Back then ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought I'd chuck in another 'double' photo today .. two pictures that I've placed together because of their similarities. I recently managed to look through more of my archive, and it's fascinating to see just how many famous people I met on the job. I even knew who most of them were! Not like today, when people are 'celebrities' just because they've been on some trivial late-night 'reality' show on Channel 193. People we sit down to watch on television as they .. sit down to watch television! Oh yes, the old days were definitely better. Things were simpler then, four channels to watch and shut-down at eleven o'clock. None of this .. sorry nurse? I have to take my tablets? Lead on ..

You're twistin' me melon, man ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To a certain generation, the word Manchester meant "The Haçienda" and if you mentioned the name they'd stick their tongue out and look at you like you were going to throw them an 'E'. The club was a major part of the city's landscape in the 1980s and 90s but, not being into the 'Madchester' scene, (You're twistin' me melon, man!) I only went there every now and again for a pint or to see a band. I remember my pal Chris ringing me up once and asking if I fancied going there to see 'some girl called Madonna'. "Never heard of her", I said, and we gave up the chance to see an up and coming Madge and probably went to stare at girls that were far above our pay-rate at Placemate 7 instead. I do remember going to see The Gun Club there, and The Eurythmics with Blondie's Clem Burke on drums, and having pints in the ever-so-unspacious 'Gay Traitor' bar down the stairs, but that's about it. Even despite the Joy Division connection, it just wasn't a place I bothered with ..

Nice though, to stumble upon a couple of transparencies I shot there when I was commissioned by the (now-defunct) Sabena Airlines in-flight magazine. Not many people on the dance floor so I'm guessing it was a wet Wednesday in March, but who's to say? Lovely memory, all the same ..

Tut tut, Martin ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joan Collins and her daughter Tara Newley, seen in two separate photo-shoots I did in the 90s, both of which resulted in a ticking off for your dear old blogger! Joan 'Superstar Goddess Wonderwoman Don't you know who I am?' was launching a new book and chastised me for "getting a little too close, darling." Then someone wrote into the newspaper berating me for "desecrating" graves after I'd posed Tara in a cemetery. I have learned my lesson and haven't gone near either of the ladies ever since .. 😂

The Boy who missed Next Year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, my Lord! I woke this morning to the news that someone has actually bought a copy of the first book I wrote. 'The Boy who missed Next Year' is a children's adventure story that I put onto Amazon Kindle about six years ago, and which promptly disappeared down the long and echoing rabbit warren that is self-publishing. To say I'm surprised is an under-statement. (Delighted too, of course!) I'm just going to sit back now and wait for the royalties to pour in. I always knew it was a long slog, this book-writing mullarky ..

(Oh, and to get your own Kindle copy, just paste this bad boy into your browser .. https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=the+boy+who+missed+next+year&i=digital-text&crid=11TDAS8AG8B8R&sprefix=the+boy+who+missed+next+year%2Cdigital-text%2C72&ref=nb_sb_noss)

I'm confused ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My blog on Wednesday achieved 984 reads. Now how did it do that? I didn't even write a blog on Wednesday. The world of social media continues to bewilder me. I'm just really happy I don't need it to run a business anymore ..

I had a great day in Bournemouth last week, catching up with two old photographer pals from the Manchester Evening News. We talked of battered Nikon FMs, of rushing film back from football grounds and of The Bumblies - the nickname given to the ever-complaining darkroom staff at the MEN. Not a word about digital cameras. Nothing about online portfolios or having an Instagram 'presence'. Ah yes, life was so much simpler then. Although, without all that, you wouldn't be able to read this blog, would you? See, I told you I was confused ..

Ps: Today's picture is another blast from my past. Street 'entertainment' in Canton, China. Shot on film - on an Olympus XA - about fifteen years before I had a web-site on which to show it!!    

Forty-five years ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 14 .. and it's now an unbelievable forty-five years since I took my pictures of Joy Division at Bowdon Vale Youth Club. After a dodgy start - nobody was interested in using the shots at the time - the photographs have now been used in magazines, books, exhibitions and, like the image I'm showing you today, on T-shirts. The band's music is as powerful as ever, and I'm so lucky to have seen the group three times. Rest in peace, Ian.