August 30
Been digging out my NWOBHM negs all day, for a feature
in Mojo. For those of you who don't know what that is,
it was a load of very sad and not very good heavy rock
bands who played all the pubs around 1979... I had the
misfortune to have to shoot most of this for Sounds
magazine. The only two bands who were any good were
Iron Maiden and Def Leppard. Lars Ulrich worshipped
most of these acts, the less they could play the more
he liked them - prime example was Diamond Head, a poor
Black Sabbath, and Venom, a poor Motorhead. Much to
my shame I've found out I shot the Bandwagon Headbanging
awards of December '79. I'm going to shoot Geoff Barton
when I next see him...
The one thing which stands out is the very sexy Motorcycle
Irene. She once told me she'd had erotic dreams about
me - she said she'd tell me them if she got drunk. I
never found out and she went and married Steve Zodiac
of Vardis. I'll put some photos up of her next month...
Also looked at a lot of Journey and Rory Gallagher
negs (the nicest musican I've ever met, a real human
being). They'll go up soon. But I won't be putting any
new photos up until after September 5th because of holidays
(other people's) so you'll have to make do with reading
my diary rants...
Sent Nikki Sixx an email - we have the same camera.
He loves it. I asked him if I could go to Iraq with
the Crue. He told me they wouldn't let them in...
August 28
|
A really nice day. Off to Wimbledon for lunch
with Anja, Mick Hutson (photographer) and his Swedish
other half, Karen.
Kazuyo rings me and tells me Maya Gas, Patrick Ledwith and Scott Weiland's best
friend Tim Duffy are working for Marilyn Manson who's playing at the Reading
Festival. Kaz drives, I sleep, and off we go late afternoon, it's very hot... |
Arrive and go and hang out with Iron Maiden,
well, Steve Harris, who's not happy with the festival
security who are very heavy-handed - and I'm being
nice here. |
|
Try out my new Nikon D2X (I think that's what it's
called). Pop in the Iron Maiden hospitality tent, run
into a beaming and burnt Paul Brannigan. 'Top of the
morning! Can't wait till Rime of the Ancient Mariner,
I've been teaching my daughter the words.' His daughter
is two... 'How did you get here - by train?' I ask.
'Nooooo, I drove,' Paul answers. 'I thought you couldn't
drive.' 'I bought a horse and cart like I have at home
- you don't need a license and you can put your crates
of Guinness and Power whisky on the back... there's
even room for the baby's buggy.' I wonder how he got
through the traffic. 'I've got a bell - you just ring
it and the cars move out the way. You don't need to
worry about yellow lines, you just park in a field.'
Oh well, top of the morning...
Shoot a photo of the legendary Pig Iron guitarist Dave
Pattenden and Dave Murray.
Funniest thing I've seen in ages is Marilyn
going on stage. The stage is about thirty feet
from the dressing room and his security have
the area cleared - it's the artist area - everyone
must go while Brian walks through and he's the
support act... Off to shoot him live, never seen
him before on stage. It's actually quite entertaining
and very funny in a "It's time to throw the toys out
of the pram" kind of way. |
|
|
Steve Harris told me he did the same thing in Leeds
- he shook his head in wonderment - 'Americans.'
Stanley Harris, Steven's son, has dressed up as the
trooper with a Union Jack. Shoot a few photos of father
and son just before Maiden go on. Iron Maiden walk
to the stage on their own...
Shoot most of the Maiden show on my new camera
- enjoy the fact I have no pressure. Don't like
the focusing screen on it though - too fussy. It's
a good camera, but like most new cameras, excessively
complicated. |
|
|
|
|
And before I forget, a big thank you to PR Terry Hall,
who saved me from being manhandled by the security...
A fine woman.
August 26
Watched a GREAT dvd I got in LA called Saints and Solidiers,
set in World War II, then stayed up into the early hours
of this morning watching ELP - Hoedown, and Tank from
Milan in 1973 are rockin' (if ELP ever rocked) ... The
Isle Of Wight footage is interesting, especially when
they fire the cannons.... "Welcome back my friends
to the show that never ends". But it does go on
a bit - I got to bed at 6am, and I haven't even started
disc two...
I have taken down my diary entry on GNR as I've had
at least fifty emails from people who call themselves
the GNR community, and who seem to think I'm a link
to Axl Rose - which I'm not - so stop writing to me.
I have no idea when the cd will come out, if it ever
does. If you really want to read about GNR Q magazine
has a big feature on them in the new issue.
Saw the Iron Maiden Metal Hammer special issue today
- about 95% of it is my photos and not a single photo
credit. This is the sort of thing to really piss me
off - wankers...
Ohh and apologies to Merck Mercuriadis. I misquoted
him. What he said was "The ELP dvd was the best
dvd of it's type since Led Zeppelin". James Patrick
Page, a guitarist, still says 'Let's see how many it
sells.'
August 25
Had to drive to Acton, the land of Pete Makowski, to
shoot the Stereophonics. Traffic was hell - more to
the point, I was late.
Kaz Mercer, the band's PR, had called Q magazine (who
I'm doing the shoot for) threatening all sorts of doom
and gloom. 'He'll never shoot Def Leppard again.' Ooops,
I'll have to get over it and be punctual in the future...
Anyway, the band and even Kaz were very nice. Kelly
Jones said not to worry and take as long as I need.
What a kind man - I enjoyed the shoot. Kelly's even
promised to give me his metallic blue Gibson Firebird
- I thought he was joking but he gave me his mobile
phone number as I left and told me to give him a call...
Gonna watch the rest of my ELP dvd tonight, Beyond the
Beginning. Merck Mercuriadis, (CEO of the Sanctuary
Group) gave me this and the T Rex Born To Boogie soundtrack
- what a kind man.
August 24
Home - it's pissing down, of course. Was going to see
the Foo Fighters at the Astoria - I'm too tired and
probably too old... And Jens, Korn's tour manager, called
to say that David (the drummer) wanted to invite me
to the London show tonight, which was nice...
While I was shopping on Melrose I bought The Cockney
Rejects Greatest Hits Vol II on vinyl - I shot this
cover in 1980... I should dig out the pictures.
August 23
Fly home with my little treasure. Take a self
portrait of the two of us flying out of Los Angeles.
Oliver came back to sit next to me from First Class.
It's not bad in Business, he declared. |
|
Spent the first hour of the flight shooting the
skies, quite like the stuff just before it got
really dark over the Wasatch Plateau. |
|
|
|
|
August 22
|
Say a tearful goodbye to Rock 'n Roll John Bionelli.
He and his chum Adam Wakeman have a twenty-hour
drive across the desert (with hangovers, though
he's pretending he doesn't have one) with Kelly
Osbourne and her girlfriends and I know he can't
wait - he's looking forward to seeing his friends
in Velvet Revolver (sorry Joe, he's deserted you). |
|
I go over to see Ozzy in the afternoon, he plays me
his new cover of How by John Lennon on his car stereo
- it's so loud it's like being at a show...
Have a shopping expedition on Melrose with my son.
It's far too down market for me. I know, I'm a snob
- though I do buy a great Led Zeppelin t-shirt. End
up at the Grove which is like a fake Miami. Oliver is
a bit bored here because he's nearly 18 and he can't
go drinking and clubbing like you can in Europe. End
the evening in Tower Records. Watch a ELP dvd - really
sad I know, but I enjoy it...
August 21
Back at 2.00 am. Feel like I've just travelled from
London to LA. I am so tired, I am wide awake. Realise
my wallet is missing - I left it on a flight case at
the show... Get to bed at 3.30 am. Up at 8.00 am, feel
like a zombie.
See Steve Gorman from the Black Crowes, they are playing
San Bernardino today. Hope he enjoys going to hell.
I'm going to bed - ok, the pool.
August 20
The joys of travel. Wake up at 3am, 4am, 5am, 6.30am.
Get up. I'm hungry, look in my fridge which is full
of fruit and fibre - what was I doing? Off to have a
bacon sandwich...
It's 8am, I feel worn out...
See Tony Iommi. Get him to sign a huge Sabbath print
I've made - yes, I know, I can be a fan as well...
It is 105 degrees at 6.00 pm in San Bernardino.
I was going to shoot Slipknot but end up talking
to Steve Harris as they go on stage. Shoot Iron
Maiden, it was like Custers Last Stand - not saying
anymore, you can read about it all over the internet... |
|
|
|
I am asked by someone if it's true I don't shoot Metallica
because I was making a fortune selling Metallica studiotapes...
Wow! How did they know?? That's obviously the reason...
Shoot Sabbath, good lights, great
video screen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Found my digital camera very slow compared to real
film. It's going to take me a while to get used to
this. What I got looks good - well, I think it does... It takes nearly 2 hours to get out of the backstage
parking. I now know what it is like to go to hell -
60,000 people wandering around drunk and stoned, walking
into cars and trees, lighting fires and falling down.
The sky is full of police helicopters, and fire engines
are trying to get through. It is with a great feeling
of euphoria that we finally get on the freeway back
to Los Angeles...
August 19
Pouring rain in London - always on a Friday...
Fly to Los Angeles with my charming son Oliver
- try to shoot clouds etc. A bit hard as we're
over the wing. Nice and sunny in LA. Get in mid-afternoon
- straight to the pool... |
|
|
|
Kevin Shirley phones me. 'Come to Vegas, we can go
crazy!' Iron Maiden are doing a rock walk induction
this evening, which consists of sticking their hands
in wet cement while people fawn over them and take photos.
Kevin asks me to come with him and hurt one of the Sanctuary
Management who hasn't paid him. Being as I am a man
of peace I pass on his offer...
After getting burnt by the pool go to Whole Foods and
buy a load of food for my hotel fridge in a health craze
- and a load of candles, I like candles.
Wander up to Sunset to Il Sole (I must find a new
restaurant, I'm sure there's more than one in this city).
My son and I have a very nice meal with Claire Vranian
and Steve Miles. Steve used to work for the Allman Brothers
in the 70's and has some great stories. End up in Tower
DVD buying Asian art films...
After tucking Oliver in bed, pop into the Whiskey Bar.
Rock 'n Roll John Bionelli is going wild with Adam Wakeman,
keyboard player for Black Sabbath. I leave them to enjoy
their Rock 'n Roll party and go to bed to meditate...
August 18
|
Got a belated birthday card from the Idols team.
I am now a member of The Who - sort of... |
Nice hot day in London. Go for lunch with Paul Rees
and talk serious business - well, gossip... Run into
Phil Alexander and Danny Eccleston, editor-type people.
I'm talking to Dave Brolan in the Emap lobby when I
see the lift open and a very large belly protrude along
with an aroma of alcohol - out comes a figure, very
happy and slightly uneasy on it's feet. 'Top of the
morning!' It's Paul Brannigan. He tells me in a slurred
voice that he'd done an interview with someone who'd
been reading my website and they'd asked him how much
Guinness he drinks and why he likes Irish rebel songs
so much. 'I don't really like them,' he explains. 'When
I've had a few, I like to sing along to the Smashing
Pumpkins and anything by Iron Maiden - I know all the
lyrics to Powerslave,' he says with pride... 'Steve
Harris is the greatest lyricist of all time - The Rime
of the Ancient Mariner is fantastic, I know that one
as well!' 'It's by Samuel Taylor Coleridge,' I tell
him. 'Are you sure - what band does he play with?'
Off to LA tomorrow, gonna try out my new camera at the
Ozzfest...
August 15
Gave in and bought a Nikon D2X, I have no idea how
it works - ha ha... Someone wrote to me and asked why
don't I put a running diary of how I get on with it.
I can't think of anything more boring - I'd rather gossip
than talk about a camera....
Here's a fantastic birthday present I got from
my friend Nori in Japan. The Battle of The Who
and Jimi Hendrix on vinyl in a tin can... |
|
|
Here's Metallica from a Total Guitar
magazine article about my Proud exhibition - it's
still on... |
August 14
Back home. I feel like I've been away a month. Enjoyed
Barcelona, never went to see Korn, though my GF did
drag me to the Gaudi house. It was rather crap and I
can say this with great authority 'cos I went to art
college... You can see where Roger Dean stole all his
ideas for the Yes albums. The roof (which you can walk
around) reminded me of a bad childrens playground, a
bit like Euro Disney. The Hotel Arts was nice. So was
the pool, if you could get a sun lounger - the Germans
and Israelis would come down at 6am and put towels on
them (how ironic). Still it's nice doing nothing in
36 degree weather...
Now back to trying to be a photographer - I may give
in and get a digital camera this week...
August 11
|
|
Wake up to a beautiful, sunny Barcelona. That's
it, I'm staying. It's my birthday and I'm going
to spend it by the pool. |
|
August 10
Leave a very sunny England for an even sunnier
Spain, for a four day break - it's my birthday
tomorrow. Up at dawn to fly to Barcelona. Notice
that there is a lot of cloud and I mean heavy,
grey cloud. Have a very bumpy landing into Barcelona.
It's miserable. The man next to me says it's going
to be thunder and lightning for the next four days
- he also tells me it's going to be the hottest
day of the year in England on Friday... |
|
Call my saviour, Dave Brock, and head for Majorca -
it had better be sunny...
Arrive in Majorca - the weather is getting worse. Not
only that, the Melina Hotel (5-star) is like a youth
hostel. Call Dave Brock. 'Can you get me to Dubai?'
'Don't be stupid, it'd cost you a fortune.' He books
me back to Barcelona. 'If the weather's bad in the morning
I've booked you on to Marbella - it's hot there.'
He really is the best travel agent in the world...
Get into the Hotel Arts at 11pm. Run straight into
Korn - they invite me to the show tomorrow.
August 7
Home at 1.30. John Fairs has invited me to Brixton
to see The Prodigy tonight - I'll see how awake I am
later...
End up staying in and watching the BBC documentary
on Hiroshima.
August 6
Woke up at 5am. Decide for some reason known only to
myself to hike up Runyon Canyon. You get an amazing
view of Los Angeles from the top. After doing it, feel
crippled - off to the pool...
Fly home early evening. Get great views of the sky
and desert over Palm Springs - huge rain clouds. Spend
the first hour of the flight shooting the sky in the
middle of all the turbulence. I was at the front of
the plane and it was being thrown around. I'm kind of
ok with it when you're at a high altitude, but turbulence
still freaks me out, especially in a big plane...
August 5
Nice and hot. Studio session today with Kirk Hammett
of Metallica - it's been so long since I photographed
them, it's actually quite strange. Anyway, have a good
time. Spend most of it talking. End up in "the
hood", as they say in America. Shooting in Rosedale
Cemetery. Kirk had both of the guitars he used on Master
of Puppets.
So, shoot him with crosses etc... |
|
|
|
|
There is some strange stuff, crypts in the shape of
pyramids - well, we are in Hollywood. He goes off to
see The Mars Volta and the very average System of a
Down - I go shopping...
Go to dinner in the evening to Il Sole, my favorite
Italian. At the table opposite is the comedian Steve
Coogan with a girl with the biggest breasts I have ever
seen. I became fascinated when she leaned forward to
talk to him to see if she could straighten back up again...
August 4
Off to Los Angeles today, on Air New Zealand flying
Business/First. Haven't flown with them for 20 years.
It's an old 747 which means it's from the seventies
- small seats, they even have ashtrays (when did you
last smoke on an aeroplane?). I fly in the bubble,
where the pilot is - it's like being in economy (I
know, I'm spoilt).
| The purser is Irish - 'We get great new aircraft
in December,' he exclaims. Well, that's a lot of
good! Get a great view of Greenland, or maybe it's
Iceland - I ask the purser if he could ask the
pilot where we are. 'Oh, he won't know, it all
looks the same. We could be anywhere.' What??? |
|
|
Arrive in a nice, warm LA at 7pm.
August 3
Anya Lee Sorenson took me for a very nice dinner to
the new Nobu at Berkeley Square (it doesn't open until
next week). Dragan and Paul, managers, looked after
us very well. Nobu was there and made a big fuss of
me... People wonder how I know him (it's impossible
to get a table at Nobu). When he opened his first sushi
bar in LA in the mid-eighties, where he was the chef,
I used to go there and get completely off my face with
Robin Crosby of Ratt. We used to go nearly every night
after hours and drink with Nobu... He makes a point
of telling everyone 'I know Ross - fifteen years!' -
it's actually twenty...
August 2
Nice day in London, very hot. Jeff Brinn has done an
interview with me on the website www.schwegweb.com.
He says I'm "tough as nails." I couldn't think
of a new band I liked, I'd forgotten The Mars Volta
- a great band.
Looks like I'm going to Los Angeles in a couple of days
- quite looking forward to it...
The Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas has done a VERY nice
magazine with a cover of Velvet Revolver by me - and
a six-page feature about me.
| It looks rather good. It's out this month, you
get it when you stay at the hotel or you can buy
it in the gift shop. |
|
|
|
|
Saw Jimmy Page, did a quick snap of him signing
the Led Zeppelin IV artwork - check out the artwork
on the Rockoptic site. |
August 1
Ugh - rain and it's August. Ran into the Prince of
Denmark over the weekend - Lars Ulrich. He was charming,
which rather threw me. It was the first time I'd had
a semi normal conversation with him since 1996. Lars
made a jokey reference to my Metallica page so he must
have read it (or had his servant Stephen "Cheeseburger"
Chratzi show him it over a large lunch)... He was wearing
a Budgie t-shirt, an original not a designer one. I
told him I'd found my Cult "We Don't Fit, And We
Don't Care" tour shirt . The Cult had it made for
the crew when they toured with Metallica. 'I don't remember
that,' said Lars. 'Well, you wouldn't - they didn't
give you one...' He said hello to my GF in Danish and
headed off with his chums Sean Penn and Bono. I must
admit it was nice to run into him... Ouch, that's hard
for me to say.
|
Found this photo of me with Chris Robinson on
the tarmac of Moscow airport
in 1991. I look quite youthful, then again so does he... |
It's August and I'm having withdrawal
symptoms from not being in LA, I'm always there
in August.
|
|
Here's Oliver and his best friend,
Slash, from the Sunset Marquis Hotel many Augusts
ago....
The photo at the top of the diary is
sunset over Iran, also shot in August. |
Kirk Hammett wrote me a very nice intro for my new
Metallica book, due out in November. If you'd like to
read it
...Go there |
