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November 27
Flew across the East End of London. It was quite sunny but by Heathrow it was black skies. Came home and was so vague I had to sleep for a couple of hours, something I try to never do.
Lots of photos to spend this weekend sorting out...
Here's Kiss destroying California.
November 26
Thanksgiving in the USA, the biggest holiday, more so than Christmas. I nearly stayed here as it's 80 degrees and nice and warm plus the Black Crowes are here this weekend.
Got up and had a walk along Sunset Strip, it was deserted. Had a look in Book Soup and got Ethan Russell's book, Let It Bleed. I like Ethan's photos from the day. I've never met him but everyone I know who has says how aloof and pompous he is. He was arrogant on the phone in the 90s when I bought three of his prints so I hope I never meet him. Then again plenty of people don't like me so who knows? Just like the Hendrix song...
Drove along deserted roads to LAX. Flew on an empty 777 to Washington to connect to London. Amazingly United cancelled all their non stops until Sunday 'cos people are tucking into some turkey. Tried to stay awake then dozed off for a bit. Awoke over Oklahoma and Arkansas, home of Jeff Keith. Why that reminded me of him I don't know, maybe it was the two gay men in front who held hands and every time I went to the toilet were locked in passionate kissing, it was very unnecessary - made me feel ill. If it was Jeff he'd be kissing a cow.
Turbulent coming into Washington. The airport was a ghost terminal as well. Writing this as I wait to carry on to London.
November 25
Get back to the hotel at 2am, see John - he asks me for my Kiss set list to frame. I give him it. He looks disappointed, 'You could have got them to sign it!' I bid him farewell - he calls after me 'They need to play God Of Thunder!'
I sleep for three hours then get up, turn on the tv and watch the news with the queues and chaos at LAX airport. For those of you not American, this is the worst day to travel this year - everyone does. I think I can't face it, I'm flying to Chicago then on to London plus tomorrow the flights will be empty - decide to stay in LA.
Spent the day doing nothing, it was relaxing and sunny and warm.
Photographed Andrew Stockdale from Wolfmother in the last light of the day. It made me try harder plus an advantage of digital is it works in the dark (or vampire light) which follows God's light. We walked down to the motel around the corner which has the room Jim Morrison lived in. It was covered in graffiti, definitely has a vibe. I'd like to shoot Andrew/Wolfmother again.
As I'm still here it was off to the Staples Center for Kiss, it was good to shoot again. I got a couple of perfect jumping shots of Paul Stanley, plus Gene breathing fire and dripping blood. This was the best Kiss show of the three - not that Kiss have bad shows. I even had a bit of Thanksgiving turkey after the show.
Off home tomorrow - I think.
November 24
Back to Anaheim for Kiss - just like in the old days Kiss Destroy Anaheim. I was invited to shoot Wolfmother at the Wiltern which I was tempted to do but John Bionelli would have never looked me in the face again. 'YOU DID WOLFMOTHER OVER KISS?' he would hate me...
The drive from hell on the freeway. Got there at 6pm. Did a set up with lighting backstage. I haven't done this for ages, at least since, ermmm, Sunday. It was good. Kiss know why they are doing this and give you a hundred per cent of what you need and want. Shooting the show was hard, the pit was only a couple of feet wide so it was like shooting up between their legs getting pictures of armour- plated testicles. I did okay towards the end of the show - shot half from the mixing desk, But I preferred it up close next to the mayhem.
November 23
I picked up Led Zeppelin LIVE ON BLUEBERRY HILL on Blimp Records, sealed in MINT condition. It has made my year and I don't care if anyone thinks I'm a sad old man - I'm now a happy old man.
Saw the lovely Boh Runga for lunch, and then Slash who played Peter and I a few songs from his new album - By The Sword with Andrew Stockdale sounded good.
Ran into Greenday with the "Handsome" and GREAT PR Brian Bumbury. I mean that, Brian is a good honest old school PR. He's also a bit camp, plus my mate Rangi loves him.
Drove to Anaheim where Joe Perry was playing the House Of Blues. The Joe Perry Project were much better than last month at the Viper Room, plus the set list now has Same Old Song And Dance, Bright Light Fright and Toys In The Attic. John Bionelli was sweating doing the set list. He moaned 'If only they played like Kiss, they could blow up the House Of Blues.' John is distraught as Joe Perry is playing the same nights as Kiss are in LA and Las Vegas. 'This is torture!' John even came to my room to watch Detroit Rock City on Youtube.
Joe did a frank interview with Pete which will be published in the new year. I'm sure a few people will not like what Joe had to say, but it is the truth...
Some shots of me at work in Fresno, sent by Bret from San Jose.
see attached.... one shot you are engulfed in red Demon light....
The Australian outback, shot last month.
The new cover of Mojo, shot by me in Los Angeles - out next week.
November 22
In the early hours as I get back to my hotel I see Joe Perry with John Bionelli, who looked preoccupied and bored. I am just falling asleep at 3.30am when my phone rings with a voice singing 'SAY YEAH! Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.' it is John. 'They've all gone to bed, WHAT WAS THE SHOW LIKE?' John then tells me what the show's like. 'You haven't seen it!' 'I have, I watch them every night on YOUTUBE! Let's meet for breakfast and you can show me Kiss photos...'
Had Sunday lunch with a starstruck John Bionelli, watching Paul Stanley and family have brunch on the next table. Paul gave me one of his paintings for my girlfriend (she Loves his art).
Off to the Avalon for an afternoon's shooting. Set up and worked through portraits of Duff McKagen, Chester Bennington, Travis Barker, Billy Idol, Andrew Stockdale, Frankie Perez and Steven Adler who I hadn't seen since the 80s. Steven stopped me to say hello. And Slash plus Ozzy - Ozzy looked fantastic, the best and healthiest I have ever seen him. He was very very very funny, looking at Dave Navarro and saying 'What's his wife called, Carmine Appice?'
Another enjoyable show. Before everyone played I shot Tom Morrello and Slash.
Travis Barker was the hero of the show, his drumming was outstanding - he covered the whole spectrum. Perry Farrell was the most rock star person there and had charisma. Billy Idol was good and Ozzy was the best thing all night. I even managed to sneak off to Amoeba and got a couple of cheap Blue Oyster Cult LPs plus a deluxe dvd of Audition starring my future wife, Eihi Shiina.
November 21
FRESNO, YOU WANTED THE BEST YOU GOT THE BEST - THE HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORLD - KISS! They were EXCITING. If I could pick one show I enjoyed the most this year it's KISS. It has everything you pay to go to see. You come away HAPPY and I think that is why you go out - to have a good time.
I took Peter and met up with Paul and Gene and flew up late afternoon. Paul described Gene as Christopher Columbus - very funny...
Shot the soundcheck with the band playing Funk 49, with Evan Stanley on lead guitar. Shot reportage and the show with the help of new assistant, Evan Stanley, now trading guitar for camera bag. New stage set, no monitors in the way, clean and wide with a split video screen, modern and fresh. The stage had no clutter, the Kiss logo is an the stage floor. In Detroit Rock City the band freeze for about thirty seconds before Armageddon erupts. It is a great ending.
November 20
Met up with Chris Cornell who did a photo shoot with me. When you see someone you like it makes doing what I do worthwhile. Chris looked healthy, he was heading off to Paris to do a show.
Even shot Slash for a bit as well - he was eager to go off to rehearse. Chris is on Slash's new record out early next year. We discussed my website and who's "banned" me from time to time. The point being it's MY website and I can write what I want - and it's only my opinion. The people it upsets the most seem to be Americans. Ah well, c'est la vie...
Also spoke to Paul Stanley and thinking about it after, I realised he REALLY is a fine man. He returns phone calls, emails and if he says he's going to do something he does it. I like him a great deal. He invited Peter and I to Fresno tomorrow.
November 19
I had about three hours sleep last night, stupidly thinking I'd be tired enough to just pass out. All it does is make you feel sick and unfocused and irritable. I was with Peter Makowski - ate a load of shit, bacon rolls, toast, sausage rolls, nuts, then on the plane a curry at 10.30 in the morning. Felt like it was Christmas Day - you know, a day of eating a load of old rubbish and thinking 'It's okay, it's Christmas.'
The other part was watching all the people start guzzling booze at 10.30 am - wine, beer, port, champagne, it was disgusting, and I was part of it. In truth Peter just had coffee but then started lamenting his of true love dilemma, 'I love two women, Rina Kanada and Cyndy Poon,' or Joe Perry and Vivian Campbell as she loves the guitarists more than Pete. At 53 he's a lucky man, he even has Phueng in Bangkok although calling her a "girlfriend" is pushing things a bit too far. Rina is number one he pined, but she has a huge arse. 'Cyndy's a bit psycho, if only I had a six pack and skinny legs she'd love me.' I wish I had his problems, I'm a nearly married man (so I'm told) but I'm still free if Maggie Chueng, Lucy Lui, Gong Li or the very lovely Koyuki Kato are free...
In Los Angeles to shoot Slash, Chris Cornell,Ozzy and if I have my way, some Kiss.
Flew United, me in the middle bit and Peter in the back. It's been a while since I flew long haul United and it is truly awful. Very poor service, the crew think Osama Bin Laden has given them the right to treat you with contempt and be rude. Okay, BA is worse, a snotty stuck up crew looking down their noses at you. WHY can't the western airlines at least be pleasant...?
Spent most of the flight at the back of the plane with Peter, where the service was far superior to the front. I've been really stuck doing an intro to the Metallica book. So made Peter type out my random thoughts and tried to make sense of them. We were having our needs attended to by a beautiful northern geisha hostess, from Preston. That is actually true. Peter is turning into a lovemaking machine.
Got in to Los Angeles at 1.30pm then spent two hours going through customs.
At my hotel I found out it was completely over sold because of the American Music Awards so had too share a room with Pete. I had the bed he slept on the floor as it reminded him of Poland.
Ran into Shawn, or Clown, from Slipknot, then found out my photoshoot has been cancelled tomorrow. Great, no one even bothered to email me or tell me, I found out by accident.
Rounded off the evening with an amusing phone call from Chris Cornell - I'm seeing him tomorrow.
November 17
Drove out to the Wild West of London. Not quite the Wild, but the countryside home to the more gentle ways of England. As I arrived at my destination I saw the car in front had been a hearse with a coffin in the back - and I was off to shoot the Dark Lord of England.
It was a sunny day, good winter light. I was taking pictures for something new - out this January...
The King with his jukebox and his photo of the kings - look closely and work it out.
Jimmy's new sexy assistant ready and waiting to his bidding.
November 15
Spent today at the Olympia Record Fair with Jimmy Page. We stayed from when it opened until the bitter end looking for that missing collectable... I got a Japanese first pressing with Obi of Led Zeppelin III and the original soundtrack on LP of Planet Of The Apes with a commentary by Charlton Heston. I'd love to tell you what it's like but to do that I'd need a record player.
This evening I signed 450 lithographs of three different Def Leppard prints which Rich from Alias Designs brought up from Wales. Some are signed by the band as well and will be out on the Def Leppard website at Christmas.
November 13
Friday the 13th and I'm still here - but it's only 8.30 so you never know...
A bit of Heavy Metal Thunder from the Koko with Saxon and Anvil and I was right, the last time I was there was in 1979.
The 70's Iron Maiden show at the Music Machine that you're talking about was on 19 december 1979. This was indeed a special Christmas show with a dancing girl, an early eddie and stage props and all.
Matthijs from Eindhoven
The frog I like is from Conway Beach in Australia, way up on the Great Barrier Reef. I regret not shooting it with a macro lens instead of a sureshot.
A frog
Anvil
Saxon
November 11
As it's the 11th of the 11th here's some photos from Armistice Sunday...
November 9
More Aerosmith in Abu Dhabi. See more...
November 8
Armistice Sunday. I always look at the monument at Hyde Park Corner to The Royal Engineers. There is a statue of a soldier in a poncho looking down on the traffic. It represents the Glorious Dead Of The Great War. I mean, what's "Glorious" about being dead and a "Great War"?
It is quite a moving statue and as it was Armistice Sunday I went to photograph it in the last cold light of the day. There is also a long wall with a water fall as a memorial to the Australian dead. You can't see it from the road. I stayed and took photos until the last light had gone.
Sunday evening I spent going to see Anvil and Saxon at the KOKO. This is the old Music Machine and I think the last time I was here was in the 70s. I have a vague memory of shooting Iron Maiden with a semi-naked girl onstage. I think it was a Christmas Show (anyone who knows the date please let me know). Also saw The Heavy Metal Kids there, and even Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox in The Tourists - who were rubbish. I remember seeing the Boomtown Rats when Geldof got punched in the face and the NME ran a headline with something like "Has Punk Gone Too Far?" The Boomtown Rats? Punk?
The venue was far smaller than I remembered and the stage was a lot lower. The show was completely backlight, as I was just messing around I did okay. Saxon had loads of light. Unfortunately none of it seemed to be on the band. Got a nice picture of Biff with a Saint George's flag.
Thanks to Ulf Hermann who looked after me for the evening, sorted out passes and so on...
November 6
I was going to see Fleetwood Mac at Wembley with Jimmy Page except it was pouring down. The drive to Jimmy's is normally thirty minutes - I spent two hours and fifteen minutes then gave up. He was annoyed - and went without me...
Winter brings long black nights and cold damp shitty weather. I'm going to move to Sydney. Well, actually I'm not - living down there would do my head in as well, you are trapped.
Chris Cornell called me we and had a good laugh about various things. It was nice talking to him. I ended up watching Friday Night With Jonathon Ross which is never any good - watching him brown nose and grovel to his guests...
More of Aerosmith in Abu Dhabi. See more...
November 5
I've got lots of photos to put up - I'll get them up soonish. Had a meeting with William Nash re some books we might do together.
Had a couple of nights of fine dining with John Bionelli at Hakkasan who on the way home while listening to Kiss in my car showed Pete Makowski and I how Kiss headbang on stage to Deuce - several times. Pete told him he had given Jimmy Page a copy of Sonic Boom from Paul Stanley. 'At least Jimmy can listen to real music now,' said John, while playing Deuce for the sixth time. Also had a more sober night with Brad Tolinski at Nobu. We ogled the ladies while Kazuyo got drunk on plum wine - we had to help her to my car after she passed out in the restaurant...
I've had a week of bad jet lag, sometimes I don't care but this week it's crippled me.
Been reading Twilight Of The Gods (the making of the Kids Are Alright) by Tony Klinger.
And also The Winter Of The World, Poems Of the First World War, which is excellent and rather sobering with Nov 11th coming.
Aerosmith in Abu Dhabi. See more...
Kings of Leon. See more...
November 4
More from Classic Rock
November 2
John Bionelli plus Billy and Joe Perry, Peter and I and Kazuyo all drove to Dubai after the show. John made Kaz sit in a van with all the luggage (a kind man). Strange driving straight through Dubai and not stopping. Peter was frantic, 'Stop! I want to stay here.' So we dropped him off at the one star York Hotel, then took the 3am flight to Gatwick.
Home to a cold but sunny Surrey at 6am...
The Classic Rock Awards. - I was stressed because I was late and in a different time zone...
A few samples from the awards
It was a guitarist extravaganza - Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Ronnie Wood, Billy Gibbons, Pete Townshend, Joe Perry, Tony Iommi, Brian May, Slash, Mick Ralphs and Joe Bonamassa, who got up and played LA Blues to the room.
Ginger Baker, who was just like Steptoe, a GRUMPY old man, MAD at the world. I did get Cara (my assistant) to go up to him and get his autobiography signed, she's now my hero. Paul Rodgers, who was nice and I've dealt with him when he hasn't been. Chrissie Hynde and Iggy Pop, both easy. Steve Harley was a bit "Luvvy" and slightly pompous. I enjoyed meeting and speaking to Carl Palmer (look, I like ELP). I even got photos of Ginger Baker who looked Crazy - Kazuyo said 'He's loonie, I know a Loonie!'
Got Billy Gibbons, Jeff Beck and Ronnie Wood to sign some photos I had - Billy and Ronnie both did nice drawings on them. One was a Barron Wollman photo of the Jeff Beck Group and Jeff and Ronnie were laughing over Rod Stewart's hair.
I tried to do a photo of all the guitarists together and got nearly all of them, with Billy Gibbon's making Iggy play air guitar. I finished with Iggy, who was a PLEASURE to shoot - he did whatever I asked of him. And it was great seeing Mick Ralphs.
I was spaced at the end of the night. I never quite enjoy these things and I must thank Brad Merrett, Richard, Kazuyo, Cara and Meeok - and Dave Ling.
November 1
Staying in Abu Dhabi at Yas Island, a Grand Prix Prison. No shops, the hotels all opened a couple of days ago and nothing works. You can't even buy water unless you want to buy it from your mini bar.
Went to Soundcheck then the show with the Kings Of Leon on the 31st, it was the final show of the tour and I'd forgotten how much I enjoy them. Nathan Followill has the best snare drum sound I have ever heard.
The Kings of Leon in Abu Dhabi
Saw a bit of the Grand Prix with Joe Perry and Brad Whitford - lots of cars going zoom zoom zoom, blink and they are gone. A giant adults Scalextric - I was bored out of my mind. As John Bionelli said, 'I'd take two hours of Dokken over this and I hate Dokken!'
The band hotel was the Yas Marina, looking like a pair of giant testicles, the hotel was completely white inside. Think of the Pan Am Space Liner in 2001 and you get the idea, a bit like a hospital. Outside there was a solid gold Rolls Royce and a matt black Lamborghini just like the Batmobile. I got stuck waiting for Hilary Clinton to leave with five hundred men in suits and walkie talkies trying to look inconspicious, shouting 'MOVE!!!!!' to just about anyone...
Lunch time. Back to the huge Ferrari Stadium to watch Joe Perry do his thing and Joey Kramer play the drums, then the show. Steven arrived with an entourage nearly as big as Hilary's and I hadn't seen him for a couple of years. Shot nearly all the set wandering around the stage. Asked ST if he wanted to do a band line up shot with the crowd. 'No way, you'll own it.' I OWN it, yes I will, it's what I do for a living. I walk off, he taps me on the shoulder, 'Okay okay, let's do it - tell the band.' Now I have to hand it to Steven, he grabbed the band right at the end and made sure I got my photo. He can be the BIGGEST pain in the arse but he does know how to give you what you want...
Australia
The rather svelte Joe Bonamassa, in LA
Joe Perry, shot recently in LA
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