GARY NUMAN - My break into Music Photography

GARY NUMAN - EXILE TOUR

SOUTHAMPTON GUILDHALL 25/10/1997

A long time ago, in the dark age of FILM… yes film!

My Gary Numan Exile Tour Guest Pass from the night. (Main photo at top credit to Phil King)

Exactly 21 years ago to the day on the 25th October 1997, I was only 18 and I got my first ‘break’ (and amazing experience) into the awkward world of Music Photography and what a great big surprise it was too. I took a chance, then it all happened just like they say…
I ‘must of been in the right place at the right time’ perhaps even the perfect place?

Perfect time… Perfect place…

Cemetery Junction Studio in Reading, I was at a band rehearsals and a guy called Scott who played in another band knew I was well into photography. He worked for a Japanese culture publication (called NJ or something simlar?), his job was doing interviews with artists, bands playing and creative people in the UK.

Scott was due to go to Southampton that Saturday for an interview and his usual pro photographer had gone quiet on him, the days before everyone had a mobile phone. He knew I was a photographer and asked if I had experience shooting large venues before, so of course I said yes - so we exchanged home phone numbers and arranged to meet that Saturday afternoon at 2pm to head to Southampton.

Once on the way down he let me know what we were doing, ”don’t suppose you have heard of him” said Scott, ”but I am interviewing Gary Numan tonight, so we need shots of him performing on stage, and then back in the dressing room after the show. 

Then came those glorious words…. “I have an Access All Areas Guest pass waiting at the door for you”.

For me this was the first time I got a real taste for what Music Photography really was. I recently had upgraded from my first SLR camera the Canon T90, which I wish I had kept now. So I went armed with my Canon EOS 100 camera, yes what a shock FILM. To be exact it was Fujichrome PROVIA 100F slide film, my favourite to shoot on at the time for colour.

Amazing Live Performance

What a night, I got to walk about where I liked.. the show that Gary Numan put on was amazing, and being only about 2-3 foot away and able to use the stage as an arm rest I really couldn’t of had a better view!

Other photographers there were giving me the stare, I was very young, I had brightly dyed purple and green spikey punk hair, my pretty amateur camera, 2 lenses (one with autofocus, one without) 2 flashes, and as you may know (and I very quickly found out…) flashes really don’t go down well with the artists, the audience or other photographers! First professional lesson learnt. These went straight back in my bag and I got on and shot the fantastic show that was going on right in front of my nose.

It was such an experience, a real sudden drop in the deep end for an 18 year old who had NEVER shot a live concert. I will never forget any of it (at least I hope I don’t anyway).

Backstage - Photos & Cups of Tea

After an incredible show, the herd of photographers at the front dispersed, they got their photographs and I got mine. They left the venue and Round 2 began for me.

I went backstage with Scott to meet Gary Numan in his dressing room for the interview. My job was now to photograph him for the magazine, now I was glad I brought my flashes and gels. I really have to say that Mr Numan was indeed a really lovely chap in every way, accommodating and polite and even offered to make me a cup of tea, lovely.

Scott got a great interview nailed, I got some great shots of Gary backstage, a few with Scott and a couple with myself…

The whole way back home I was freezing my nuts off in Scott’s car, no heating at all.. but I was really happy I had just nailed my first proper Music Photography job, it was very surreal at the time, my first toe in the door and what a BIG door too!

And then…
The Stitch Up

So I had already had the Silver Lining… now Daniel the guy who ran the magazine wanted the slides to him as quick as possible, so I got my films off to the lab the next morning, waited almost a week and got my slides back from the lab, they were really incredible - I was so pleased with them, even the backstage shots were  excellent too.

Mr top dog Daniel was very demanding and wanted to see the slides in his hands ASAP, “they need to go through the editorial stage ready for the publication deadline that week” he constantly kept saying. So I couriered them to him in London, he said he would send back the slides that weren’t selected so I would have something for my portfolio. That was nice of him I thought…

The reality was… he made my payment, but only paid half of what was agreed so I got just £40! I had already paid for the processing and posted the bloody slides out too so couldn’t argue, the courier and processing cost almost £40!

The money thing was no big issue, I would get the remaining slides back soon so I was still really happy, the last few shots were of me with Gary Numan which was a real bonus.

But alas, the slides never got posted back to me, after 2-3 weeks Daniels office phone no longer worked, I only had the London office address for him and alas my slides were gone. So young and naive to the photo industry, I took a chance, got some cracking shots, but no contract was involved and had foolishly given my slides away and even paid the postage to do so. There we have it, a photo clown.

This is why you see here a great photo by Phil King from a live performance of Gary Numan in Manchester in 2011, I have no slides of my own, boo-hoo!

So, lesson learned. Taking risks is a good thing but make sure your look after your own images and always take copies before sending out the only masters.

Stitched up but Still Very Happy…

I got the very first taste for this type of photography as an young professional - I got to meet Gary Numan, I really had such a great and memorable night and it just left me wanting much more!

Cheers Scott and a great big thanks to Mr Gary Numan too, top man (makes a  lovely cuppa tea)!