Whip it up ..

When a problem comes along, you must whip it! And I think I have! ..

It's no state secret if I tell you that enquiries for Wedding Photographers have slowed down, but I think I've found the answer to my problem...

ManchesterWeddingPhotography.com!

That's going to be the name of my new website! I know! I can't believe it either, but I was contacted by a chap last week who asked if I'd like to be the owner of this fantastic domain name. "Well, yes.." I said "But surely it's already taken!?" "It is!.." he said "By me!.." And so it comes to pass, my brothers and sisters, that -  once I've got the pages sorted out - I will be the proud owner of a fab new website that's gotta be guaranteed to whip up new business!

Sad to hear of the death of Devo guitarist Bob Casale yesterday. You can't be of 'a certain age' and not know the band's 80s hit 'Whip it', so what a shame to know Bob's just died of heart problems at only 61 years old. I was lucky enough to see Devo twice, both times at Manchester Apollo. The first gig, in 1980, cost £4! When I saw them about 5 years ago it was £40 but, with apologies for the puny 'whip it' line in today's blog, I just wanted to say 'Thank You, Bob! It was worth it..."

Foreigner?...

I know, another shot of a band on my blog, but stick with it! I was searching for an insurance policy in a box of old documents this morning, and came across an old diary from 1981 - the year I was 21 and working for the Warrington Guardian. It was a timely find because, yesterday, I was talking with a pal about going to gigs 'in the old days'. His son, it seems, was going to his second gig of the week last night. Second gig of the week! I only managed three in the whole of last year .. and one of them was an eighties' tribute night! Anyway, I started reading through this old diary, and in particular, the February of 1981. You would not believe the listings in there! In just that one month I went to 12 gigs and saw acts as varied as John Cooper Clarke, The Rezillos, Bad Manners, Discharge, OMD and the UK Subs. There was even U2 at Manchester Poly, and Duran Duran although, tellingly, I can't remember anything from that gig! I once photographed Devo - that's them in the picture! - in 1980, and remember the ticket cost me £4. When I went to see 'em more recently the same band cost me 40 quid! Anyway, the thing that shocked me most whilst looking through my history was a listing for Foreigner! Foreigner? I don't even like Foreigner, so why would I go and see 'em? Then it dawned on me! It wasn't a listing for the band, it was a booking to shoot for somebody other than the Warrington Guardian. It was a foreigner, not the Foreigner! Phew!...