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October 30Up at 5am Helsinki time, which is 3am London time. The airport is ultra modern like Stockholm's, which emphasises what a dump Heathrow is. The girl at security goes through my bag. I start to lose it after she picks up a camera lens and asks what it is. I look at her with contempt. Then I think better of it and go along with her - what's the point and I want to get on the plane... As I have a coffee I see a smiling Neil Peart on his way to Los Angeles - it's 6am. We say goodbye. I sit and wait to board when an American (whose name was Pete, not Ian as I originally thought) tells me he's been to all the Rush shows in Europe, mainly driving. He's very proud of this and is heading home to Cleveland after flying to Stockholm then driving for fifteen hours to Amsterdam. 'You can never get enough Rush' he says. I connect through Stockholm leaving a tearful Michael heading to the bar. As I sit in an exit row the flight attendant looks down her nose at me and says something in Swedish in a raised voice. 'I can't understand you.' She then raises her voice even more so the people around her can hear. 'Are you willing to open the emergency door and help passengers in an emergency?' It's not even a question, more an order. I pretend to think for a minute then say 'If I survive hurtling through the sky at five hundred miles an hour and I survive an emergency landing I would be more than happy to save you.' What bollocks, and it's only 7am... I sleep and have the weirdest dream that the flight attendant has stolen my camera bag in retribution. I wake up and check it's still there. My ear is killing me and I've dropped my glasses which someone has stood on. Jesus hates us all or maybe just me - must be my morning karma. London is bright sunshine, beautiful weather - at least something's nice. By midday my ear has closed up, can't hear a thing so off to the doctor. I've an infection. I feel like I've been kicked in the side of the head. What a miserable day... October 29Off to Helsinki for a last blast of Rush. Being, as Randle Fagan calls me, "a mileage whore" I fly via Stockholm to get United air miles and pick up Michael Johansson, who complains that working with me is keeping him sober and making him ill. 'I've a chest infection from not drinking. Hard Liquor protects me from winter.' Arrive late afternoon to darkness and cold, winter is here. I don't mind, it suits the Baltics. Get there in time to shoot soundcheck. I'm not saying what they played as nobody believes me anyway. Shoot Geddy warming up, his voice is powerful in a room, unamplifed singing old Rush anthems. I give Neil a copy of Tom Wright's book, Roadwork, and my second Who book, Maximum Who. The band all sign my tour itinerary with amusing asides. And I get a photo taken (which I'm proud of) with Geddy and Neil waiting in the corridor to go on. Completely sold out in the Hartwall Areena with a good pit. Get good pictures which I'm VERY HAPPY with...
A picture of me working at the Hartwall Areena, sent by Jarkko Säkkinen.
After the show say goodbye - Geddy says 'Next time you're wandering all over the stage, wear black shorts.' Mine were light grey. Had a good time touring with Rush. I appreciated them and they appreciated what I could do. And Canadians have a much better sense of humour than Americans. October 27Flew with the Band to Stockholm in the early hours of this morning. An hour back to the airport, an hour's flight, and another hour into Stockholm... Meet photographer Michael Johansson at the Globe. He's helping me today. He knows a bit about digital photography. I know nothing, my view is it's about taking photos not fucking around on a laptop and putting any old shit out, and claiming you're a photographer. Michael tells me he totally agrees about any idiot with a digital camera thinking they're a photographer. It's nice seeing Michael, and strange seeing him sober. 'I'm having a day off and starting Sunday morning. Schnapps for breakfast then real drinking by Sunday lunch.' Michael should go and work for Paul Brannigan, maybe Michael and Paul could marry. They could get so obliterated together they could forget they're both men. They might even both be Shoot the soundcheck of Beneath, Between & Behind and even a bit of La Villa Strangiato. I even climb up on Neil's huge monitors and shoot from behind - get a picture of the empty hall with all three and Neil's drum stick in mid-air.
Shoot Alex on stage with various Gibsons and in the backstage hallway. I end up getting
We all leave straight after for the airport (Michael straight to the bar). Helsinki for Rush - I'm off home for a day, back to Helsinki on Monday. Geddy Lee is in a good mood I leave him on the tarmac singing the words to 2112... October 26Fly to Oslo to rejoin Rush. I had forgotten how far out the airport is, it's nearly an hour even in no traffic on a motorway. The last time I was here was in '96 with Metallica on the Load tour. I hung out with Neil Peart and shot him warming up on his drum kit in his dressing room. I asked him which drummers he liked and he told me Gene Krupa and Keith Moon, so we talked about The Who. He'd seen them at the Oval (first time I'd seen them) and I reminded him it was September 18th 1971. At this point I suspect he thought I was mad or a loonie fan. Neil remembered Rod Stewart auctioning off his leopard skin stage suit. Keith Moon finished the show playing with cricket bats and Neil said the DJ was Jeff Dexter. Neil saw them as much as me - I was impressed. Amazing what you find out, and before you think we're sad we didn't talk about train timetables... Got a fantastic (if I say so myself) photo at the end of Limelight, looking down into the stage. Small barricade, hard to shoot, no good angles from the front. October 25
October 24As Andy and I get back in the early hours Geddy invites us to dinner where the three of us dine on honeydew and drink the milk of paradise (thirty year old bottles of red wine). I tell Geddy my theory on how to shoot Rush which he finds amusing but agrees with. 'Fin Costello would do the same,' he says. I tell Geddy Kevin THE CAVEMAN Shirley is a wine connoisseur. Mr Lee is surprised and I learn that THE CAVEMAN escaped to Canada from Australia with no teeth. Funny I always thought THE CAVEMAN'S smile was too white... Some more of Rush from Milan and Neil backstage in Wembley 
 October 23Flew over the Italian alps to Milan mid-afternoon. It was a view to dream about, mountains covered in mist. One of the things which makes flying wonderful... 
 Got in and met up with Andy Curran. We're off to the Fila Forum for some more Rush. I find this venue depressing, it's always damp and reminds me of a concrete prison. The lighting backstage is as dull as if the lights are weak. I end up stuck in the twilight zone with a headache. Start with soundcheck where they play Cinderella Man, The Analog Kid and something I don't know called Here Again. I mainly shoot Neil Peart and I've figured out how to capture the animation of Rush, which photographers mostly seem to miss capturing in them. Get them going on and go in the pit to shoot. It has been hosed down - imagine shooting in a muddy stream. It was hard work and I was feeling sorry for myself but as am "The Master" I got some good photos. I had a good night - enjoyed the show, the crowd of Italians were going nuts singing along to the new album, every song with , ummmmm... passion. 
 The more I see the Rush show the more I like it. October 20The weather's still nice in England - perfect sunny autumn. Off to see the Police at Wembley. I get there at 5.30. The huge arch over the stadium is lit in the last light of the day - looks impressive. I seem to know most of the Police's roadcrew from the dawn of man (the early 80's). Also some of the photographers - Jill Furmanovsky and Gus Stewart, who I knew when we started freelancing for Sounds in the 70s. 
 The lightshow is good, apart from a video track like a child's giant railway line going across the whole front of the stage making it nearly impossible to move. Got some nice photos of Sting... 
  Speaking of bass players, spoke to Andy Curran, ex-bassist of Coney Hatch and AR type person for Rush's management. I may go to Italy next week to taste the honeydew and drink the milk of paradise. October 18The weather's nice for this time of year. I am trying to go to Japan this weekend but can't get a flight. Everything is full - can't work out why. Even via Bangkok and other places East...
Got an email telling me Gong Li is at the Indochine Festival in Singapore next week. Now that's what I'd like to do - and I'd do it for free. October 17Some more pictures of Jimmy from my shoot on the 4th 
 October 14
Took off through dull overcast skies .As the plane climbed through the clouds the sky was transformed into the end of day twilight. One of those things that makes you appreciate flying - helps you see things you would never normally see. 
 October 13It was pouring with rain last night and Genesis were playing the Hollywood Bowl. I mean monsoon rain, I laughed myself to sleep thinking of all the Phil Collins fans enjoying the rain. As Kirk Hammet would say 'Enjoy the mud motherfuckers.' It is prog rock hell here this weekend with the Australian Pink Floyd playing as well as Genesis. It was a nice day when I woke up, very pleasant. Spoke to Paul McKenna by the hotel pool, he gave me a signed copy of his book I Can Make You Rich. I hope it works - I'm reading it now. Chris Robinson was outside at lunchtime heading to a matinee Black Crowes show at a festival. We caught up, he's discovered Hawkwind's Space Ritual and raved about them. We arranged to meet later tonight in the bar. I was photographing John Fogerty today. His New York PR has moved it to the end of next week. How kind, fly from London to LA and they wait until you arrive to tell you - it's a wonderful life. And PRs are vermin - fact... Wandered along Sunset Blvd, I miss Tower Records and DVD. Went to educate my mind in The Book Soup. Instead of Greek verse I bought The Heroin Diaries, Nikki Sixx's opus to all things bad. I'm quoted a lot, to my surprise. It cost $32.50 - I've now paid Nikki so he can afford a new house, car, holiday etc. Nikki says in the book I'm sweet and gay - I've been exposed, the world now knows... If I ever do a book I will do something like this, to get away with it I just need Nikki's money to retire. John Bionelli rang from Boston wanting a Paul Stanley update, what was he playing, did I hear any new songs, when's he touring, why didn't I get him a signed picture? You must remember John is forty nine years old. Storm Thorgerson was having an exhibition at the Mr. Musichead Art Gallery, so went to have a look with designer Tom Jerman. If you like Pink Floyd it's worth seeing. October 12Woke up and photographed the clouds outside my hotel, they were beautiful... Started the day shooting Paul Stanley, aka the LOVE GUN - this is what John Bionelli calls him. I stuck to Paul... Shot a load of solo photos then some with his guitar hero son, Evan. It was good to see him again, he came in and promised not to talk to me in a bad Dick Van Dyke accent - like his bass player does. It was a pleasure to deal with him.
A long day but a productive one. October 11Off to LA today, so leave at dawn. It's misty and foggy and it takes ages to get to Heathrow. At least the flight is half empty. I fall asleep and dream of Rush songs - I think it's Distant Early Warning over and over. I wake an hour before landing and I'm humming Circumstances... Got in to Los Angeles and had a relaxing afternoon .Got burnt by the pool. Spoke to Steven Tyler who was charming - and when he wants to be charming, he really is charming. My agent Simon Kenton had bought me a birthday present, only two months late, but it's the thought that counts. He'd given it to me at the Rush show last night and it was perfect plus it was very expensive so thank you Simon. I love you - a bit. Went out to destroy Los Angeles with my chum Chris Vranian. Saw the most beautiful girl I have EVER seen at Ago. I wish I'd had the nerve to talk to her. I didn't, of course, so I just stared all night... Still had a wonderful Thursday - off to bed to dream of Ago. October 10Back to Wembley for more Rush. Shoot the soundcheck onstage,it has good lights and they play on a nice green Canadian carpet with a red snake - rather reminds me of flying on Air Canada.They play a bit of Limelight and call it a day. A lot of people I know are at Wembley today. Mike Molyneoux is here with his posse of Ealing Sunday morning football stars, including someone called Willy who is so rich he resides in Spain and has flown over just for this. Willy corners me and tells me there are only two great bands in the world - Rush and Dream Theatre. He then goes on and on about how many times he's seen Rush (everywhere on every tour) and bores me with details of how Alex Liefson plays solos. After two hours I suspect that Willy doesn't live in Spain but with his mum in Ealing. I should point out that Willy is 55 years old. I leave Mike and Willy after telling Willy that Rush have changed half the set for older classic songs like Cinderella Man. He is so overjoyed he starts crying, 'You're not making this up?' 'No Willy, Rush are doing this I now fully realise why Rush have personal security. I shot Rush in the coriddor waiting to go on. Neal as he is walking on stops and says 'Oh I got an email today from Kevin THE CAVEMAN Shirley telling me you were here and asking for Rush baby clothes...' The light show is much better tonight with more smoke which diffuses the lights nicely. I can honestly say I got some good photos, it restored my faith in me as a photographer, especially in this day and age when any idiot with a digital camera thinks they are a photographer. It's good to shoot a band with a real light show. During the intermission I hear what sounds like chanting. I look round to find Paul "Gooner" Elliott falling drown drunk singing to himself standing next to an embarrassed Dave Everley (Q Magazine features editor) with a "help me" look on on his face. As I try to talk to Dave, Paul interrupts slurring the words to The Trees. All around there is a smell of Guinness and whiskey pervading the air. 'Top of the morning,' slurs a voice - it's Paul Brannigan. 'I'm having a night off.' Off what, I wonder. 'Me and Paul have come to see Machine Head.' By now both his eyeballs are going in different I go and shoot the second half of the show. Lots of pyro and the highlight for me is looking up at the stands during Spirit Of The Radio seeing Paul Elliott playing air guitar with Paul Brannigan passed out next to him, and a forlorn Dave Everley telling Paul to sit down. The one thing people seem to miss about Rush is that they are a good rock band. They are always good. Not some form of art rock. I came home at midnight and played 2112... 
 October 9Went to shoot Rush at Wembley. The trip is always a journey into hell, took two hours to get there in the rain. London was fucked up to drive through. Arrived just in time for soundcheck. They played nearly the whole of Hemispheres and Most Of A Farewell To Kings. 
 Said hello afterwards, the friendliest was Neal Peart who greeted me with 'Hello old timer.' Old Timer, me? I am, I suppose, I started shooting Rush in 1977. God that's thirty years ago. I'm old - ish! The Manic Street Preachers were there (to interview Rush). I'd never met Nicky Wire before, he seemed a fine man. He was nervous, James Dean Bradford was quiet. 'We're serious fans.' I told them some stories, and Nicky had a great knowledge of the photographers from my era, good and bad. He asked me 'Do you like anyone?' I told him the ONLY thing musicians care about is 'themselves and money.' I mean, I like some of them - I just can't think of any...
Rush played for eight hours (okay it was three). Too many new songs for me, but I forgave them when A Passage To Bangkok was the second encore. I felt at home shooting them, enjoyed it - as only a old timer can... Congratulations to Scarlet Page who last night welcomed her daughter Martha Alice into this poor world. Born to a life of luxury and privilege with Grandad taking care of her every whim - Victoria Beckham has competition... Now Scarlet is desperately searching for Iron Maiden baby clothes for Martha's first photo spread in Hello magazine with Grandad... 
 October 8The sky is from my garden at the weekend - it kind of reminds me winter is coming. Captain America and the machetes are from my kitchen in the last light of the day. 
 
 October 7A sunny Sunday, shot Dan Reed today around Battersea. Dan looks the same - I haven't seen him for at least fifteen years. He's looked after himself, more muscle... It was good to see him, we may shoot more later this week. Also shot a new band (a duo) called What Would Jesus Drive. The light was good for both. October 4Watched The Exorcist: The Beginning starring Kevin THE CAVEMAN Shirley's son Talon as the Devil's child. Kevin will be going to hell for dressing his son up in stupid Iron Maiden baby clothes and posting pictures of the Devil's Child. Why do parents do this? Come on Kevin, put up some pictures of you in your wife's clothes, or you dressed as a baby. I started reading An Iliad by Alessandro Baricco. Also got The Dragon And The Foreign Devils, a history of China. I was so keen to open it I tore the cover. Oops - something I hate is tatty books. Books should be looked after, not just thrown around... Some more Jimmy Page. The white strat was the guitar used to record Ten Years Gone. Jimmy had given it to John Paul Jones and had only just got it back from him... See more... 
 October 2Spent nearly the whole of today shooting Jimmy Page for various things - magazines and beauty products. Felt quite exhausted at the end. But what I find more exhausting are the wankers who keep emailing me wanting Led Zeppelin information. Prime example is the arsehole who goes by the name Hurtin Kind. It will be a pleasure if I ever meet him to hurt him and I wouldn't be kind... 
Mark Blake has a website and it's nice and neat and clean, just like Mark. Look on www.markrblake.com He describes me perfectly as "Photographer, diarist and well known humanitarian". Wonderful stuff Mark. Some magazine pictures. See more... 
 October 1Fucking winter is coming, and the weather is shit with a capital S. I hate winter... Saw Brian Wheat from Tesla for dinner over the weekend. I might go and shoot them in Japan. He told me Jeff Keith (the band's retarded singer) has a tutor on tour so he can learn to read and write. Jeff is from Texarkana or somewhere - he grew up in a field with dogs and sheep. I took great pleasure in telling Brian's wife about my first job in a dogs home putting dogs to death with a stun gun. She was aghast until I suggested doing the same to Jeff Keith 'What a good idea...' Meant to be busy this month - let's see.
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