March 29
Have spent the last few days shooting vegetation
(the countryside). Made a spiritual journey on
Easter Monday to the holy site of Scruffy Murphys. |
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It now has lots
of Thai holy scripture such as Man United v Chelsea
or Millwall v Norwich... I watch drunken English tourists
trying to decifer this ancient text. To my horror they've
changed the menu - no roast chicken and chips so I
had to eat a cornish pastie (with chips)... If this
carries on I may have to eat Thai food - I even checked
the toilets for Paul Brannigan
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Bought a great magazine, Metal Monthly - the
heaviest magazine in Thailand. It has lots of my
Judas Priest press session. |
March 26
Have a lazy day. Breakfast is a challenge - I ask for
a mushroom omelette and they can't work out where I
want the mushrooms...
Go for drive mid-afternoon. Stop at a local Thai cafe,
nothing is in English. On the wall amid all the beauty
is a huge Nazi flag - red and white with a large swastika.
Very strange. Pete and I took pictures of it - it was
very surreal...
March 25
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Fly
first thing to Phuket. Shoot a very nice view
of Phang Nga. Staying at the Trisara. My room
is awful, like being stuck in someone's back
garden... I complain (something I am very good
at) and get moved to a palatial villa. I dread
Pete coming... |
Shoot a storm late afternoon, and flowers in golden
light...
March 24
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Time for some culture... Got up before dawn and
drove to Ayutthaya, 55 miles north of Bangkok.
It's a mini Angkor Wat. Started at Wat Phra Ram,
which has three huge domes. No one here, bliss
for me, a photographers dream. On the outside of
town is the reclining Buddha - it's huge... Also
Wat Methathat (I think) with Buddhas face in a
tree. |
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By 10am I hear and see the enemy - tour
buses - off-loading American, Japanese and, worst of
all, Chinese tourists, pushing and shoving their way
across the ruins. I know I sound like a snob, but I
hate them... I will never go on a guided tour.
It's Scarlet's birthday today. I think she's in India,
so if you're reading this, HAPPY BIRTHDAY...
And Steven Tyler's yesterday.
Spoke with Peter Makowski, who had just got up at 3pm.
He is in Patong and gave me the heart warming news that
"Scruffy Murphy's" has re-opened - in time
for Easter weekend. Paul Brannigan will be dancing around
his office with joy. I'm sure he's booked his flight
and is on his way... I'll be drinking and singing rebel
anthems in his honour when I land tomorrow - 'Oh Dannyyyyyyyyyyy
Boy' (must be sung with a slurred voice). Can't wait
to order roast chicken and chips...
Take the Skytrain across Bangkok, late afternoon. Take
a cab back in the most awful traffic you can ever imagine.
Shoot abstract stuff out of the window. In the evening
off to the Sirrocco - my friend Tommy runs it. Get the
best table in the house, and a very expensive bottle
of champagne, which Little Nick (Anja) manages to drink.
Have a drink after dinner with Tommy and Kas. They're
both from Indonesia and are very scared of their matriach
and my friend, Vivi. Tommy takes me to the very top
of the dome, the highest view in Bangkok. He suggests
that I have an exhibition there. We'll see...
Here are some of the old Iron Maiden
pictures I mentioned earlier in the month |
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March 22
I am now in Bangkok. Found out in the paper on the
way here that Kuala Lumpur was 53 degrees centrigade
- I knew it was hot... Also saw Status Quo were playing
the last night of the Grand Prix - I didn't even know
(that there were any Quo fans in Malaysia).
Spent the day with Peter Makowski shopping - DVD's
for me and shop assistants for him... He's off to Phuket
tomorrow and I'll be meeting him at the end of the week.
He's threatening to stay in my hotel. I'm sure Anja
would like this - she always says I'm horrible to him
and should be nicer, so now's my chance.
March 21
Get back at 1am, the sky above my hotel is ablaze with
the light from the two towers - feel very inspired and
go and get my cameras. Found out these are the tallest
buildings in the world...
While I remember Gene Simmons didn't show up. It was
Allan Cummins from the movie X-men. I quite missed hearing
Gene tell the world he's bigger than the Beatles...
March 20
Up at dawn. Head off to the rain forest outside KL.
It's early and its already 106 degrees - it's hard to
walk in the jungle, don't know how my uncle did it (he
was a prisoner of the Japanese, and helped build the
River Kwai bridge)... We climb to a rope walkway about
1000 metres above the ground. I don't like heights -
as I look over, I start to get vertigo or in plain English,
shit myself... Concentrate on taking photos. I am not
doing this again!
The hotel pool is nice, everybody has gone to the Grand
Prix, so it's empty, my own private pool apart from
Kimora who is holding court - she does not stop talking
for 3 hours...
Have spent the last 3 days eating the Malaysian delicacy,
cheeseburgers with french fries - I am really turning
into a tourist... The promoter has invited us to dinner,
I think it's probably a Malaysian feast... Nooooooooo
- he owns Planet Hollywood, so a large cheeseburger
it is.
A Malaysian guitarplayer is performing backed by drumloops.
He starts off doing a Led Zeppelin set (I am not joking),
after most of the first 3 albums he screams its time
to rock out, and proceeds to play Every Breath You Take
(Puff Daddy version), Need You Tonight by INXS and I
Get Knocked Down by Chumbawamba (however it is spelled).
The climax of the show is Stairway to Heaven with the
guitar solo... I call Jimmy and play him a bit on his
answerphone.
March 19
The Black Eyed Peas come off stage at 3.30am, they've
played longer than ELP (popular prog band) after all
the tantrums...
Off to the party, it's still going strong even though
it started at 6pm yesterday.
The dessert is good, a fountain of chocolate with cakes
and fruit to dip in it. Got to bed at 5.30am. I am so
jetlagged, I am awake at 8.30... Going to spend the
day cooking by the pool...
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Speak to John Fairs (tour manager of Prodigy).
They are playing today at the KL Tower, outdoor
concert. Go over to see them soundcheck, they
are very pleased to see me. I'm off to the top
of the tower with my GF -'can we come?' - so
we all head up there. I arrange to shoot the
show, they are on at 11pm. |
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Charlie is having a dinner at the Mandarin Oriental
in the Chinese Ballroom. It's the best Chinese food
I have had, but I have to leave halfway through for
the Prodigy concert.
The show is outdoors. It's like a giant dance
club, bit like Ibiza without taking E's... It's
so hot, everybody is melting... Shoot black and
white before they go on stage. Great show, easy
to shoot. I love the Prodigy. |
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March 18
Off to show at 3.30. It's boiling hot. Shoot the party
rooms before they open - it's been lit and designed
by Huw, very nice but very camp LD for Soft Cell...
Set up backstage. I'm hanging out in the production
office when the very young, very flash English tour
manager for The Black Eyed Peas comes in and very
theatrically announces the band won't be playing as
the show is running 40 minutes late. Charlie looks
at him nonplussed - okay, no problem, it's only a
Tsunami benefit... Of course they are playing - he's
been a plonker from the first day...
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Spend the evening shooting various people; Michelle
Yeoh, very professional and very nice; Bai Ling,
who is hardly dressed and on a shameless self-promotion
campaign; Sheila Majrid, the Malaysian Madonna,
with Eric Bareat - Halle Berry's ex and very big
in Asia. |
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I always thought he was a hairdresser, anyway he's
okay, very nice. Kazuyo walks up to Ken Watanabe
and entourage. The Japanese around him all say 'NO'.
'Leave it out my son, you are doing it' - they bow
humbly and come to my room... Ken gives me a big
hug at the end, 'He loves you', Kaz says...
Wyclef Jean and Lauren Hill, who has a touring party
bigger than the audience, refuse to do photos, in fact
everybody hates Miss Hill - she demands to be called
Miss Hill.
The Backstreet Boys do it without any problems, though
their security try to intimidate me to get it done quickly
man - the guys were great.
Jackie Chan is nice, small and very charming.
Kimora Simmons (wife of Russell) is on a bigger self-promotion
Campaign than Bai Ling...
Paula Abdul demands a bed in her dressing room. Charlie
points out, 'Why don't you go up to the party, cause
there are 16 there?' She storms off in a huff.
March 16
I'm writing this in Bangkok Airport at 6am. Strange
being here - I find it quite exotic, which I suppose
it is... Spent all day yesterday flying here, connecting
in three hours to Kuala Lumpur. Meeting up with Charlie
Hernandez and Maya Gas and looking forward to it...
While I remember - ran into Josh Homme and Troy from
Queens Of The Stone Age in Nobu restaurant on Saturday
night. They were with Kevin Carter (tour manager) and
Steve Strange, famous agent who was rather the worse
for wear - but very happy. I was with my agent Simon
who was berating me for not mentioning his birthday
on the diary, so happy 50th Simon (it was January 27th).
Why he wants to announce this I don't know... Anyway,
Steve was so gargled he paid for my dinner and told
me he loved me - thanks Steve, I love you to...
It's Nyepi in Bali - a time to do nothing - no phone,
fax or email. I should try it...
I'm now in Kuala Lumpur. It's hot, really hot. Staying
at the very posh Mandarin Oriental Hotel. The twin towers
(the second tallest building in the world) are opposite
my room... It looks surreal, like a mirage.
I'm here to do a show for the Tsunami benefit. The
bill is interesting - Backstreet Boys (who have more
security than George Bush), Boyz II Men, Lauren Hill,
Jackie Chan and a host of Asian stars I've never heard
of... There's a dinner at the hotel tonight with the
King of Malaysia. Diana Krall is playing.
It's nice to see most of the Aerosmith crew. Charlie
(his office is the coldest place in the country, it's
fucking freezing - I had to go and buy a sweater), Maya,
Doug, Joe, Super Chris, Alicia and Donny Shiteman's
hair stylist Tony... The one person missing here is
John Bionelli who would be panicking over the setlist
and helping the Backstreet Boys with their stage moves...
The best part of this is the party tomorrow. It is
so over the top, the sort of thing Freddie Mercury would
be proud of... Heard a rumour Gene Simmons is at the
hotel, though I haven't seen him - where's Paul Stanley
when you need him?
March 14
Watched Layer Cake last night - good film. South London
is nicely photographed and the plot has lots of twists.
Off to Malaysia tomorrow for a Tsunami concert which
is tied into the Grand Prix there next weekend. I've
never been there so don't know what to expect - as long
as its warm I'll be happy!
I'll get some old Iron Maiden and new Paul Weller up
while I'm away.
March 11
The new Classic Rock with my Gun's cover and
Player magazine from Japan with some Aerosmith
are in the post. Also the Be Cool movie (I shot
some of it in Chicago last year). |
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Have a long day looking at photos - I'm tired and my
eyes are tired.
Some moron has written to Kevin Shirley (and Kevin
has gleefully sent it on to me) saying what a name dropper
I am and how much I whine about nothing. Kevin thinks
its very 'ha ha ha' etc. Well, he would, having to spend
his life with Dream Theatre...
If you don't like my diary or website don't look at
it and don't read it...
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Anyway, went to Paul Weller. He was blinding,
my son - good light show, easy to shoot and lots
of very nice oriental females in the crowd... |
Ended the evening in true rock 'n roll style in Tesco
- shopping at midnight.
March 10
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Get the new Queen's cd in the post with a
nice note from Josh Homme.
Shooting Jamiroquai
at Jay Kay's home. Never dealt with him before,
should be interesting. A driver picks me up
at 10:30 (he's meant to be at my house at 10),
he has no clue where he's going... I must have
a vendetta with drivers lately...
Much to my surprise, JK is easy, friendly and
very down to earth. Enjoyed the shoot a lot. He
has a pub called the Chequered Flag, not bad but
not up to Steve Harris's standards...
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Have very nice early evening sushi with my Danish
then meet up with Jimmy Page and my personal assistant
Gordon Gheller. We're off to Shepherds Bush to
shoot Thunder. Danny Bowes milks the audience worse
than a milkman - still, very enjoyable, they're
great live. Danny gives a moving tribute to Tommy
Vance - it's sad, funny and poignant. It's shows
what a loss Tommy's death is. |
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We go to the aftershow bar, everybody in there is
drunk and I mean very very drunk... They resemble Zombies
in Dawn of the Dead, looking at Jimmy with gormless
eyes going "Ughhhhhhhh JIMMMMMY PAAAAAAAGE".
We run...
My phone rings, it's Bazza out on leave from Banstead
Psychiatric Hospital. He's at the Clear Channel party
(upmarket promoters do) in the Penthouse in Leicester
Square. Bazza sounds quite normal... We gatecrash it.
Bazza, by the time we get there, is in worse condition
than the people at the Thunder aftershow. His only words
are 'I'm on it !' We run...
March 9
Land at midday. Josh has written "Showbiz"
as his occupation on his immigration form. Must remember
to do that...
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Get home to find an email from Micky in Sweden
who has sent me a rather embarrassing photo of
myself taken in Poznan, Poland on 11 August 1984
- my birthday (Ulf Magnusson has witten to confirm
where it was taken and to point out I look very
gay). |
Here's some Admats for Velvet Revolver for Los
Angeles and Glasgow - I rather like them. |
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And also The Mars Volta from the new issue of
Rolling Stone. |
Paul Weller phones me to invite me to see him at Hammersmith
on Friday. Looking forward to it.
March 8
Up at 6am. I'm raring to go, no one is up. Go up to
Tower Records for a browse. 'Hello' a voice says.
I look up and it's Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols,
now a very famous DJ. 'Still taking pictures?' he
asks. God, I think, I haven't seen him for twenty
years... He's buying the best of Dio to play on his
show. I get him to buy 'A Nod's As Good As A Wink'
by the Faces. Great to see him.
Head to the studio at 11am, it's really sunny
and hot. Slash arrives on time at noon. |
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Scott, I'm told, is on his way... So get on with
shooting Slash (who is looking very buffed). He
tells me he's been working out a lot. 1pm, Tom
Morello arrives. He's my next shoot. Sooooooooooo,
decide to shoot alternative set-ups of Tom and
Slash. |
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1:50pm, Mr Weiland arrives... Anyway, he's ready
to go. So have a marathon session, finishing with
Tom who's a bit irritated by it all. Tom, being
a complete gentleman, takes it all in his stride.
Must remember not to shoot anyone else the same
day as Scott. |
My car I've ordered to go to the airport turns up an
hour late. He is the slowest driver I've ever had, arrive
at LAX at 4:45... My flight is at 5:30, I am beyond
stressed. The woman at United Airlines is very nice,
she gets me on the flight.
I sit down, sweating and stressed. I'm next to a woman
who looks about 105 years old. She is also looking at
me with disgust. I hear a voice 'Hey!' Behind me is
Josh Homme and Troy (newish drummer) from Queens Of
The Stone Age. Move next to them and spend the flight
on the gargle.
March 7
Decide to go to LA for a day - I know, I'm going senile.
Fly at 11:20am. The flight is empty and takes a quick
10 hours. Get through customs straight away and I'm
in my hotel by 2pm LA time and it's nice and sunny and
warm - something has to go wrong...
Run around Sunset Strip, do a lot of mundane things.
Go into Oliver People (very upmarket opticians) to order
some new glasses. The girl serving me is talking in
riddles about what I need - I end up spending a fortune.
You never know, I may get something in focus...
Have a very mellow evening doing nothing. Get a new
dvd called Purple Butterfly with Zhang Ziyi - spend
the evening ogling her in my room.
Run into David Coverdale, who is the most charming
man in this business. He's looking very well.
Scott Weiland calls - he's very enthusiastic about
my shoot with him tommorow. I remind him to be on time,
'Of course brother," he says - we'll see...
Have a very mellow evening, spend it with David by
the hotel pool talking about life and philosophy - well,
gossiping really.
March 4
It's snowing again - UUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGHHHHHH!
- I need some sun. Here are some photos of my garden... |
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Also the Spin Classic photos cover, Motley Crue
is mine - though I don't think it's very classic... |
Found a box today of all my early Iron Maiden
colour from the Ruskin Arms to Powerslave. I'll get
them up within the month.
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Here's a Mars Volta review from the NY Times. |
March 3
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John Bionelli has emailed me from Australia to
point out that his HERO Paul Stanley is in the
Texas Jam photo, jamming (excuse the pun) with
Poison - I think Paul was probably giving them
guitar lessons. He should be ashamed of himself
'cos listening to Poison they obviously didn't
work... |
March 1
Christ! It's March and it's still freezing. Michael
Johansson, an alcoholic Finnish photographer (he
may be Swedish, but what's the difference?), has
sent me a very embarrassing photo of Neil Zlozower
and I photographing Poison at the Texas Jam in
Dallas, 1987. I have no recollection of shooting
them there - I remember doing Aerosmith... |
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Spent the day sorting out photos of Soundgarden, Smashing
Pumpkins (I was surprised how much I've got on them)
and Ozzy (who I've got so much that I couldn't face
going through it!).
Peter Makowski has come to visit. Last night I found
photos of him and Ritchie Blackmore (Ritchie is dressed
as a woman!). Peter, although looking youthful and slim
still posesses a beer belly and man breasts... Well,
he still looks better than the rest of the Sounds staff.
Peter and I are having our usual film fest tonight.
We are going to watch 301 - don't know what it's about
but it has two Asian girls on the cover...
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