AC/DC - Manchester Apollo, 1982
ROCK GIANTS
LOST & FOUND
In the late 70s and early 80s I had the privilege of photographing many of the biggest names in rock at the Manchester Apollo. After printing just a handful of images, my films were mothballed in the family attic. 25 years and a change of career later - becoming a photography tutor at The Manchester College in 2010 - I unearthed and dusted off my negatives and began the arduous process of digitalisation.
I was astonished with the quality of the negatives after all those years in storage and quickly realised the significance and historical importance of many of the images. Many of the artists had since died and had subsequently been catapulted into legendary rock status... Phil Lynott, Rory Gallagher, Eddie Van Halen, Gary Moore, Bon Scott and the Ramones.
Thin Lizzy - Manchester Apollo, 1983
Rory Gallagher - Manchester Apollo, 1982
Iron Maiden - Manchester Apollo, 1980 (featuring original lead singer Paul Di'Anno)
Around 1978 it seemed inevitable I would combine my two obsessions of rock music and photography. In this era the big names seemed to be permanently on the road, with a ‘must see gig’ in town nearly every week – it was the perfect time to document to film.
Ramones - Manchester Apollo, 1980
AC/DC (Angus Young)- 1982
Today with the mass use of the mobile phone, management and promoters accept the futility of preventing fans photographing gigs. Back in the day, there were strict rules in place, every gig ticket carried the warning ‘No cameras or recording equipment allowed’, equipment would be seized, or at worse, offenders would face prosecution. The solution? Dismantle camera, hide down the front and back of your trousers, pray you survive the ‘pat-down’, re-assemble once safely inside.
Van Halen - Manchester Apollo, 1980
Scorpions - Manchester Apollo, 1980
Thin Lizzy - 1983
Gary Moore - Manchester Apollo, 1983
U.F.O - Manchester Apollo, 1982
AC/DC - Manchester Apollo, 1980: Photographing from a fan’s eye view, added an energy to the imagery. This wide stage shot taken from the stalls won a Granada Television ‘Photograph of the Month Award’.
Rory Gallagher - 1982
The Jam - Manchester Apollo, 1979
Iron Maiden - 1980
Michael Schenker Group - Manchester Apollo, 1982
Michael Schenker - 1981
Sammy Hagar - Manchester Free Trade Hall, 1979
Wild Horses - Manchester Polytechnic, 1980
Now studying Photography at Manchester Polytechnic, I decided to shoot bands legitimately from the front of stage, this meant applying for photo-passes from the record companies. I claimed I was working for music magazines that didn’t even exist; surprisingly it got me what I wanted.
Rory Gallagher - 1982
Ramones - 1980
Passes had to be collected at the stage door on the day of the gig, usually from the tour manager, if timed right, there was often an opportunity to watch the bands soundcheck. On one occasion, when collecting a pass for Thin Lizzy, I was asked to wait in the green room where the band were waiting to soundcheck, Phil Lynott asked me to complete his game of pinball, already on a high score, he jokingly threatened. “if you screw up, I’ll fu#king kill you!”
Thin Lizzy - 1983
Rory Gallagher - 1982
The Who - Manchester Apollo, 1981
Thin Lizzy (Phil Lynott) - 1983
Thin Lizzy (Scott Gorham) - 1983
The Who - 1981
Saxon - Manchester Apollo, 1981
In 1984, I began fulltime work as a press photographer and the gig photography stopped. Although incredibly proud of my early fumblings with the camera, I can’t help thinking about all the great bands I subsequently missed.
AC/DC (Angus Young) - 1982
AC/DC (Angus Young) - 1982
AC/DC (Angus Young & Brian Johnson) - 1982
Thin Lizzy (John Sykes & Scott Gorham) - 1983
Harry Potts & framed prints
U.F.O (Pete Way) - 1982
AC/DC - Manchester Apollo, 1979 (with original vocalist Bon Scott)