THE KINGS OF LEON

Had a lay in until about 10AM. Loads more editing to and paperwork. Make sure all cameras are fully charged and ready to go as have another job tonight. Off to the Forum in London to photograph Kings of Leon. They are a great band really quite exciting. The Forum was jam packed.The audience were very international. There were people from Japan, Korea, Sweden, Australia, Austria and that was just the people in the front row near the photo pit. I got some really nice shots..

Brian Adams at Wembley Arena

Wembley Arena tonight to shoot Brain Adams. We were supposed to shoot the first three songs. When I got there, we were told only the first two and we had to stand in the pit to stage left. Brian doesnt like shots of his right side I suppose. Anyway, Wembley was packed out. Quiet amazing the difference in ages in the audience. There were young girls to nice old ladies as well. Also, lots of geezers (Men for the Americans out there). Lighting was quite nice..


Brian Adams
Copyright 2004 Danny Clifford


He didnt spend much time on our side of the stage. Not sure if Brian (who is a keen photographer) likes photgraphers.Went home and edited up all of the shots. Finally finished at about 3:30AM.

Franz Ferdinand @ Brixton

Went down to Brixton Academy and photographed Franz Ferdinand (thanks to Dan Rogers and all at FF). Great show, what I saw of it. Had a nice chat with Jamie Crompton on my way there. Said I would send him some photos tomorrow if I get time..

Copyright 2004 Danny Clifford

Easier Day Today

Today wasnt too bad, more photo editing. It seems to take forever. There is always so much to do.. Scanning, filing scanning, filing.. Oxygen please..

Busy Busy Busy

Mad busy day again. Backing up files, editing & loads of paperwork..

Paperwork Paperwork Paperwork

Spent most of the day editing photos and getting things done on my never ending list of things to do..

PHIL HILBOURNE FROM MANCHESTER ????

I got up and watched a lousy game of football on TV. Anyway, Rio should have been sent off for the foul on Freddie and Gary Neville should also have been sent off just for being on the pitch. It wasnt a penalty and yes, I am bitter. To make matters worse, I dont bet, but broke the rule and had a small bet with Phil Hilbourne, who, was borne in Poole Dorset, grew up in Basildon Essex and now lives out in the wonderful Essex countryside. But his mum once travelled through Manchester, so he supports Man Utd. Anyway, at the moment we are still 8 odd points ahead of them.... Yes Phil, I will pay you in cash...

Here is a nice photo of Phil, as he was getting ready for a night out in London..

Phil Hilbourne
Copyright 2004 Danny Clifford


I went and met Iron Maiden's Rythm man, Nicko at a hotel at Heathrow Airport. We had dinner together. He is flying back to Florida in the morning.

DOWN TO SPHERE AGAIN

I went back down to Sphere studios in Battersea tro meet up with Nicko and the chaps..

Nicko McBrain
Copyright 2004 Danny Clifford


They seem to have been getting through it all really well. I am not sure exactly how many tracks they have down now, but I think its about 6 ish. Quite amazing the speed they are working.

Copyright 2004 Danny Clifford


I heard a few of the tracks that they have put down. It all sounds great.. Narada is doing the vocals and he has a fantastic voice. Well, sounds like Arc Angels are taking shape..

Nicko & Narada

Copyright 2004 Danny Clifford

We were planning to do a group shot today. So, I got ready at about 4pm to do it. They were so busy in the studio that I had to wait. Eventually at about 6pm We all agreed that we should do the shot. The chaps all came out of the studio and met Hiedi who had kindly with about 20 mins warning, got a load of clothes together and brought them for the chaps to use. Anyway as they were all trying them on, Jazz Lochrie said that he really had to leave as he had to play bass at the London Musical 'Mama Mia'. He was helping them out and nobody else could cover for him. So, up he got and off he went. No photo then! I was told that he should be back at about 11:30

PM. So, Heidi and I just hung out until then.

Narada Michael Walden

Copyright 2004 Danny Clifford

When Jazz got back he had to get straight into the studio. We eventually did the shot at about 2AM. Funnily enough, I dont really like the shot.. We didnt have any real options there. The chaps wanted somig 70's ish and Sphere is brand new. Got home at about 3:45 am.

Copyright 2004 DannyClifford

I SHOULD HAVE WORN A CRASH HELMET !

Tonight I photographed Goldie Lookin Chain at the Astoria in London's West End. Oh deep joy...what fun!! Awful lighting, there were about two hundred of them running around the stage. Well at least they seem to be having a laugh.

I am so pleased I only did the first three songs. I was thinking that it would be ironic if they said we could shoot the whole show. That would have been very painfull. Not one of the greatest events that I have photgraphed over the years. In fact it was one of the worst. As I said earlier, Lighting awful, band crap and audience lively. Many full Carling beer cans finding there way full pelt onto the stage and into photo pit before the band came on.

I should have worn a crash helmet.

DC ON THE BBC

I went and met Klara. She is a catwalk model that I am doing a shoot with soon. We had to look at some other shots that she has recently had done. Then we can plan what to do next..

After that I headed over to Battersea, West London to Sphere Recording studios to meet up with Arc Angels. That is the new name of Nicko McBrain, Narada Michael Walden, Phil Hilbourne and Jazz Lochrie's new project. they are recoding I think 8 tracks over the next few days.

Narada Michael Walden
Copyright 2004 Danny Clifford

I got to the studio and they had only been in for a few hours, but things seem to be taking shape. Narada was in control and the speed that they were getting things done was quite amazing. I got a call from BBC News. They wanted me to come in and be interviewed on the News in a couple of hours. This was due to the fact that our wonderful Prince Harry had clocked a photographer in the mouth last night whilst coming out of a night club. Anyway, the BBC sent a car to Sphere picked me up and off to BBC HQ at Wood Lane. I arrived and was taken through to the Green Room. In there was Simon Smith, a lawyer who represented Naomi Campbell on her privacy case against The Mirror and won (I think). He was to be my sparring partner during the live TV interview. In we went to the studio and on we went. Only a short interview, about 4 mins, which was plenty long enough for me! The news interviewer tried to get me to side with the Paparazzi photographers. Well, I couldn't really take sides as I didn't know exactly what went on with Prince Harry, but what I did say is, that if you go to those clubs, you must expect photographers to be waiting outside. It shouldn't be a surprise! If you don't want to be photographed, don't go.

I had a nice chat with my sparring partner Simon Smith, who is a really nice guy and obviously a bloody good privacy lawyer. We left the studio and were escorted down to the main exit area where a BBC car was waiting for me and they drove me back over to Sphere in Battersea. Once I was back there I took some nice candid shots of the boys in their respective places in the studio. It was a late night and got home about 3am. Unwind and sleep by about 4:30 Am

Nicko's in Town

I had a call from my mate Nicko McBrain. He is in a rehearsal room at John Henry's and he and the boys wanted to know if I wanted to pop down and meet up for a drink when they finish. Went down late afternoon after finishing off editing some other photos. In the rehearsal room was Nicko, the legendary producer Narada Michael Walden, Phil Hilbourne and Jazz Lochrie. I watched them finish off then just before we made it off to the nearest pub, Chris Lofthouse (another great guitarist) walked in. I hadnt seen him for about a year. Had a nice time with the lads in the pub then we decided to go off to Nicko's favourite restaraunt, TOFFS in Muswell Hill. After dinner I took a few pictures of the owner and the lads at the restarant with Nicko, Narada and Phil. We all then called it a night.

Scissor Sisters at The Royal Albert Hall

Maroon 5 Shepherds Bush

This band seem to be on the up and up. I got here with only mins to spare. There was an accident on the main A40 coming into London, which caused me big problems. So, I arrived and got my photo pass from the box office, headed through the crowd towards the photo pit. That seemed to tale ages as the place was so packed. When I did get to the pit, it was also packed. No bloody room at all. So, I had to actually climb across people to get into a position where I could shoot. I did manage to do this and after all that got some pleasant photos of them all.

Siouxsie Sioux Live at The Royal Festival Hall

Well, this was a blast from the past. She was formerly with Siouxsie and The Banshees, but now on her own. I do remember them the first time round back in the day, but dont think I ever shot them or her before.

The Festval Hall was packed to the rafters. It appeared that this was for everyone here, a big deal. As soon as she came on stage the crow leapt out of their seats and surged forward to the front of the stage. The were truly fanatical. It was as if, to some of her audience that she was god like. They hung on her every word. It was quite extraordinary. Despite being surrounded and by her faithfull followers, I still managed to get some good shots. After the first few songs I managed to slip away up to one of the balconies and shot from there. I did shoot some quite slow exposure as well, just so I could try and capture the way she was moving around the stage in quite and unsual way. All in all I was quite impressed. I hadnt gone there thinking I would be. Strange that!!

Travis Live in London

Avril Lavigne London

Razorlight Brixton Academy

I shot up and coming band Razorlight tonight at the Brixton Academy. I onkly knowo one song of theirs. Its called the Girl with the Golden Touch, or somthing like that. Anyway, they were pretty good. I have a funny feeling that they may make it. Lead singer Johnny Borrell seemed quite charismatic. I think he was once in the Libertines only for a short while though, but I am not 100% sure about that. Got some good shots of them tonight, even though there was loads of back lighting.

The Zutons