Spandau Ballet

Spandau Ballet's first gig in 20 years and the first night of the tour. Nerves were on edge and there were a few glitches during the sound check, but the gig went really well and it was like they never went away.

Universal asked me to shoot the gig for the cover and back of the live DVD they were recording that night too.

Live music shoots are very difficult for a few reasons; you have no control over the most important element, light, there isn't enough of it to freeze the action, it's rarely in the right place when you want it, it changes constantly, both in intensity and colour, and the band keep moving!

Having said that, it's great fun and I love a challenge.

This is my favorite shot of the night. Someone had thrown an Arsenal flag onstage and Tony Hadley had just held it up. The crowd booed and Martin Kemp turned and laughed, while walking to the back of the stage. Just at that moment the lights lit up the audience and I got this.

On Tour with The Script

I loved every minute of this! The Script played 5 sold out nights in their hometown of Dublin and kindly asked me to document the event.

I photographed them for the cover of Hot Press recently and they loved the photos. They said they always knew how they wanted to be portrayed, but couldn't really explain it and they had spent an amazing amount of money on a big name LA photographer (sorry, can't tell you who!)and ended up not using them. They told me they now show other photographers my work and tell them that's what they want!

I had access all areas, soundchecks, front stage, back stage, on stage, dressing room, jax, everywhere. These guys are the hardest working, most down to earth, professional, no messing band I have ever seem and I've been around a few. They welcomed me in with open arms and the degree of trust they placed in me, made it really special.

The setting up, soundcheck, waiting around, the atmosphere building and then BAM! on they go, screaming girls and heat and sweat.

From a photographic point of view, shooting this kind of gig is very tricky. Light levels go way up and way down in an instant, the band are constantly moving and moving quickly, so to try and freeze that, get it in focus and at the right exposure is tough, but brilliant fun.

It's like the circus coming to town, lots of colour and noise and then it's gone!

Jason Byrne in Vicar St

Universal Studios asked me to take some shots of Jason Byrne the comedian in Vicar St for his new live DVD. I had only ever seen him on his TV show Anonymous and had no idea of how funny he is. A really cool, down to earth guy, a pleasure to work with, no problem with me shooting him everywhere, apart from the toilet, I did try!
The show was amazing, he was absolutely on fire, so quick and one of the funniest comedians I have ever seen. The energy level was off the scale. It's no wonder he has just become the biggest selling act in the history of The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 24,000 tickets!
I bumped into PJ Gallagher backstage after the show, another very funny comedian and lovely guy. Jason and PJ used to work together in the same factory. That must have been a fun place to work.











PJ kindly offered me a lift home, but we had to stop and change a flat tyre on the way. Or rather PJ did, I was busy, taking photos!