The Boat Race 2009

Today is the annual Boat race between Universities of Oxford & Cambridge. I am shooting this from on the water, just behind them.











So, after a mad rush to Putney and a frantic parking of my car, I ran through the relaxed slow walking crowd (who didn't have a care in the bloody world). I was carrying loads of gear, cameras, laptop, long lenses in metal cases, I am sure you can picture it. Anyway, I had a few mins to spare and got to the media check in. I was checked in and almost immediately led out to the bank to board a boat. A minute of so later in came the boat I was allocated a place on. So, on I got and got ready for the start.
Boat Race 2009
Copyright Danny Clifford












After Oxford were presented with their cup etc, they through their Cox (little fella at the back of the boat) into the freezing River Thames.
Boat Race 2009
Copyright Danny Clifford

Teenag Cancer Trust - Bullet for My Valentine

Royal Albert Hall again tonight, this time there are three bands, In Case of Fire, ex Busted boy, Charlie Simpson's newish band Fightstar.. Then the main act tonight is Bullet For My Valentine.

Mutton at The Shaw Theatre London

Tonight is a slightly different one for me. I am shooting a show at the Shaw Theatre in Euston Rd, London. Its a production called Mutton, as in Mutton dressed up as lamb. The show is all about women of a certain age.. I was there to get some good live shots of them for Donna Flinn who is one of the three women in the show. The audience loved it, there were lots of laughs all round, a very funny and entertaining show.

Teenage Cancer Trust Stereophonics

Tonight is the mighty Stereophonics at the Royal Albert Hall. Again I arrived at about 7pm to collect my pass.
Stereophonics
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford












We were led down to the Lanson Bar where we waited until about 7:35 then up to shoot the first act, Karima Francis. My mate and fellow photographer (and a great good one at that) Matt Kent told me that she is tipped to be pretty big.
Stereophonics
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford












Throughout her first three songs, the front row were chatting and munching away on big tubs of sweets, Malteezers to be precise.
Stereophonics
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford












They were a real fun bunch and pretty loud. In fact so loud that poor Karima kept glaring at them. It was a shame really for Karima, as the fans were there for The Sterophonics and that was that I am afraid.
Stereophonics
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford












As I said they were fun and a nice bunch, kept offering me Maltesers, like I need them (NOT).
Very Happy Malteser Eating Fans
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford

Teenage Cancer Trust Day Two

The Royal Albert hall tonight and its Teenage Cancer Trust's second night. The headline act is old folk rockers Fairport Convention. I have never seem them before and funnily enough, didn't tonight either. So, I got to the Albert Hall at about 7:15 then, a few minutes later us photographers were led into the arena to shoot the support act. The first artist was Eliza Carthy. She was pretty good, very folky and had a personality too. Then there seemed to be quite a long gap and then on late, came DJ Mike Harding and introduced a singer songwriter called Reg Muerose. I had never heard of him. He performed a few songs and also was pretty good. By now all of us photographers were getting pins and needles. We had to crouch down and keep out of the way of the paying punters behind us, who were getting quite rude and abusive.. Bloody heathens!! Not all of them, just the wanker and his friend behind me who didn't stop complaining and to be honest,needed a quick short sharp thump. Naturally, I am a gentleman and a true pro, so, I wouldn't possibly be the one to do such a thing.. So, after pins and needles Had truly taken hold, I was remembering a friend of mine who years ago was at a dinner and dance kind of charity event and had his legs crossed. When he stood up in front of the whole room, he couldn't feel his leg and fell straight over.. Everyone rushed over and picked him up and he went straight over again. I was now thanking this could be me in a few mins and it would be just my luck and quite funny if for the second year in a row at the Teenage Cancer Trust, I would fall over in front of the stage. Luckily this didn't happen... Finally on came the third support act. Her name was Kate Rusby and so she said she was from Barnsly, Yorkshire. She was pretty good as well. All quite impressive. So, us photographers did our bit and then stood up and left the pit and headed back out to the Lanson bar to wait until the main act was due to come on. Once we were waiting a while we were informed that the show was running very late. The main act, Fairport Convention were now due to be on at about 10:30. They were due to originally be on at 9:45. I now couldn't wait. So, I left before the main act came on. I had to get to Highgate, the Boogaloo to be precise to photograph ex mayor of London Ken Livingstone. There was some kind of Debate going on there. Ken Livingstone was joined on stage with Polly Styrene (of X-Ray Specs) and Laura Manuel of Reverend and the Makers. I only got there towards the end and photographed them. Mind you, I got there in time to hear someone ask the panel what there view was on drug legalisation. Ken Livingstone replied with "There is nothing wrong with Heroin in its pure form, Queen Victoria took it every night" I thought that was a pretty stupid thing to say. Imagine saying that to children. Heroin in its purest form is safe.. What a tosser.. We all know that in it pure form its safe, they use it every day in hospitals around the world. But the question wasn't a medical one, it was about legalising drugs.. He is a weirdo.. No doubt he will wriggle out of that and try and deny it. Funnily enough it was recorded by BBC Radio and filmed by Channel 4 TV. Get out of that then Ken!!

Teenage Cancer Trust Royal Albert Hall

This is the first night of the annual Teenage Cancer Trust Concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Tonight ist the brilliant V V Brown forllowed by Florence and the Machine and the big finale is Antony & The Johnsons. I arrived at the Royal Albert Hall at about 7pm and collected my pass. Said hello to all of the photographers who were waiting in the reception as well. Then down we all went and got ready to shoot V V Brown. She was fantastic and the lighting was pretty good.

Met Bar with Starsailor

My day was a bit mental. Started very early, down to Park Lane, then out diverted before I arrived off to Essex to look at a nice old Rolls Royce. Then back into Park Lane. Then out of town to the sticks recharge all cameras and gear then, back in the car and funnily enough again back to Park Lane, London to the Met Bar.

Tara Palmer-Tomkinson & James Walsh
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford

I met up with James Walsh from Starsailor. James was doing a St Patricks day acoustic set. Well, what a set it was too. He was brilliant. I cant remember exactly how long he played for, but, he managed to get in some of the big Starsailor hits as well as a few new ones from their brand new album. As an encore he played ABBA's Dancing Queen and Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire. Both were brilliant.
James Walsh
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford

The crowd, which included Grant Nicholas from Feeder, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, John Redmond (actor) plus others, were all dancing and singing along.

Grant Nicholas & James Walsh
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford












Staff at the Met bar were dancing on the bar. Quite a mad night.
James Walsh & James Redmond
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford

James Walsh is quite a talent and Starsailor are a fantastic band. There UK tour is under way any second and I am looking forward to the full band playing at Shepherd's Bush Empire in a few weeks. Should be a brilliant show.

Annie Lennox - London

Annie is releasing a best of CD and I whizzed into town to shoot her at the HMV store in Oxford Street, London. I think the last time I was with Annie was a few years back when I was the official photographer for Nelson Mandela and we went up to the Artic Circle and held a concert. It was in Tromso at the very top of Norway. I did a portrait shoot with Annie as she came off stage at around midnight and it was blinding sunshine. In the summer the sun never sets. Sunshine 24 hours a day.
Annie Lennox
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford


















So, here we were today in dark and dismal London. Annie was there pretty much on time and posed for the waiting press and then got on with signing her new album for the crowd who had gathered in the store.
Annie Lennox
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford












There were 1000's of people there and as I was leaving the crowd was growing bigger. I left, walked to my car, wired the photos out from my laptop and met my oldest son, Jonathan and headed out of town.

Cancer Reseach UK

I receved a very nice email from Cancer Research UK thanking me for a photograph that I donated to there Sound and Vision charity evening at Abbey Road Studios last week. The photo sold for £2,600. It was a live shot of Queen's Freddie Mercury. Taken in 1978 or around that time at Wembley. I think they raised quite a lot of money on the night and that is great news for a really worthwhile charity.

Publish Post

Keith Moon Blue Plaque

I headed into London's Soho at bout 9:30. Managed to get parked up and walked through the old familiar ally ways to Wardour Street. As I approached the old Marquee club I saw a row of Mods Scooters. They were very impressive. I suppose The Who and Keith meant a lot to Mods.
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford

I walked up to 90 Wardour Street and stood there as the security put a barrier out to contain the press, which included me. It was kind of strange that I should be on that side of the barrier as I Keith was a friend of mine and we amongst other places, used to frequent the Marquee club. I actually had an office about 100 yards (metres) away from the club. My office was inside The Who's management company, next door to The Ship pub. I had thought that Pete Townshend would make it, but I was soon told by one of the organisers that he wasn't coming. However, Roger Daltrey was. Keith Moon's mum, Kit, was there along with Keith sisters and families. It was lovely to see them.
Kit Moon, Keith's Mother
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford












PJ Proby was amongst the guests. He was great in his day. As he walked past, I wanted to attract his attention and get him over to me for a photo. So I told him that he was better than Elvis. He laughed and said in his southern Texas drawl, "Say that louder Son". I asked him to come over and he did and I got a shot of him. I seem to remember that he ripped his trousers on stage back in the day. I was about 5 at the time, but still remember it.
PJ Proby
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford












So, as the barrier was in place, and us, the press were in position. The Mayor, Louise Hyams made a quick speech which was funny. She said how nice it was to see so many motor bikes here in Wardour Street. She was immediately heckled and the Mods on their Scooters were not happy. Roger was standing right behind her and he put his fingers up to her head behind her and pretended to shoot her. She didn't see any of this. She carried on and made her speech oblivious to the faces Roger was pulling behind her as he disagreed with most of what she was saying. That was very amusing. Keith's mum and Roger Daltrey and the Mayor of Westminster, Louise Hyams pulled the cord and the cover released from the front of the plaque. The only problem was, that so many fucking idiots came and stood in front of all of the press pen and blocked our view. I really like the Heritage Foundation Charity that organise these events, but they always seem to get that vital part very wrong.
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford












We should have had a clear view of the event so we could shoot it. But, instead of that we photographed the backs of heads of invited people who chose to stand right in front of us. Despite our protests they moved about an inch at a time and we missed that moment.. What idiots. I did manage to get Roger to move the crowd out of the way for a shot of him, Kit Moon and PJ Proby.

PJ Proby, Kit Moon, Roger Daltrey
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford













As I was leaving saw a few old faces. I saw Paddy The Plank, whose real name is Paddy Callaghan. He was part of The Who's security back in the day. His brother Jim Callaghan actually toured with me when I was on tour with Bob Dylan in 1978. Ross Halfin was there and he introduced me to his "Man Friday" nice chap.

I got back to my car to find that I had got a bloody parking ticket. I couldn't believe it as I thought I had parked in a parking spot. But the very friendly traffic warden assured me I hadn't. The signs were very unclear.. I then got in my car only to find that I had lost my earpiece for my cell phone. That mus have dropped when there was a bit of a rush at the plaque unveiling. Then on my way back out of London through a horrible storm, a stone hit my windscreen and put a great big bullet hole in the screen. It sounded so loud I thought it was going to shatter the whole screen when it hit.. So, what ever will happen next.....

Ting Tings and VV Brown

It's Friday, it's five o'clock and its cracker jack. Well, some of you might remember that cry from Leslie Crowther who hosted the TV show Cracker Jack. Showing my age now. Anyway, it was Friday and it was five o'clock and I set off across London in the rush hour to head south to the Brixton Academy. I was shooting the Ting Tings and V V Brown who was supporting. It took me two hours to get there. Which is what I had expected that time of day. When I arrived there and parked up. I saw that the crowd were actually lined up around the street. This was unusual. I quickly found out that they had not been let inside as there was a power cut. So, like all of the punters outside, I waited patiently until we were finally informed about an hour and a half later, that it was now off. So, now being about 8:30 was heading back to my car. Whilst I was leaving I bumped into V V Brown's mum and as we were just chatting, V V Brown cam e out of the side stage door. We had a chat for a min and then I left here with her mum and friends who were there with her. I then headed back across London and Finaly got back to base at 10pm. So, there you go five hours for nothing.. All good fun really. Just a shame, as I really wanted to photograph V V Brown. She is brilliant and gonna be huuuuggge..

Michael Jackson is back

I went to the O2 Arena in London along with nearly all of the worlds press to photograph Michael Jackson.
Michael Jackson
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford












He was here in the UK making an announcement regarding new concerts.
Michael Jackson
Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford


















However, after leaving us all waiting hours, he didn't say much more that "I love you, I really do, from the bottom of my heart" He left leaving presenter Dermot O'Leary to actually make the announcement about concerts here in London in July.

Copyright 2009 Danny Clifford












There was a Michael Jackson look-a-like in the crowd. She/He looked like they had been to the same plastic surgeon, nice!!