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March 27
Photographing Bring Me The Horizon's guitarist Lee Malia in London
March 26
Saw this in the Vans shop in Carnaby street last night my Metallica photo advertising Vans....
March 22
The cover of AOR with Tesla shot in Sacramento featuring that well known brain surgeon Jeff Keith on the cover. I like the cover clean with the photo doing what it should do. It also has my photos in a feature on Neal Schon, and David Coverdale, shot in Naples Florida.
March 21
Back home in London, it's cold but at least it's sunny.
There's a great new band from Melbourne called Hi Tension. They have a EP out - a really good band, highly recommended. And here's a picture of Karina Ultumo, the lead singer
I've been digging out my old Status Quo negs, photographed them a lot in the early days. In Ireland - Stafford Bingley Hall - Hammersmith Odeon and Reading Festival 1977. Here's some of the original Frantic Four.
March 20
Flew Melbourne to Singapore. Got stopped at Melbourne Airport for two random checks - one currency check wanting to know if I have over $10,000 in cash, and another security check while they tried to figure out what my huge bag of shot film was. You try explaining to an idiot at security that it existed before digital. But I did have a good flight - excellent crew. Shot a bit of the clouds over the Timor Sea at dusk.
Flying on at midnight to London
March 19
I've been hanging out in Melbourne - dinner again at Movida with Ange and Pete Stathopoulos from the best record shop in Australia, Vicious Sloth. Then had another fantastic dinner at Cumulus with Matt Weston and Karina Ultomo from the excellent band High Tension.
Spent all afternoon at Vicious Sloth - Ange gave me the Edger Broughton Band LP and Pete gave me Quatermass on red vinyl on Odeon and a unusual pressing of Led Zeppellin II from Greece, with a textured latte cover Ê(this was from his own amazing collection). Glen Terry found and gave me some old '60s super mint LPs and 45s ,all from Hong Kong era Chinese artists. And finally I got a white label promo with Obi of Framed by the Sensational Alex Harvey Band.
I walked out of my hotel lift into Chris Iszaak who looked aged and rubber-faced. He made me feel good about how I look in old age It was strange seeing him as I only know him from his arty Wicked video.
Home to the far west tomorrow - I'm going to miss it here...
March 17
After a farewell to the Gods Of Thunder it was off down south to a rather chilly Melbourne. ZZ Top at the Myers Music Bowl with Rose Tattoo and GN'R. I saw Angry Andersen who I have not seen since 1981 when they opened for Rainbow. I introduced myself - Angry and the original bassist had no clue who I am. I shot two huge press sessions for them in the UK plus several single covers plus various features for Sounds. I knew them well in the day but 'NO!' they have no recollection of me. Such is life.
Hung out with Billy Gibbons and shot the show mainly in black and white.
We headed off to Movida for Tapas with the charming film director and producer Bernadine Lim. It was a late night...
March 16
Kiss in Mackay. Flying up in the Kiss Jet, at Brisbane airport we couldn't find the plane. After driving around for another thirty minutes Paul said 'I think we're driving up!' It was scenic blue water, blue skies and baking hot. With everyone apart from me moaning about the heat.
Shot Nikki and Paul Stanley, Paul on his own, Gene on his own, even some Mick Mars in black and white. Good to shoot the show, the heat held in the lights, the beams looked fantastic - I was pleased. Straight after the show we drove around an empty airfield for ages with security looking for the plane again - I am not making this up...
Kiss fans at Mackay
March 15
In Brisbane as they say on tour - a day off. We were all going to see Springsteen last night then the idea of another show just didn't appeal - and he plays for ten hours.
I found a record shop called EGG where I got a New Zealand Pressing of the second Juicy Lucy LP and a Pete Townshend Bootleg of his Roundhouse show in 1974 that I have never seen.
Here's some photos of stuff I just liked....
March 13
Just heard the very sad news of Clive Burr's death. I saw and photographed him last year and he was in a bad way. He was still smiling but his struggle with MS is hard to truly imagine. My fondest memory was of him in America driving the Tour Manager crazy because he had twelve pieces of luggage on a tour bus we all shared, band and crew. He was a real part of Iron Maiden.
Here are some of the photos I took in the early '80s.
March 12
Sydney to Brisbane. I ran into Billy Gibbons last night who was intent on putting the fun back into Sydney. I declinded to extend my enjoyment that far, but I did see him for a quick bite in Chinatown.
Flew to Brisbane this morning. I saw Bondi Beach as we took off. After I'd napped on the flight the Purser said in a loud voice 'Did you have a good sleep fella ?' You wouldn't get that on Singapore Airlines.
The "wonderful" Brisbane Entertainment Centre - I haven't been here since 1991 or '92 with Def Leppard. Shot a quick group shot of the Crue and Tom Morello who is in town with Bruce Springsteen - presumably singing "Born In Brisbane".
It was the best night I've had shooting Kiss - perfect lights, set, the lot. I had, as they say, a good gig. Saw Andrew Stockdale from Wolfmother after the show, he told me he's just finished a new record and is going out under his own name - no more Wolfmother.
March 11
Spent the weekend with Kiss, Motley Crue and Thin Lizzy. After the second night in Sydney Paul Stanley took me for an amazing meal at the Blue Angel, it was the sort of feast Caligula would have had in Rome. The Tasmanian crab was frightening It was a lot of fun hanging with Kiss, and Paul did Hotter Than Hell for me.
Here are some Leica photos
March 7
In Sydney the first people I run into are Keith Flint and Maxim from the Prodigy, who invite me to their show, but to be honest I need a night off. I may go and catch up with them next week.
Here's the view from my room with The Queen Mary and some other strange building...
March 6
Melbourne, spent the morning, or rather my friend Rossco spent the morning running around trying find me black and white film - had to get it from three different shops.
Shot High Tension, a great new band from Melbourne, with the rather nice singer, Karina Utomo who is from Jakarta. Check out the video on YouTube.
Off to Eithad Stadium for more of Kiss. What I enjoy most is thinking of how tortured John Bionelli must be knowing where I am and who I'm hanging out with. I saw Nikki Sixx while Kiss were preparing and did a quick photo of him as he was about to go onstage. Then it was time for You Wanted The Best You Got The Best - and they're not from Boston!
Metallica at the Soundwave Festival, Perth
March 4
I've been travelling from Melbourne to Adelaide then Perth for the Soundwave Festival. Spent yesterday on the beach in 98F weather - hey, there are worse ways of spending a Sunday. And today is Soundwave. I did a photo shoot of Metallica and in an old school way shot a lot of black and white film. Funny, I had to re-think my technique while doing it.
Here are some pictures of Kirk, shot in Perth
The horses are backstage by the Metallica stage. Kazuyo is enjoying Perth from the balcony of her hotel suite
March 1
In Melbourne Australia - off to the Soundwave Festival today for a bit of Metallica. I've been hanging out at Vicious Sloth records - managed to get some nice singles and the second Man LP
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