  |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||
May 26
Have to finally finish my travel book. It was finished, now it will be expanded. There will be a deluxe version on Genesis Books with an intro by Jimmy Page, who promises to write a long one as he and I have travelled all over together - so I'm going to have to write more, the original text was just a paragraph from me.
Pictures from my soon to be released Travel 1 book. The Statues from the Hoover Dam 2006 shot in winter light and Los Angeles 2007 at the Sunset Marquis Hotel.
My idea of a travel book is photos you can take, not ten minute exposures turning water into mist. The kind of travel books I don't like are the ones you buy at Heathrow or Singapore airport. I'd like you to look at it and want to go there. It's still called Travel 1 although I may change that.
May 25
Didn't sleep at all last night with my mind racing like a lunatic - having loony thoughts. Spent the day tired, trying to get my brain to settle down...
Off to the Albert Hall for Paul Weller whose birthday it is today. We are the same age and Paul said to me he didn't enjoy his forties but he likes being in his fifties. I don't know if I agree, I admit I'm okay with my age, just need to get married - if I can keep myself from turning into a grumpy old man.
I did a portrait of Paul in the Albert Hall that even I thought looked excellent (yes, I know it sounds pompous, but I normally don't like my own work), shot with available light. Then shot some black white film of Paul in the bowels of the Albert Hall. Finished and went off to look at an art exhibition in Cork Street - three gallerys were all doing it back to back. Then back to the Albert Hall toshoot the Paul Weller show.
Paul Weller at the Albert Hall. See more...
Bruce Foxton came on and did some Jam songs. Paul said into the microphone, 'It's only taken twenty-eight years' and when they played Eton Rifles the crowd went crazy, the whole building was moving
Going to try and visit the land of Morpheus...
May 24
The great Baron Wolman (and I mean that) has given me a write up on his website, www.fotobaron.com and that is a big compliment from a photographer as good and humble as Baron...
Been enjoying the English weather, doing ermmmm, nothing really - enjoying my garden and reading.
New Mojo with Jimmy Page on Led Zeppelin at the 02, and Classic Rock which has a good Pete Makowski feature on STP
More of Them Crooked Vultures. See even more...
May 20
Saw Phil Alexander, editor of Mojo, for lunch. We didn't bother to mange as we went to a store called FOB in Shaftsbury Avenue. It has some bargains - we both got Ginger Baker in Africa, a tv documentary from 1971, for £2.00 (I'm sure it's crap), and I got The Sun, about Emperor Hirohito, The Night Porter just for Charlotte Rampling dressed up in a Waffen SS outfit (a bit of Nazi chic), and Battle Of Wits, Andy Lau chopping lots of people to pieces, all for £3.00. Then got Valhalla Rising with Mads Mikkelsen chopping people up as well. And, to show my age, Ten Years After, Watt, which I got on LP when I was fourteen.
My true horror today was having to get two new pairs of glasses as I can't see...
May 19
This is true - I went for a run at the gym, put my ipod on random and it played in this order, Tomorrows Dream, Neon Knights, then Rainbow In The Dark. From Ozzy to Ronnie...
Going to finish The Solitude Of Thomas Cave which I realised I only started. And read Once On a Moonless Night by Dai Sijie.
More of Ronnie Dio from the Mob Rules Tour.
And colour from Italy last year with Heaven And Hell.
May 18
Tried listening to Yes at the BBC, the Peter Banks period - horrible! I like Yes up through Close To The Edge then it's self indulgent rubbish. Also listened to Willy Dixon I Am The Blues, preferred Led Zeppelin doing it much better. And played The Rolling Stones Liver Than You'll Ever Be - strange how amateurish they were.
Got the new issue of Tight But Loose which is now in colour and has a good Jimmy Page photo from Helsinki 1970 on the cover, plus an interview with Nick Kent - ruined because the second half is in the next issue next September. Just when you think the mag is good you get an interview with, GASP, Nigel Eaton, Justin Adams, Doug Boyle and Francis Dunnery. Talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel, what next, "Why Jason is called Bonzo Jr"?
Off to read Underground uprising...
Some more of Kiss at Wembley. See more...
May 17
"The world is full of kings and queens". I think that's the right words from Heaven And Hell. Been getting requests today for Ronnie Dio. I'm going to put up and out the Mob Rules period before he became too Dungeons And Dragons which I also shot. I liked Ronnie, he was a nice man. Thinking about dying, I'm going to watch the Japanese film Departures this evening.
We all depart, in our own way. People observe the colours of the day at it's beginning and end - you should look and notice more. You will see things...
Ronnie Dio from the Mob Rules Tour Buffalo and Toledo. The last time I saw him he was so pleased to see Peter Makowski he cried...
Tesla and Thunder Box Set cds, shot by me, both just out. I like both of them - nice packaging.
May 16
Got to bed at 3.30 and was up at 7am, feeling slow, needing coffee, coffee and more coffee. Last night I was told by my ex that I suffer from "GOMS" - Grumpy Old Man Syndrome. Well, firstly I am not grumpy and secondly, I'm NOT old...
A Sunday from hell so far. I went off to see JP in London for a bit of lunch. Drove via Wandsworth to find the bridge closed as all the morons who support Chelsea were walking along, chanting rubbish, as they beat Portsmouth - who are at the bottom of the league. Pathetic. Battersea Bridge was open and it took nearly two hours to get into London.
And it was he same coming home. I tried via Fulham Palace Road and that was full of Chelsea morons as well. That journey took two and a half hours, which is normally thirty minutes. A wasted day.
The Master photographing a God of Thunder - sent in by Dave
Hey Ross thought you might like this pic,Im an amateur phtotgrapher myself usually low flying jets with my D300 but dont know where to start to get a photo pass to break into what id love to tog so it ws taken on a ( dont laugh) lumix from front row.Hope ya like it
May 15
Had dinner this evening with Paul Stanley and Jimmy Page. We went to Nobu - the paparrazi outside had a field day.
Janet Jackson was at the next table eating a bucket of KFC with rock shrimp tempura, which looked like chicken nuggets. She caught Paul's eye who went and said hello and introduced Jimmy to her - they are now doing solos on her new version of Beat It. They all chatted and the best part was she didn't ask how Gene Simmons was or talk about how Gene was bigger than the Beatles. Paul treated us to dinner, and Dragan and Mee Ok looked after us. It was a chilled rock star evening, extremely pleasant.
On the way out a girl stopped Jimmy and told him she had a print on her wall by photographer Ross Halfin - 'You can meet him,' said James...
May 13
More of the Gods Of Thunder at Wembley. A pain to shoot - too many security guys in the pit. Got into it towards the end and the second half of the Kiss show is spectacular to shoot. In fact the last bit is a photographers dream - fantastic light show, all of Gene Simmon's doing (so he told me). I loved it, at least Kiss give you a show, you get what you pay for.
The crowd were a big mix of young and old. A lot of kids who were into it down the front, instead of old men like John Bionelli...
Been playing some old bootleg LPs, a Bath '70 compilation on Khrisna Records which has Heartbreaker and The Boy Next Door by Led Zeppelin, and Steppenwolf doing Hoochie Coochie Man - Johnny Winter as well. It is surprising good for an audience tape. Pink Floyd at Hakone Japan on red vinyl, Black Sabbath Asbury Park '75 and Thin Lizzy, Take that Sinner Boy Home, Live At the National Stadium Dublin '75 on splatter blue vinyl. Must find Kiss Alive on LP as well.
Kiss destroying Wembley... See more...
May 12
Alright London, You Wanted The Best You Got The Best - KISS! I don't care that John Bionelli works for Aerosmith, I know he'd rather be working for the Gods Of Thunder, polishing their platform boots and writing the set list. I mean, I can't see John singing "JJJJJ-Jaded" every night when he can "Shout It Out Loud" or "Lick It Up" I went along to see Kiss destroy Wembley with the dynamic duo of Makowski and Page (Paul had invited us).
We went in to see Paul Stanley who was so tall in platforms we three looked like midgets. Took a some photos of Jimmy and Paul then JP and Tommy Thayer who, when Eric Singer tried to join in, was pushed out of the way by Tommy (very funny). Eric promised to buy me a Rolex if I took a photo of him and JP - I'll take a photo for a Daytona... Oddly it was all the people working for Kiss who were annoying Jimmy for photos and not the crowd.
Great light show, shot the show from the mixing desk - I'm in the pit tomorrow.
Some more of Ian Hunter - shot on film
May 11
Where all your torments-and for all the ages
Mad Shadows never at the end of your desires
Ian Hunter today - "Work can be fun and men can enjoy it". Sometimes in life work can be fun. Both Peter Makowski and I had been looking forward to doing Ian Hunter. He was a gracious host, as was his wife Trudy. We talked about the war (as in WW2), the '60s, the '70s and after I'd finished he said to Pete, 'Now for the easy part!' And he looks incredible for being seventy one years old.
Got my record deck today, I felt as if I'd just had sex with Koyuki or Lucy Liu. Well, I might be exaggerating a bit here, but it was exciting. I was digging out LPs to play, the pleasure of dropping the stylus on to plastic is nearly as good as masturbating. In fact, a bit better - masturbating is always a let down.
Found Departures on DVD, I've been after that for ages - it won an oscar for best foreign film
The GREAT Ian Hunter, a real rock and roll star and so very English - a real pleasure.
May 10
Nice day, warmish and sunny, it changes your mood. Shooting Ian Hunter tomorrow which I'm looking forward to. Plus I'm supposed to be getting my record deck, which I'm really looking forward to...
Jason Bonham is doing a Led Zeppelin Tribute Tour of Canada and America, which just shows you what a greedy "Breadhead" Jason really is. I'm sure his father's turning in his grave. Apparently Jason is now called Bonzo Junior - vomit. He has no shame...
Had dinner in Kensington with some friends from NY and London - Tony and Marc from Q-Prime, Peter Makowski, and Jimmy Page. A civilised evening, I'm glad I ventured out. Finished the evening looking at a huge painting by Paul Stanley, an abstract view of Robert Johnson - incredible piece of art. Paul had given it to Jimmy as a present. He's now working on a portrait of me, even bigger - Kiss size. Looking forward to seeing the Gods Of Thunder play later this week.
Some Ozzy and Jimmy Page.
May 9
Sunday and it's a boring day. Spent the morning in Tesco and Waitrose, had the car cleaned (not a job for me), stocked up on fruit and oysters. I thought I'd have a lunch of Fruits de Mer, except you spend an hour opening an oyster to get a small result. My ocean platter was disappointing - I'll stick to mussels.
The afternoon was looking at and picking Ozzy and Jimmy Page photos until I couldn't judge them anymore - good or bad, a job for Kazuyo.
The Sunday Times Colour Magazine has incredible photos of the sun, which tell you the temperature as well. Quite humbling to look at.
In a bored frenzy at the HMV store yesterday I bought art house cinema. The Beast Stalker, MR73, Tidal Wave, and to cheer me up, Tokyo Sonata, Director's Cut. Also got Glastonbury Fayre for the Terry Reid footage of him with Alan White on drums and Linda Lewis. It is unmitigated rubbish by Nic Roeg, a waste of money and celluloid.
May 8
Saturday morning and it's raining, a shitty day - I even miss Miami.
I woke up at 6am and thought I'll nap for five minutes, make love, then go for a run. The next thing I know it's 10am - awful, I feel like my day has gone. Now on my third cup of coffee then off to London to look around the record shops with Peter Makowski and Jimmy Page.
Some photos of the Sargasso sea, flying to Eleuthera, and some more of the landscape at dawn on Eleuthera, which is also the smallest land mass that separates two oceans - the Atlantic and the Caribbean. And I know you'd like some photos of Ozzy and Jimmy Page to lift for your fan sites - so here's me at dawn instead...
I particularly like 235 - the last picture above - very prehistoric looking
May 7
A big shoot today - Jimmy Page for something he has coming soon, plus Ozzy Osbourne. The two Princes of Darkness. Kazuyo asked me if Tony Dennis (Ozzy's man Friday) was gay. 'Is he a bummer?' she asked. 'Ask him,' I said. I told Ozzy that Kaz is convinced Tony likes men. Ozzy thought that was hysterical. Tony was overjoyed to hear I was a single man and spent the whole day wanting my ex's phone number, pestering Kaz. 'He's pretending to like women,' she said.
Both Jimmy and Ozzy looked stylish. I even shot them together just for the hell of it. I drank so much coffee today I felt as if I'd been doing methamphetamine on a four day marathon - I was flying. Got loads done but I was fried at the end, completely spaced out. Went to Waitrose to get food then stood in the middle of the supermarket and had no idea why I was there.
Sitting at home this evening - yes, I'm a lot of fun on Friday night. Going to try to read to educate the brain...
Some classic 'Tallica (as Lars would say) with Peter Mensch (manager from the stars), taken at The Meadow Lands in New Jersey on the Justice For All Tour - can't remember the year.
Plus AC/DC from the new issue of Mojo, shot in London, NY and Newcastle - Powerage, Back In Black, For Those About To Rock Tours.
And more from the Bahamas and Miami. See more...
May 6
A sunny day at home, overrun with people I like, and one I find hugely irritating. Woke up this morning to find Peter Makowski had left eight used cups all over my house half full of cold coffee, plus to round it off a bowl of half-eaten ice cream which had now melted onto my floor - and the disgusting Pole didn't get up until 11am...
Steffan Chirazi spent today with me writing copy for my Ultimate Metallica, which has a surprise at the end, a fan letter, just so you can see the love I get everyday. And Dave Brolan came over to be an annoying Paddy. Kazuyo bought him a chicken milanese sandwich which he refused to eat as he couldn't see the chicken.
I watched Blind Faith at Hyde Park in 1969 on Sky Arts last night. It was feeble. Like four people all playing in different bands at the same time, Ginger Baker seemed to be playing a drum solo in each song. Rick Grech looked stoned, Clapton was hiding behind the drum kit and Steve Winwood thought he was in a soul review - no cohesion at all. Supergroups are always rubbish.
Peter Makowski, in a fit of 'I'm sorry for messing up your house', gave me Rainbow Rising on vinyl and Things The Grandchildren Should Know on cd. But I still don't like him...
The Mighty Priest's forty cd British Steel box set came in the post. The Grinder "Looking For Meat Wants You To Eat". The Priest aren't back - the Mighty Priest have never been away.
Some more shots from the Bahamas
May 5
My local female Tory MP claims to be able to cure homosexuality by prayer and through Jesus in her local church. She claims she has "cured" homos already. Hallelujah, I know someone just like her in Las Vegas who moved from Crawley to cure fairies there. It must be true that Jesus saves. As Lenny Kravitz sings, Let Love Rule...
Peter Makowski called at 8am to tell me he was going to have a bath - amazing what Peter can do in the morning.
Been playing the first Ratt EP which I loved at the time. I have to own up now, it is horrible. I went for a run today, stuck my ipod on at random and the first song was Rosalie, and the strange thing is I'm shooting Thin Lizzy today.
Had a good day's shooting today, dealing with people who know what they want. It was good to see Scott Gorham (and friends) who I haven't seen since the Thunder And Lighting Tour. I asked Scott why the Live at the Tower Theatre didn't have the whole show and he said half of the tapes were ruined which is a shame, but it's still a great cd.
I even spoke to Kirk Hammett, calling from Hawaii, who rang me and said 'Where are you?' 'What do you mean, you just dialled my home number!'
The Bahamas at dawn waiting for the sun.
May 4
A crazy man - he must be crazy he wanted me to take his photo on the street in Miami. And Lenny Kravitz in the Eleuthera 'hood. And a self portrait of me and my man Friday Jimmy Hubbard in a rare moment of sobriety for Jimmy.
Been sorting Lenny Kravitz photos all day. Or Kazuyo has, with The Master's supervision.
May 3
Home and it's sunny/warm/raining/cold, typical Bank Holiday weather. I am now missing Miami. I have a load of photos to sort out plus this week in theory I have shoots with Thin Lizzy, Jimmy Page and Ozzy.
Ange from Vicious Sloth in Australia has sent me a nice copy of Led Zeppelin Whole Lotta Love, the Australian EP. And I've been watching Soundgarden Beyond The Wheel on Youtube.
Feeling vague today - need to run...
May 2
Spent Saturday night in Miami Beach. It was full on - people cruising, drunk people falling down in the street. I had dinner at Spiga, an Italian restaurant. I waited an hour for my food and asked if they were out catching the fish. 'Don't you know how a kitchen works?' said the arrogant waiter. 'I know exactly how a kitchen works,' I said, thinking go fuck yourself. He then stuck 20% tip on the bill and left a space for an additional tip - only in America...
I photographed a crazy man yesterday. He told me it was his birthday and wanted his picture taken as he posed like Mark E. Smith from the Fall flailing his arms around and grinning with bad teeth. It was interesting.
Today by the pool then off home tonight.
May 1
Had a good time in the Bahamas with Lenny Kravitz. He was helpful and easy, a gentleman. Iit was full on in a good way. Ended up shooting him on the beach with a metallic blue sky over clear white sand. Then in his studio and hanging out with his dog - it's nice when things work. The only thing missing was a bucket of KFC - I got bored with freshly caught tuna and couch, I need a fifteen-piece bucket. The one amusing thing was Jimmy Hubbard driving me around in the dark, buzzed. I don't think drinking and driving is banned here. I told Jimmy I'd drive as I'm sober. I am accused by my ex of being the world's worst driver but I had to be better than Jimmy who seemed to think the Island was a racing track to zoom around. In pitch darkness.
Flew back to Miami, a huge difference from where I've just been.
Walked around Lincoln last night with all the shops. Kiehl's to get my beauty products then the rest is the same shops as everywhere - Gap, Lucky Brand etc - that you get from Costa Rica to Hawaii. It's a funny thing in America, for the size of it everything is the same. Europe, say London to Paris, is completely different. I ate bad overpriced sushi in a restaurant that had all those awful Rock 'N Sushi type rolls - Philly Roll, Dynamite Roll. I couldn't face going to Nobu at the Shore Club and getting shitty service with a bill you'd need to re-mortgage your house to pay. did find another Sushi bar next door to Nobu that was run by Poles and full of Russians - like Nobu in London.
Staying at the Setai, a Balinese-style hotel on Miami Beach. It is quite fantastic and the pool staff are from the Legian Hotel in Bali. Wonderful service and it's a nice way to spend the weekend. I spent the day by the pool - full of couples, gay couples and women. I'm sure the hotel staff thought I was an old queen or a pervert. I'll have to import something young and asian and nice to keep me company...
 |
 |
