Pluckin' great ..

Fantastic to see Wilko Johnson again last night, all the more so 'cos we were just about on the verge of calling him the 'late, great' ..

He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a couple of years ago but has made a miraculous full recovery from the illness and is now back out there again doing what he does best. I didn't go mad on the photography. I just nipped up to the stage barrier to grab a couple of shots of him but that was all. I put the camera down, then, and got on with enjoying the gig. That's the reason I stopped photographing bands all those years back. I'd come out of a gig and ask myself 'Yeah, but what was the music like?" I know what the music was like last night. Pluckin' great ..

Hit me!...

Did I mention I'd gone to see Wilko Johnson the other week? Hm! Must have forgotten, what with blathering on about photography all the time! Anyway I did and, fab as he was, I'm afraid I just couldn't take my eyes off "Wilko's secret weapon" - the bass player Norman Watt-Roy. (He used to play in the Blockheads, with Ian Dury, if you want an inkling of his fab bass riffs. Think 'Hit me with your rhythm stick'!) Man! The guy is absolutely amazing! I have never seen anyone sweat from their elbows before!
I hate the expression 110 percent.. but that's what he gives when he goes on stage. Awesome! Anyway, I don't really shoot music photography these days, but I couldn't resist at this gig, and dropped the speed on my little compact and spun it round to emulate Norman's movement for this shot from the front of the stage. See, I knew I'd get the subject round to photography again!