May 30
Have been on my own all weekend, so spent last night
watching the remake of Assault on Precinct 13. It is
so bad - Ja Rule and Ethan Hawke can't act (then again,
people think I can't take photos). American films get
worse and worse.
Omnibus, who are publishing my new Metallica book, want
a nice exciting intro, full of meaningful quotes like
'They rocked the world etc.''It was DANGEROUS AND EXCITING
in the photo pit.' I'm supposed to deliver this tomorrow.
The truth is I tried writing something nice, but it
wouldn't be true. I think it's better to say nothing,
hopefully the pictures stand up for themselves... Maybe
I'll ask Kirk - he's sent me another email inviting
me to Hawaii.
I think I'm off to Asia...
May 29
Bank Holiday Sunday - have been doing nothing really.
Watched Hearts and Minds, Peter Davis' 1974 documentary
of the Vietnam war, very moving. Also Wong Kar Wai's
new short, The Hand, with Gong Li.
In between shooting Sabbath thinking of going to Java
or Bhutan the for the beginning of June...
May 27
It is sooooooooooo hot today. I have to drive to Wales
to shoot Black Sabbath. It takes four hours in no traffic.
Can't remember the last time I crossed the border. The
new Severn bridge is impressive. Phil Alexander is filming
some TV special, he left London at 6am - sensible man.
My friend Wilf is the tour manager, talking into a
hands-free phone, walking around the garden. 'He's just
come out of the loony bin,' says Ozzy. Rock 'n roll
John Bionelli is Wilf's assistant, looking after the
band and panicking over the set list.
We shoot outside. It's roasting now and they are in
BLACK and moaning. Well, Ozzy is... He looks GREAT,
he's lost a lot of weight - the best I've ever seen
him. Shoot for an hour or so. It's just too nice a day,
need a bit of doom and gloom.
They go and rehearse - I spend several years driving
home...
May 26
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Not feeling very inspired today - here are a
couple of foreign covers. |
May 25
He wakes me for breakfast. 'If you don't want it, I'll
have both.' I sit there wanting to be teleported home...
Get a great view of London as I land - shoot it on my
little digital camera...
It's a nice day - sit out and enjoy my garden, I'm not
doing a two-day trip to LA anymore.
Had a few furious emails over my Steve Clark diary photos
- I knew him, you didn't so I DON' T CARE! Go and get
a life - your own, preferably.
May 24
Wake up at 3am, 4am, and finally get up at 5am - it's
going to be a long day...
Dave Grohl arrives at the studio at 12.30. He is VERY
hungover... Shoot a load of different set-ups. We mainly
listen to my ipod playing his all time favourite, Rush's
A Farewell To Kings - which we both agree is awful.
We settle on listening to Sabbath's Born Again outtakes
over and over - Zero The Hero is played ten times. Slash
told me this is where he stole the riff for Paradise
City...
Finish at 3.30. Rush to the airport to get home - I
have to shoot Black Sabbath in Wales on Friday...
A nice packed evening flight home, spend it shooting
the sky over the southwest. The bloke next to me won't
stop talking... 'Are you a photographer etc?' I don't
eat the meal 'I'll have yours,' he says. 'I've been
upgraded, do you want some free champagne, a shame to
waste free drink' and so on...
May 23
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The new cover of GW, with Audioslave. |
Off to LA today, it's 98 degrees - can't wait. I'm
only going for a couple of days, yet I seem to pack
a suitcase - think I need lessons in packing...
Got a nice email from David Grohl, nice to know I'm
loved...
Ross,
Oh, I can't fucking WAIT to make your life a living
hell on Tuesday. HA! You're mine motherfucker!
Looking forward to seeing you. Gotta go do another fucking
interview...........
Dave
Take off for LA. It's a nice sunny day. As we climb
out of Heathrow the plane seems to me to circle and
dip a lot - I get paranoid that the plane is going to
crash. I really start to freak out for the first hour
of the flight. Over Glasgow there are a lot of planes
flying around us, so something's going on. Anyway, NOTHING
happens. Boring flight, get in early and it's hot -
retire to the hotel pool...
In the evening see a very burnt (bright red) man with
white hair in a mini ponytail holding court on the hotel
patio. Talking in a very posh voice like an English
judge. At first I thought it was John Mayall, blues
oldie, older than all of Cream put together. He is drinking
red wine, smoking a cigar - it's John Lord, keyboard
player and composer, of Deep Purple. David Coverdale
would be impressed (real rock royalty)...
See a very nice looking Nelly Furtado outside the
hotel. Have my roadie, Rick Fagan, drive me to buy candles
- he's convinced I'm gay. Rick's a man's man or thinks
he is. You know, Harley Davidsons and pumping iron.
May 20
Spent this morning throwing out loads of old
magazines in a rubbish skip. Japanese, German,
French and a lot of old issues of Kerrang. |
Found some old slides of Steve Clark and James
Hetfield in a very dusty plastic bag. Steve is
having a poo - he always did this before going
on |
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- and James is with his wardrobe assistant, the
very friendly Allie Armarto. Allie used to dress
him and iron his Misfits t-shirts... |
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Here's a Greenday cover from somewhere foreign. |
May 17
The new cover of The Hard Rock Hotel magazine. You
get it free if you stay in the hotel, or you can buy
it in the gift shop. It has a feature on yours truly
- so go and get it. I also think the cover is very nice
and simple.
May 16
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Peter Makowski has sent me a pair of very nice
singles, one Aerosmith/UFO, the other The Who.
Nice covers - both are from Thailand. |
I've been digging through my
negs, trying to put my travel pictures in order.
Here are some from Chicago which I've put up
before, these are much nicer prints.
I rather like them. The shadow of the plane was
taken coming into land. |
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It's been pointed out to me by six different people
(Ian White, Virgin Airlines type person among them),
that my Thin Lizzy Black Rose Tour is in fact The Live
And Dangerous Tour 1978... Er, yes, all of you are right.
I remember the Black Rose Tour at Hammersmith 'cos Gary
Moore kicked his roadie in the balls. I'll dig some
of those out to put up. I want to be forgiven before
I go to "SAD TRAINSPOTTER HEAVEN"...
May 15
A very nice day in London.
I get loads of questions about why I do what I do and
can I help people at college - here are a list of answers
to the questions I've been sent (many times). Please
don't ask me to reply to these anymore as they drive
me mad - and make me feel guilty for not replying to
them...
No one really inspired me although I liked Fin Costello's
photos a lot in the 70's.
I got started by sneaking my camera into shows.
My first camera was a Pentax Spotmatic though my first
real camera was an Olympus OM 1
I never did my own processing, always used a pro lab.
I like my early photos a lot more now... Well, the black
and white stuff
At the moment I'm enjoying shooting a lot more travel
pictures
If I did things differently - I'd never become a photographer.
Well, I think that's a stupid question.
If you want to know my cameras look on my Equipment
page.
My approach hasn't changed. Maybe my lifestyle - no
drugs etc.
I work for myself and for whoever will pay me - hopefully
the most money.
There is no one I dream of shooting, they are all dead
or too old... Well, I'd LOVE to shoot Maggie Cheung,
Zang Ziyi or Koyuki...
I have no influences now.
I don't own a studio, I rent one when I need to.
I don't have a gallery.
My work has been published - look on Magazines.
I hope I can support myself financially, though that's
a matter of opinion.
You can buy my prints and various other things - look
under the Sales page.
In ten years time I intend to win the lottery and ignore
all of this...
I'm not trying to sound cynical just truthful. Time
to sit in the garden - no beaches in Surrey...
May 13
Went to see Kingdom Of Heaven, the new Sir Ridley Scott
movie. Now, I'm quite au fait with the Crusades, but
this is the biggest load of shit I've ever seen. It
makes Spanglish, and Hitch, look good. It is so bad
- Sir Ridley should have his head chopped off...
Had a hair crisis (no, it's not falling out like most
of the people I know), got fed up with it and shaved
my head. Haven't done this since I was thirteen.
As I sit and write this, get a call from Chris Charlesworth
at Omnibus books. "Where are you?" - I forgot
I'm meant to be in London for a meeting... So apologies
to all.
Now I'm not superstitious, but it's Friday 13th. Go
to the bank, draw some cash, get on the train to London,
don't notice my bag is open. Get to my lab - no wallet.
Spend the rest of the day cancelling credit cards. A
pain the arse...
Here's the new cover of Burrn from
Japan. |
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Here are some of the Joe Pictures
I took in New York last week. |
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May 11
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Nori, my friend from Japan, has sent me a nice
Japanese Black Sabbath 7-inch single. |
And it's a nice day - I enjoy England when it's sunny.
Have to spend today captioning my photos for the J and
J offices.
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Here's the cover of the new Total Guitar, and
Joe Perry from Rolling Stone. |
May 10
Get up at dawn and drive to Johnson and Johnson, the
pharmaceutical company - no, I'm not going into the
drug business, they've bought a lot of my travel photographs
for their enormous corporate offices. I spent the day
with Mike and Melanie hanging my work. By 3.30pm I'm
flagging, need to go to bed...
Mark Blake has sent me the Edgar Broughton Band back
catalogue, 'You can copy them for your ipod, but I need
them back - don't give them to anyone. They're better
than AC DC - Out Demons Out is more progressive than
Dazed and Confused.Keep them freaks a-rolling' he shouts.
I used to like them when I was five. I played the cd
with the abbatoir Hipgnosis cover - it's sooooooooooo
dated, it's unlistenable. I'll stick with Zeppelin I...
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Got a copy of the new issue of Crossbeat from
Japan. |
May 9
A couple of my friends really want to see Soul Sirkus,
Neal Schon's new band, at Shepherds Bush Empire, so
even though I'm tired I go along. The last time I saw
Neal play was in Bad English (late eighties?), so it's
been a while. No one sounds like him, he does a good
version of Voodoo Chile Slight Return, which segues
into Santana's Gypsy Queen. Say hello after the show
- he's off to Sheffield and I'm off to bed...
May 8
Yesterday was freezing. It's nice and warm today. Go
to take a boat trip along the Great Lake - it's windy
and cold, give up and wander around town instead. I
didn't realise Chicago has a fake beach... Glad I'd
shot the skyline from the Sears Tower yesterday - I'm
not in mood today, don't feel creative at all...
Off to O'Hare airport fly home at 9.30pm.
May 7
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Off to Chicago for Nine Inch Nails. Arrived
3pm. Noticed lots of clouds covering the city,
rushed up to the Sears Tower to shoot some Metropolis-style
photos. |
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Off to the Congress Theatre in the middle of
nowhere. Trent is much shorter than I expected.
The crowd are "Gothed-out" in black
lipstick and pale faces. This was the first time
I've seen them or Trent. It was quite entertaining
watching a forty year old having a tantrum on
stage - for a band with a policy of "You
are all sheep, you should follow nothing, life's
a crown of shit etc..." - they sure have
a lot of rules. A bit like being in the army...He
is very angry and comes over all teutonic, it
would be very effective if he was eighteen but
seems to me a bit ridiculous when you're his age.
He does a great "I'm gonna throw the toys
out of the pram!" The lightshow is sparse
and minimalist and is backlit with no front light
- meaning it's very hard to shoot. Still I quite
enjoyed it... |
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May 6
Wake up to the floor I'm staying on smelling of WEED
- you could get stoned just by breathing... See a huge
Posse of the brothers, in the middle is Snoop Doggy
Dog - my son would be impressed...
Visit Future Publications office. In the reception
is a huge blow up of my cover... |
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Spend the rest of the afternoon shooting Joe
in a studio in the West Village. End up at VH1
watching Joe do his best Elvis to a run through
of his new cd. |
May 5
Today I'm meant to shoot Joe at the Conan O'Brian Show,
except the tv studio won't allow photographers - so
nothing to do until tonight's show.
Back to the Webster Hall. The place is packed, full
of some VERY drunk people. In the dressing room a fan
in his late forties wanders in and is asked politely
to leave - all he does is stare and shout 'Joe!' There
is no security, so the venue is a nightmare... Joe seems
to enjoy it - he plays Bright Light Fright which I haven't
heard for a while.
While I think of it, I've got some Aerosmith postcards
done which should be up on my sales page if anyone is
interested - and a Cliff Burton T-shirt...
May 4
Well, went to Cream, met up with Kirk at the very plush
Sanderson Hotel. Had cocktails, as they say in America.
As we were getting a taxi the waiter ran out - Kirk
hadn't paid his bill.
Get to the Albert Hall. Amid all the geriatrics are
two young people (obviously dragged by their very wealthy
parents). They came up and were very pleased to see
Kirk. I tell them Cream do "Creeping Death"
at the end, to try to be modern. Kirk thinks this is
very funny. We are in a private box which is catered
and stocked with cases of champagne. As I sip sparkling
water, Kirk heartily works his way through the cases
- and invites me to come and stay with him in Hawaii.
'Come for June and the whole of August'... Peter Mensch,
manager to the stars, arrives. I enjoy seeing him, we
both agree Cream play far too quietly (you could talk
over it) and everything is short and slowed down. No
twenty minute jams. Crossroads is boring, like listening
to Smoke On The Water - we've heard it too many times.
The highlight is Toad. Peter and I timed Ginger's drum
solo - nine minutes. Still, I enjoyed it. But sad to
say, they don't play on ten. Sparse stage set, good
light show.
Up at 5am - off to New York. I think I can hear John
Bionelli singing already...
Arrived into Washington at 11.30am, connected to New
York - got in at 2pm and I was fried. Haven't been here
for a while - I much prefer LA. Rushed down to the Webster
Hall at 4pm. See Charlie Hernandaz, a fine human being.
This place seems familiar - I realise it's the old Ritz
Ballroom... Christ, I've been here so many times but
I was normally on another planet. I think the last time
was when Slayer first played New York. I think I was
with Lars, we were so out of it. I thought 'what a load
of shit, this will never catch on' - must have been
1986...
Joe arrived at 7.30. Shoot him rehearsing, he looked
very much the rock n' roll gunslinger. Billy Perry introduces
me to Michelle Anthony. 'Was your dad Dee Anthony, manager
of Humble Pie?' I ask. 'Yes' she says. 'What do you
do?' I ask, 'Are you friends of the Perrys'. 'I'm the
CEO and head of Sony Music' she smiles...' 'Oh, can
I get some CDs?'. I should shut up!.
Off to Nobu for dinner.
May 3
Get a call from Kirk Hammet - 'It's your lucky day,
I've got you a Cream ticket. We can go together and
bond. Like Bon Jovi does with his band.You know, "Blood
On Blood"......(Jon Bon Jovi is the most sincere
human being we both know). It will only cost you a deluxe
Hendrix book.' Quite looking forward to it, I'll be
like a teenager in that crowd.
John Bionelli phoned, gushing with excitement. 'Joe's
got the rock'n'rolls again'. 'Did he play it?' I ask.
'Er, no... but it's an easy gig as I don't get stressed
doing the set list. I don't know any of the songs.The
drummer's bigger than McGhee, the drum roadie. Can't
wait for you to get to New York, we're back in the
saddle again.' To my amazement he starts singing the
song - "Once a rocker...."
May 2
Watched a Danish film last night called The Three
Green Butchers.
Talking of Denmark, Kirk Hammet of Metallica contacted
me today to see if I was going to see Cream (ha ha!).
He's here on holiday, hiding from his Danish drummer.
Funny hearing from him, I have a book of Metallica
photos coming out on Omnibus in the Autumn. I have
to write an intro, in which I will try to be honest...
I've just read Marc Elliot's Eagles biography, To The
Limit. Now, I hate The Eagles, I mean really hate The
Eagles but this is one of the best rock books I have
read. In the newly updated edition there's an additional
chapter which has inspired me to write my intro.
Am staying in tonight, with Peter Makowski, to watch Edgeplay, Vicky Blue's
documentary about The Runaways.
May 1
Bank holiday weekend and it's hot and sunny. Book a
load of stuff for this week - Paris, Foo Fighters in
London, Nine Inch Nails in Chicago. I'm sorting out
photos for my exhibition at Proud when I get a call
to shoot Joe Perry in New York - I was told I wasn't
going. So spend today rearranging everything...
Off to New York on Wednesday...
I've had four different people ring me for tickets for
Cream this week ( they don't want to pay, of course).
Where they think I can get them from I have no idea...'Hello
Eric, it's Ross, can I get some tickets for nothing,
they're not for me - it's for people you don't know
who don't want to pay.'
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