Tuesday 27 December 2011

I Get Around

I’ve been pretty damn privileged to have met many of my favourite artists over the years. If only digital cameras or camera phones had existed in the late 1980s/1990s, as that was when I did most of my freelance music journalism: I look back and wince at the lost opportunity to have photographed the likes of Poison Ivy of The Cramps, Lydia Lunch, Exene Cervenka (X), Henry Rollins, the Divinyls and Chris Isaak when I interviewed them and had the chance! Ah, well. Let’s take a sentimental journey. Note: These photos are arranged in strict chronological order, so as an added bonus you can monitor my ageing process while you look at them.

Me meeting Ruth Brown
Rhythm and blues legend Ruth Brown (aka Motormouth Maybelle in the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray). Viva Las Vegas April 2006

Eartha Kitt in London. Valentine's Day 07
Eartha-quake! Quintessential sex kitten chanteuse Eartha Kitt and I. Valentine's Day 2007

Wanda Jackson
Undisputed First Lady of Rockabilly (and former girlfriend of Elvis) Wanda Jackson. July 2007

Warhol Superstar Holly Woodlawn in London
Vivacious Warhol Superstar Holly Woodlawn in London. September 2007

31 May 2008 Virginia Creepers 029
Ai chihuahua! With musician Robert Lopez (off-duty El Vez - the Mexican Elvis). May 2008

Cockabilly!
Punk photographer, raconteur and scene-maker Leee Black Childers at Cockabilly club night in Dalston. September 2008

Patti Smith
Punk poetess Patti Smith at book signing for her memoirs Just Kids in London. March 2010

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender 2010 136
Burlesque Royalty: with the outrageous veteran stripper Satan's Angel (The Devil's Own Mistress!) at Viva Las Vegas 2010. (She's got some stories to tell! Oh, yeah).

El Vez at 100 Club 159
One hot tamale: The mighty El Vez and I. (No wonder I'm slack-jawed). The 100 Club in London. June 2010

Reunion with Cyril 2010 003
No, it's not Lemmy from Motorhead: Me with my old friend / petit frere Cyril Roy when he was in London for the premiere of the Gaspar Noe film he starred in, Enter the Void. September 2010

John Waters 001
The King of Sleaze. And John Waters! Only kidding. Brutal close-up of the Pope of Trash (the Maestro!) and I. Book launch of the hard cover edition of his book Role Models. While he was in London I interviewed him for Nude magazine. November 2010

Juliette Greco 001
Unforgettable concert by beatnik / existentialist French chanteuse Juliette Greco at The Royal Festival Hall. November 2010

Viva Las Vegas 2011 093
Eerily ageless Mistress of the Dark Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) and I at the Viva Las Vegas car show. April 2011

Reunion with the Prince of Puke
A Reunion with the Prince of Puke: John Waters when he was back in London to launch the paperback edition of his book Role Models. May 2011

Viva Las Vegas 2012 123
With adult film performer Damon Dogg at The Hole in the Wall Saloon in San Francisco. April 2012

Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black 063
Christopher Raymond, Kembra Pfahler of New York glam-punk band Voluptous Horror of Karen Black and I. Meltdown Festival in London. August 2012

2 comments:

  1. You lucky guy! I think I'd be a bumbling idiot around every one of them. And wow, you DON'T age. Tell me your secret!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think my only secret is my camera has a powerful flash!

    ReplyDelete