.
Been playing the EELS - Jeannie's Diary plus a bit of Be Bop Deluxe - Maid In Heaven, Ships In The Night.
July 12
Peter Makowski's birthday today. The one gratifying thought is that he is older than me - a lot older. I watched a programme this evening about Concorde. I went on it with Pete the day of Princess Diana's wedding. We were supposed to be flying nonstop to LA but were enjoying the bar at the airport far too much (this was the days before stringent security when flying was fun) and ended up flying on Concorde via Washington to Los Angeles. We arrived hungover thinking "that was fun". Looking back at it now I'd have rather gone non-stop and sober.
July 11
Spent Saturday in Bethnal Green, in the Far East of London. It was the hottest day of the year. Walked through Victoria Park had lunch at a gastro pub called The Empress Of India. I knew I was a long way from home when I saw buses that said Canning Town.
Late afternoon I went to Unilet in New Malden who were having a summer BBQ. It's a good place to get hi-fi equipment and records. I even found the Best Of Rainbow from the 80's with all my photos on it uncredited, lifted from the Japanese Tour Book of the time. It was strange getting a train from London via Wimbledon/Raynes Park - all the haunts of my youth.
Also watched the Book Of Eli with Denzil Washington a bit to God like the message... God saves. Gary Oldman was good in it, playing the evil Carnegie of course. Then watched Solomon Kane, also silly but fun. If you sell your soul you pay the price - I sold mine years ago.
Still playing the Black Country record, it sounds a bit Maroon Five in places. Good production by Kevin THE CAVEMAN Shirley. After a few plays I think the record could have had the fat trimmed off a bit.
These are the new books I'm reading
The Long Road Home, The Aftermath Of The Second World War by Ben Shephard - a cheery read.
At Home by Bill Bryson - how your toilet works etc.
The Last Stand; Custer, Sitting Bull And The Battle Of The Little Big Horn by Nathaniel Philbrick
Got up Sunday at 7am and thought I'm not wasting the day, then realised I have absolutely nothing to do. Went to the dump to get rid of stuff from my garage - stuff you think you'll want forever, magazines etc. Found some photos of my father then a hand tinted photo of Oliver in Bangkok with Lars Ulrich of all people, eating iced lollies on the river. Lars has written on it "Oliver! Look . Two young studs on the loose in Bangkok! Fuck Yeah!" Bear in mind he was writing this for Oliver who was five. I now wish I'd put it in my Metallica book.
Spent Sunday night "Home Alone" doing nothing...
Oliver Halfin aged 5, and Lars Ulrich aged 3, on the Chao Praya river Bangkok.
A bit of Aerosmith from France. I like this photo shot in Abu Dhabi.
I went to the barbers this morning which reminded me of these pictures I took in Prague - I have the same except mine says Metallica...
July 9
Been working on my travel book, I intend to get it finished in the next couple of weeks. I'm going to have more copy than I originally intended with essays by people I've travelled with and know me well.
In the Guardian today there's a feature on camping. Camping???? I can't think of anything I would like to do less - cramped, messy, I'll take a hotel any day. The only time it appealed for a second was with a girl in China telling me that you can get to stunning parts of the Great Wall and camp over night then see the dawn. Thinking about it, I'd rather get up at 2am and drive to it and hike up - camping? 'NO THANKS'.
Been playing the Black Country cd which I like in an old school rock kind of way. I was in Germany a couple of days ago (with Jimmy Page) and ran into Glenn Hughes at Koln airport. Jimmy asked an embarrassed Glenn if he was the the "New" Robert Plant in his super group with Jason Bonham, it was funny - I think Glenn took it in good humour.
Watched a dvd of a new film called Unthinkable last night - it gave me Unthinkable bad thoughts.
Spending this warm sunny Friday sitting in my garden reading.
Some more of the Kings Of Leon rocking Hyde Park. See more...
July 5
Came home last night and read - it kind of centred me...
Some clouds shot above the Roundhouse in London. And as you know I do love looking at the sky - it makes you think.
July 4
Independence Day - independent from what? I sat in my garden independently bored reading the Sunday papers, or independently depressed on my own, fed up. My friend Pete Merluzzi who tour manages Slash invited me to the Wireless Festival in Hyde Park. So I went down to hang out. It's a sunny Sunday and it beat being on my own.
Chatted to Slash and Myles Kennedy. It was odd being at a show with nothing to do - I shot Slash live, the head of Show Sec Security from Leeds in the pit recognised me and was friendly. It took a nervous Slash a while to win over the hiphop crowd. There was one young fan with a Slash hat and two girl punks cheering him on, the rest of the crowd looked lost in Hyde Park. Far more suited to "Yo Clubbing" in the 'hood. Got a good picture of Slash jumping during Paradise City. And met Slash's dad Tony who had just come back to London after forty years in LA. I managed to take a photo of them together.
The strangest thing was seeing Bobby Scheinder, production Manager for Metallica in the Master Of Puppets days, now working for Jay-Z. Bobby was rushing off to order a bucket of chicken. 'Is there a KFC near here?' he said, in a panicked voice. 'Nooooooo, try Shepherd's Bush, they don't have them in the Park Lane 'hood.'
Had Dinner with Slash and as I was packing up to leave the whole area was consumed by, well, I suppose the best way to describe it would be to say Gangland, or Bling meets Gangland. There were now about thirty SUVs, all black with blacked-out windows, and posses of security and hangers-on, all full of menace and malevolence. Lots of 'You mooooooooove now!' Even the back stage Show Sec people were now thinking they could act with muscle. It was one of the most unpleasant vibes all around. Fuck you people, there is no need to act like this. It reminded me of being out on tour with Eminem and sure enough D12 were there.
All these African Americans (what a nice description) thinking they are tough - stupid and ignorant. A laminated pass and an SUV empowers them to treat people like shit and the worse part was the moronic UK security were doing exactly as they asked them in a bullish nasty way. Being vile for absolutely no reason whatsoever. I couldn't get out of there fast enough.
It made me question my job. I drove home along Park Lane/Chelsea/Battersea and on through the south thinking I can't do this. I ended up this evening even more depressed than when it started. I'd just like to win the Lottery and be done with all this...
July 3
A warm sunny Saturday on my own. Did nothing, sat in my garden reading.
Went to the Roundhouse in the evening. I drove across a busy London, everyone going out as it's Saturday night. Ozzy Osbourne's playing the iTunes Festival at the Roundhouse. Saw Sharon, Jack and and Kelly, the last time I'd seen them was at Ozzy's 60th in Las Vegas. Spoke to Ozzy just before he went on and asked him to please not throw any buckets of water over me. And you know what, he didn't...
Ozzy opened with Bark At The Moon, good light show with lasers. The drum solo was Rat Salad (I think), it was also the best lit I have ever shot. The new drummer looked like a trendy hasidic jew, on loan from the local North London Temple. Ozzy's band had a Gothic look and Gus G had good energy with his own sound - he was surprisingly impressive.
Drove home with Fairies Wear Boots and War Pigs ringing in my ears.
July 2
Had a bonding day with my son, well, kind of - I paid him to clear out my garage while I supervised. Found a complete set of International Times newspapers I'd forgotten I had - the counter culture lives, in my garage. And a complete set of Zig Zags from the 70s in mint condition, a load of books from my youth, one called Twenty-Minute Fandangos And Forever Changes, A Rock Bazaar Edited by Jonathan Eisen (whoever he is). I have no idea where I got this, it's hardback and mint condition I might even read it.
Because my life is "so exciting" at the moment I spent Friday evening in Waitrose. Drove home looking at the most blue sky peppered with white thunder clouds and I didn't have a camera. Shameful, I should always have one with me.
Watched a programme on BBC4 about youth and bands growing older. Nick Kent was interviewed, he made a good point saying "Youth is overrated. Look at the stupid things you do, I nearly killed myself - I'll take being old', and I agree, it used to bother me now I just don't care. The Stones were on it from Top Of The Pops 1971 doing Brown Sugar and I remembered seeing it at the time. I don't think of myself as old, but I'm sure I am to a twenty-year old.
Watched a DVD called Mulan just because I fancied Vicki Zhao - it was appalling rubbish.
I've been playing the Kings Of Leon Because Of The Times. I love Black Thumbnail and On Call. I was reading the reviews in the papers today - I didn't know there were 65,000 people at the show. I looked at my photos and saw you couldn't see the end of the crowd.
I finished my wild Friday night watching the highlights from Glastonbury - or the lowlights. I turned it off when Kylie and The Scissor Sisters came on. And so to bed...
Here I am in HD, from a wet Download, sent by Dirk from Berlin
I guess that´s you being the new member of Aerosmith... Right at the beginning at 0:27sec and in full glory later at 4:10sec. Love reading your diary, cheers from Berlin
http://perezhilton.com/2010-06-30-they-still-rock
July 1
Already summer - it's summer in London...
Here are some photos of me - I know how much you'd rather see them than a band. Scott Ian and I shot by Lars "Metal Hand". And a bit of me showing Lars true love. And Dave Mustaine saying 'Hi!'
Spent last night in Hyde Park with the Kings Of Leon on a glorious summer night. Hung out with them, shot the show - it was work but enjoyable work. Ivan Kushlick and Andy Mendelsohn, the Kings' manager, made it 100% painless, which makes me appreciate what I do. Good industrial light show, loads of old style Hollywood Film lights projecting white light.
They had a BBQ after, great food and, like the light show, Hollywood A List - Gwyneth Paltrow, Orlando Bloom etc. I chatted to Alexa Chung who was asking me about cameras and Gemma Arterton who is newly married to my friend Stefano. Got to say I spent most of the evening talking to Gemma, she was fantastic and down to earth and funny.
I even rang into an old girlfriend, Jill from Mobile Alabama, who I always would see in LA. She'd moved to London five years ago and this was the first time I'd seen her. Gemma and Jill both told me how much they liked my photos in the Sunset Marquis Hotel which was a nice compliment.
Spending the day sorting out the photos of the Big 4 which everybody is asking for.
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