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June 28Sunday in Milan and I started by having breakfast with Brian Wheat. We had fruit and a bit of cheese, Peter Makowski had eggs and a bit of bacon - the bill was 185€. And people think England is expensive. The top row sky photos are the view from my garden on a hot summer's night. The two on the far right are taking off through storm clouds leaving Milan. Bottom left and right are landing in London and the rest is Milan on a hot Sunday - the girl is either Pete Makowski in make up, or the future Mrs Halfin... 
 
  
Spent most of the day sitting looking at the Cathedral in the main square ((three coffees and a coke - 35€). I had a look at the Brera (National Portrait Gallery) which was full of paintings of Jesus. The usual thing, being crucified, with his chums the disciples breaking bread before they sold him down the river and they headed down the pub. There was one Caravaggio and that was of Jesus with his mates having something to eat - it was boring and don't tell me I'm wrong, I went to art college... Early evening was in the company of Tesla to get some photos for the new album. Milan being full of restaurants has many choices to eat, so many culinary delights, so Jeff Keith goes to Burger King then wipes his greasy hamburger hands all over his clothes. He truly misses America (or the middle of America, full of his people eating his kind of food). Half of the task with Tesla is getting Jeff to pay attention and not look to retarded, he even said 'I've got learning difficulties'. And he isn't joking... Flew home on the last flight - sort off shot the night clouds flying out of Milan. I even shot a bit of London coming in to land. June 27Flew to Milan this morning - got up at 4am for a 7am take off. I must remind myself not to do this. I was so tired I passed out before I took off, woke up five minutes before landing in Milan. I didn't pay attention to which airport we were flying to so landed at MXP which was a 95 euro cab ride into the city. I'm staying at the Park Hyatt, very nice - also very expensive and VERY over-priced at 500€ a night. I get there at 11am then am told my room's not ready until after 2pm. I complain. The hotel staff are disinterested - nice Five Star service. Today is The Gods Of Metal Festival, two days of head-banging heaven. I'm here to shoot Tesla for a European live album cover. Meet up with Tesla late afternoon. Jeff Keith is instantly annoying. I like him a bit, and I mean a little bit. Let's face it, if he was an animal he'd be put down. Do some Tesla group photos in the bowels of the Gods Of Metal football ground, and we decide to shoot more around Milan tomorrow. See Queensryche. Geoff Tate is the same age as me which I found surprising. I feel as if I'm older than all the 80s bands which I'm not. Shoot Queensryche - I can't remember the last time I photographed them, around 1995 I think - "Revolution Calling" indeed. Heaven And Hell were on the bill, or Black Sabbath as I kept calling them much to Peter Makowski's annoyance. I thought I'd go and say hello. This proved more difficult than I imagined as they are surrounded by assistants, bodyguards and flunkies that would make Madonna's people look like Unicef. The Heaven And Hell camp is so unpleasant it is actually quite sad. I see Pedro (Geezer's cousin). I'm told Geezer's busy. I wait an hour then go and knock on Tony Iommi's door. It is opened and blocked by his assistant who as I step left, steps in front of me, I step right she steps right. 'TONY'S BUSY' I 'm told in an unpleasant voice. Okay, fuck it, why bother? Tesla are plagued by Brian Wheat's bass amp blowing up mid-set - they still win the crowd over who seem to know all the songs. I'm standing talking to a friend of mine as Heaven And Hell go on,Tony sees me and breaks ranks to come over (with his assistant glaring at me behind him).Tony says sorry for earlier and tells me he has a cracked rib before he's ushered away. It's pathetic, then again the band let them do it and control it. I go and shoot the first half of the set, then after a truly pedantically boring drum solo I'm removed from the photo pit on the orders of Ronnie Dio. I'm sort of annoyed for ten minutes then think who cares, life's too short - bit like Ronnie really... Tesla 
A far more friendly camp is Motley Crue's. I talk photography with Nikki (who is fully into it) while Mick Mars lies in a chair looking like Nosferatu. Vince Neil comes in, 'Fucking Ross' he beams. For some reason Motley all call me "Fucking Ross". I pop in to see Tommy Lee in his party central dressing room - Tommy looks up, 'Fucking Ross, Alright?' Motley are funny, it was a contrast to the other camps and most people expect Motley to be arseholes. Before Motley go on Ronnie Dio is in the hallway, overjoyed at seeing Peter Makowski, and Ronnie means it, he even is gushing to see me! I'm tempted to say something then think why ruin Peter's moment. Ronnie was genuinely pleased to see him.
 June 25Another perfect day, you appreciate London when it's like this. Peter and I and General Noriega set off to see Chickenfoot at the Metropolitan Hotel.
Chickenfoot. See more... 
 Went home for a bit then off to the Shepherds Bush Empire for the Chickfoot show. I hung out in the dressing room, shot Sammy warming up on his Les Paul, then the whole band. It was a lot of fun in an old school way (no bodyguards) plus I was made to feel extremely welcome. I lined them up for a shot just as they went on. The photographers pit was packed, you couldn't move, it became a bit more bearable after they left. I don't know how you can get anything with three songs. The crowd knew the album and were going mad in a mental way unlike the Jeff Beck audience - far more subdued. Shot the end of the show onstage where Chad Smith nearly decapitated Sammy throwing his tom tom. It was a wild show, and they played Bad Motor Scooter plus Highway Star - Pete saw Ian Paice (Deep Purple's drummer) filming it on his phone. Chickenfoot live. See more... 
 As we left people were saying Michael Jackson had died. Farrah Fawcett had also died earlier today. Strange, I remember being in Dingwalls the night Elvis died, August 16 1977, shooting Gloria Mundi. Weird coming out of a gig and finding a rock star dead. You sort of feel you know them. Nori was more shocked about Farrah Fawcett. A man called Geordie Pete said 'Michael's not been well,' I think he's not been well since he was ten years old. Hard to think of the world without Wacko... June 24A perfect English summers day. Peter Makowski arrived and then did his best to turn my home into a rubbish dump like only he can, then Jimmy Page, then Kazuyo plus General Noriaga. We all headed off to Brighton to see Jeff Beck who was playing at the Brighton Dome, and today is Jeff's sixty-fifth birthday. Arrived in time for dinner and went for fish and chips - what other culinary feast would you eat by the sea? As we were looking in a restaurant window out came Keith Emerson. Jeff Beck. See more... 
 
 We met Peter Mackay who took us in to the bowels of the Brighton Dome to see Jeff. It was labyrinthine in there, trying to find JB's dressing room. We said happy birthday then left Jeff to warm up. I'd never been here before. Jimmy told me Led Zeppelin played it and had been banned after driving over some bushes in the grounds - not surprising as he can't actually drive... We drove back to London with Klaus Messner (one of the managers of the Sunset Marquis) so we stuck Nori in my car boot. I figured if I was stopped by the police I'll say he climbed in from the beach, or blame Pete for human trafficking - you can't trust a Pole... Neil Daniels has sent me the Al Atkins book, Dawn Of The Metal Gods, which he co-wrote - he said 'You'll probably slag this off.' Al was the original singer of Judas Priest. Now I haven't read it yet but looking at the photos Al is a hybrid of Jason Bonham, Mick Wall and Robert Plant. The book has some good photos of early Priest memorabilia. I'll read it this week... June 22Flying from London to LA and LA to London 
 
June 21Had a late night last night (and this morning). Started with dinner at XIV, the new trendy eating spot. Outside is a huge hedge cut in the shape of Roman numeral letters. We were looked after, it was fun to go just to watch the room. Afterwards we stopped at Teddy's in Hollywood where Josh, Richmon and Wendell looked after us all night. There was a lot to look at, or ogle. Finished at the Bar at the Sunset Marquis. Fathers Day today - spent it at the pool. The Love Gun Paul Stanley was at the hotel for lunch with his family. Jimmy and I chatted with him and his son Evan. Paul showed me the new Kiss album cover on his iphone and I'm still not saying what it's called, but it's old school Kiss... The Sunset Marquis was swamped with bikini-clad women which made the ogling a father's day treat. Saw my friends Amy and Tim from the band What Would Jesus Drive, who are playing next Friday at Silver Factory Studios in downtown LA - go and see them. Off home tonight on the last flight to London. June 19 Started the day early at the Beverly Wiltshire Hotel in Beverly Hills where Jimmy and Jack White spent the day doing press for the film. It was a long, sort of boring day. I took some pictures of Jimmy and Jack, then with Davis, the director during the lunch break. Then left them to it and... went and had a nap by the hotel pool. Shit, it tuckered me right out pressing that shutter.  
 
  We left for Westwood for the premier at 6pm, where Jimmy and Jack did the red carpet thing. Jack brought along his new band. Inside, sitting in front of us, was Jane Seymour who I used to masturbate over when I was fourteen. Jane must be getting on a bit, still she was aloof and a bit like my Jewish auntie - the wonders of the scalpel. I sat there thinking would I still give it a go. "All men are pigs" probably, as the saying goes. I can't comment on JP in the film as I know him.There is a good part where he is playing Rumble by Link Ray at home and looks delighted. The Edge comes over very human and shows he has a dry sense of humour. I'd like to see it again and Davis Guggenheim (the director) is enthusiastic.
It was a long evening but a fun one... June 17Back to nice weather in LA. Los Angeles has something when the sun is shining. I remembered while looking at my camera I'd photographed Baffin Island - I may be wrong, it may not be an Island. There was a lot of ice on the way here. Went to see Jack White's new band, The Dead Weather, at the Roxy. They were extremely well crafted, Alison Mosshart was interesting in a dramatic, posed kind of way. She seemed to be acting out a weird kind of historical drama onstage... Spoke to Paul Stanley who's invited me to the studio where Kiss are finishing their new cd - I'm going to try to go before the end of this week. Been listening to
June 15On my flight yesterday (I was flying in the front of the plane with my chum who plays guitar in Led Zeppelin) was that famous soap dodger, Keanu Reeves, looking like he need a few good baths. He must have taken something 'cos he got on, didn't put on the free pyjamas and slept out cold the whole way in his jacket and sunglasses! The Captain, Neil Morgan, came to say hello to Jimmy and talked guitars. He was a true Les Paul purist which was okay until he started on about Garry Snore - Still Got The Blues - YAWN. Look Gazza was good in Thin Lizzy but that was several hundred years ago. Then Neil made the faux pas of telling us that Joe Bonamassa's Tea For One was so amazing it made him cry. It made us cry for the wrong reasons - why play two notes when you can show off and really overplay? I'll say no more because I genuinely like Joe, even if he's NLWW (no luck with women). I saw James Diener (another person I like) who for his sins gave the world Maroon Five. James tells me Maroon Five are using Mutt Lange and re-recording Hysteria and Pyromania as a double pop record. Must be 'cos they want to break into the pop metal market and save us from Nickelback. Roger Daltrey is in our hotel. Roger wasted no time in badgering Jimmy to play at the Teenage Cancer Trust next March. Jimmy didn't say no, so you never know. Also saw Robbie Robertson from the Band who is here with a producer called Marius, working with Eric Clapton, yawn again. Marius gave me the new Sa Dingding cd he's just produced in Bejing called Harmony. I'll play it later today. I spent the early hours with James, who put me on the phone with his girlfriend in New York to talk about Thin Lizzy. His charming girlfriend was super pleasant apart from her strange accent - she's from Richmond and talks with an American accent. Still, it beats talking guitars or Gary Snore... Woke up to a sunny day. Well, I presume it's going to be a sunny day as I'm writing this at 6am and it's still pitch dark. More pictures from the weekend at Download Tesla. See more... 
 Journey. See more... 
 ZZ Top. See more... 
 
 
 Whitesnake 
 
 Slipknot. See more... 
 
 June 15Off to LA today. Here's a few pictures from my weekend at Download Manraze 
 Chris Cornell. See more... 
 
 The Prodigy. See more... 
 
 
June 14Download part two. I was staying at the highly overpriced Thistle Hotel, £140 plus parking plus internet plus breakfast plus soap. I was surprised there was a towel in the room. Fuck me, it was like a youth hostel. It was more like Ryanair than a hotel. Got up early to see Tesla. They were going to play Love Song. I told the retards to play Coming Atcha Live, which they did and they were excellent, a perfect start to the day. Equally excellent was seeing the sex goddess PR Phoebe Sinclair, looking radiant in the morning light with her two Jewish girlfriends from the textile mills of Manchester. I have been trying to have a night of unbridled passion with Phoebe for years, but as Tesla say, Love Is All Around You - or me. Peter described Jeff Keith perfectly, 'Imagine two cousins playing the banjo, then they decide to make a baby and on Christmas Day the reverse of Jesus is born and you get Jeff Keith...' Saw Jonathan Cain. We talked about black and white film and he told me how much he likes my photos at the Sunset Marquis Hotel. Which was flattering to say the least. Neal Schon was also welcoming, got them to do a group shot as they went on. Journey were faultless. Neal Schon was on fire, I loved them. Neal told me the Santana Fillmore song was a Miles Davis cover. After Journey I hung out with Billy Gibbons in his dressing room, as he was getting harassed whenever he stepped outside. Billy was wearing a white suit. At least, I thought it was a white suit until I looked closely - it was pyjamas. Lined ZZ Top up next to the stage, shot them from the stage with the crowd. Billy played effortlessly, he was class A in the class of guitarists. If Journey rocked ZZ Top ruled... Peter and I visited David Coverdale who, like Rod Stewart with Sailing, walked the stage like royalty and FYI he was singing and singing well - Ain't No Love is his Download anthem. Tonight's amusing moment was Def Leppard's management telling me photographer Denis O'Regan had complained that I was getting total access to Def Leppard and he was only getting two songs. His big point was the fact that 'Ross Halfin is my competition!!!!' and he couldn't deal with it. Well Denis, I'm not your competition, I left the playground thirty-four years ago. And here's the funny part Denis, I didn't stay for Def Leppard, they have a new cut price photographer - something I'm definitely not. June 13I sat with Peter Makowski and General Noriga and watched Santana at the Fillmore playing the sublime In A Silent Way. I could hear a bit of the Black Crowes and The Mars Volta in it - I have no idea what album it's on. Brian Wheat called again in the early hours of this morning from Dublin. He had just played with Def Leppard and while backstage was stopped by a flash roadie (Brian thought he was a Whitesnake roadie) to talk about me. It turns out it's Def Leppard's grovelling tour photographer who claims to Brian that I feature him on my diary. Strange, I don't recall writing about him at all - I like to try to feature subjects that are interesting. I told Brian not to bother with toilet paper, he'd wipe it for him with his hand - people will do anything nowadays to shoot bands... Not like the good old days when you relied on your talent. Been playing text tag with Nikki Sixx. Going to meet up with him in the next couple of weeks. Off to Download today... The weather is glorious, perfect for a festival. Arrived to see the Man Raze. It was great seeing Phil Collen, tried to blackmail him into giving me his army jacket. He never wears it anyway, he's always topless. Got a good photo of him - topless, of course. He told me he's had a good time rehearsing with the band. Left Phil to see Thunder for five minutes before they went on. I wish I 'd seen them live but went off to see Chris Cornell and band. Took Anvil in to say hello, and Phil Anselmo who is always pleasant. Shot Chris' show from the stage then followed him around. He did Good Times Bad Times in the middle of Spoonman. Chris told me he's off to the chosen land next week - taking Seattle to Tel Aviv. Next the Prodigy, shot them in the dressing rooms and waiting to go onstage. They were the best band of the night, they worked the crowd. Got good photos and they were loud, the surprise of the "Rock" Festival. Left Peter Makowski to see Anvil who he claims were the surprise of the "Rock" Festival, with Phil Anselmo on vocals. Finished shooting Slipknot. I shot from the front then the last couple of songs literally walking around the stage. Another band who I'd forgotten how nice they could be, always good to see Clown and it's been a few years now. Not my thing but the crowd loved them, good to shoot - must go and shoot them again... Ended the night at the local Donington Curry House where the staff tried to persuade Peter Makowski to bring in Def Leppard tomorrow night for a post show curry. The funniest part of the evening was that none of us had any money so Pete and I were left as hostages while Nori went to get some. We waited two hours for him to return... June 11Home to sunny England. Spent yesterday in that haze of trying to not to fall asleep all day, like walking around in a fog. Watched Fillmore, The Last Days, which I was looking forward to - it was dire. Lamb, Elvin Bishop, It's A Beautiful Day, Cold Blood (appalling) and worst of all The Grateful Dead playing limp rubbish - but there was a nice girl dancing. The rest was terrible. The only saving grace to this waste of celluloid was Santana's In A Silent Way. I also watched The Hit with Terence Stamp, which I'd last seen in 1984. it was still good if a tiny bit dated. Was woken this morning by Brian Wheat on a ferry to Ireland. I'll see him this weekend at Download. Off to the Mojo Awards later today... The Mojo Awards. I nearly always think it won't come together and it always does in the end. The problem I have with award shows is people get drunk, very drunk. Teenagers drunk are one thing but an adult, as in a 40-50 year old, is another creature altogether. They carry more menace or are more stupid and volatile, like that stupid old fraud Sea Sick Steve, who was stumbling around with a pint of Jack Daniels in his back pocket. He is a pathetic sight. Or a stupid old cunt (I realise swearing is bad use of the English language but it sums him up perfectly).
Yoko Ono asked for my details then said Jeff Beck had told her I'm a very good photographer, which was nice to hear. Also nice was Corrine Bailey Rae. I sort of had a good time in the end... The Mojo Awards. See more... 
  
June 8Back in Los Angeles I was going to shoot The Mars Volta, but as Omar is sick it's been postponed until next week in London. So went to Book Soup and found these -
Their stock is low so I gave up browsing
I had dinner with Joe Bonamassa at Ago, who confessed that women universally don't like him, so, if you're looking for love Joe's your man. Also therewith us was Boh Runga and husband Campbell, and my toy boy Chris Vranian. Saw Kirk Hammet there, 'Been a long time,' we both shared. Home tomorrow, where I hear it's raining, again...
June 7My plan was to go to the zoo to watch some animals looking at the humans with hungry relish. Instead I sort of did nothing - sat by the pool with Kirk talking about Illustration and the crazy prices pulp and comic book art sells for. At the show I got the band to do some group shots behind the stage. Getting them together is an art in itself. As I was now kind of used to the show The Master got some real Metallica photos, the kind of shots I did around the Black Album Tour. I was happy. I got the band onstage with pyro going off all around the stadium. It made me think I sometimes am not so bad at what I do... And thank you to everybody who kindly corrected my spelling of Teotihuacan, which apparently means "Ciudad de Dioses" or "city of gods" in an ancient language called náhuatl. June 6There was a world festival in the main street outside our hotel today featuring a giant French puppet about sixty feet tall and people dressed up from various countries. I looked at Columbia thinking you'd see a cartel member selling cocaine - or giving out free samples. Went to a market selling curios. I could have stayed all day. Bought a first edition of The Fantastic Art Of Frank Frazetta for $5.00 then paid way to much for a devil mask. Got to the show and went with Kazuyo and my friend Jorge to photograph the kids coming in wearing Metallica t-shirts etc. Got photographed a lot myself although quite why anyone would want a photo of me is baffling. Began the show at the back of the stadium then worked my way to the front of the stage. During one song I got, if I say so myself, fantastic photos of the screen with a giant close up of James' face with him looking tiny beneath it. I know I'm sounding like Kevin THE CAVEMAN Shirley, but The Master (that's me not THE CAVEMAN) got his best photo of all the pyro going off at the end behind the crowd - a heavy metal masterpiece. I even got the band to turn around at the end with the crowd, which I haven't done with Metallica for years (and every shitty photographer has copied - that's a fact). It was a night of Heavy Metal Thunder. I finished the evening and the early hours with various band members in an Argentinian steak house having a Heavy Metal Party just like the good old days - except I remembered going to bed, so it wasn't quite like the "good old days". June 5I couldn't sleep and had to get up at 7am to do a radio interview all about... me. I REALLY did not want to do this and tried to cancel but as it was a live show I had to go. So I started half asleep and talked about me and why I wouldn't advise anyone to do what I do. I think I was coherent, in a rambling way...
We eventually leave and come back after it's closed. The manager lets us have the whole place with no one in it. It was amazing, shot lots. It made my trip here. The manager invited us to go into a cave which led to the centre of the Sun Pyramid. I'm glad I did it but it was claustrophobic with the cave tunnel at some points being only about four feet high. I decided to leave halfway - Steffan talked me into carrying on. In the centre is a small hut with a giant x-ray machine pointing up to see what can be found. It was pitch dark - I was happier when we came out. Everyone had a good day, in the end. 
 
June 4
Hola from Mexico City...
Left a rainy Los Angeles, flew over cloud most of the way. It cleared up two hours into the flight. Landed into a sunny but busy Mexico city. You fly over hundreds and hundreds of houses as you land. I waited one and a half hours for my bag at the baggage hall. What do they do have, one person on a donkey delivering them from the plane? Honestly, the bags came on the conveyer belt one at a time in five-minute intervals. Arrived the same time as your heroes in Metallica. They had a load of press including standing on a mini stage and having their photo taken by a hundred photographers, so I wandered in the front and took a few - just to be all friendly. The show was in a huge football stadium packed full of my "Compadres" chanting a football anthem. Hard to shoot, the stage was so high I only saw James from the neck up. Plus it was a whole different thing from shooting in the round on a low stage. Spent most of the night shooting the crowd or trying to catch the vibe... June 3Raining in Los Angeles - or June gloom. Been a few years since I've seen cloud like this in LA. Shot Green Day at lunch time and you know they are easy, and friendly. Spent the rest of the day with Dave Mustaine. I thought I could moan, Dave beats me hands down, but you know what, I always have a good time with him. He even asked after "Big Nose", photographer Peter Cronin (another great winger of the 20th century). I left Dave as he drove back to San Diego in the early evening rain. Greenday 
Dave Mustaine 
Here's a Guitar World spread from Cleveland. 
 I had some hate mail from morons in America saying I'm an asshole etc - it's arsehole, at least spell your abuse properly. It all stems from the fact I wrote Jimmy Page does not want to sign guitars or be stopped at airports by "Fans". The fact these idiots are missing is HE does not want to do this, not me. I don't care if he stands there all day and signs stuff, but he does not want to. While we were in New York a woman stopped him in a museum with her son, he did an autograph and then she wanted a photograph. Jimmy said 'NO.' She became hysterical, following us into the street screaming and pleading. I felt sorry for her son watching this. Jimmy still said 'NO.' People should have more consideration. The fact you buy a cd or dvd of an artist doesn't give you the right to act like a halfwit if you meet them. June 2Some cactus outside my hotel room in Los Angeles... 
 And the view from the plane to and from Mexico, amongst other things. 
 
June 1Saw the Kings Of Leon in my hotel, and Green Day plus Eminem and Lil'Wayne with their posses of several hundred. I even saw George Clooney at the next table to me in Ago. He was having a boys night out - I was having a girl's one with three females (if you can call Kazuyo a female). Got some reading material at the Book Soup...
Been going through my Mars Volta photos, here are a few from Guadalajara 
 
 
 More Green Day from the Oakland 'hood 
 
New magazines 
 
 
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I shoot Nikki and Tommy on the way to the stage and then shot the show - ,good inventive stage set, no follow spots but interestingly lit. It was challenging in a good way as it made me think of shooting in a different way. Finished the show next to Tommy who was bouncing and throwing drum sticks. I left with Nikki straight back to the Park Hyatt. Nikki was still talking photography the whole way. Tesla, Queensryche and Motley made me feel it's okay to do what I do... Heaven and Hell - well, they make me question very seriously what I do... 
Went up to the 3rd floor where Paul Elliott was boring everyone to death talking about Arsenal. 'Who's that?' said Peter. 'I've just met him and he won't shut up.' Paul even talked to Nori about The Gooners - Nori looked at him blankly. Paul was removed after talking to himself while the band were trying to film an interview for TV... I did a quick group shot then some photos of Joe Satriani, mainly portraits. Chatted to Chickenfoot's manager, Mick Brigden, about Humble Pie (Mick was the tour manager from the Smoking tour onwards).
The Premier of the new film, It Might Get Loud, is tonight in Los Angeles. Off to walk the red carpet - or walk behind the red carpet... Here's the new cover of Guitar World with the film's participants.
There was a party at the Palomar Hotel. It was good as parties go. I met the actor John C. Reilly and talked about The Thin Red Line. John is from the South Side of Chicago, as in the 'hood, he was very cool. I took a photo of Jimmy, Jack and Jack's mum, and was looked after by the lovely Judy Chang. I even saw Tipper Gore, the anti-christ of music. I wish I'd had my WASP EP, Animal, for her to sign - she tried to have it banned in the day. Omar from The Mars Volta told me he found Animal in his record collection (from his pre-puberty days) and was surprised I'd done the cover.
Blur were there and while they lined up for photos Damon Albarn would only look at the camera once in say thirty frames. Look, if you're bothering to go to an awards show at least play the game. 
The Fleet Foxes were miserable - being from Seattle they must have got lessons from Pearl Jam in looking glum. Perhaps one of them will jump off a bridge to cheer up. At least Joe Brown and Billy Gibbons, Jeff Beck, John Cale etc are professional and get on with it. Chris Blackwell I got to sign my Island Records book, and Yusof Islam (or Cat Stevens) insisted on showing his Teaser And The Firecat T-Shirt in the photo. As Paul Weller (standing next to me) observed, 'What a hypocrite, I don't get him at all, I think he's given Islam up.' Paul was a pleasure, giving me a hug, 'We're both not bad for fifty-one.'
Mott The Hoople were my highlight. Mick Ralphs was funny and they were all nice and you know, it doesn't take a lot to be like that. Ian Hunter looked amazing and (I'm told) he's seventy-five. Joe Elliot was in heaven, an intoxicated heaven, but a happy intoxicated heaven.
Spoke to Boh Runga who came over to my hotel. As she has a new cd out I did some photos late afternoon. I had to bully her to focuson what she was doing. Later I had a meeting with Sasha Gervasi where poor Sasha pleaded poverty while in the same breath telling me about the house full of hot girls he's renting for the whole of August in Bali, to be near Australia and his sheila, Rebecca - when he's bored with the HOT girls...
Robert Trujillo comforting an overwrought fan...
Came back to the hotel where Rob and James plus Steffan Chirazi (band security) and Kazuyo (Halfin security) drove out to Teotihuacan, the Sun and Moon pyramids. We get there and are followed by paparazzi, about ten of them. Vermin - look, it's not photography, they want a bad photo 
to use. It got wearing quickly and they were not going away. While looking at the Jaguar Pyramid a group of fans all wearing Metallica T-shirts come up. I ask them to PLEASE give them a break. One shouts 'I came from Chile!' 'I came from London,' I retort. 'Yeah, but you are being paid!' 'Look, it's a day off, give them a break,' I try. James and Robb want to climb to the top of the Sun Pyramid which we do. Very tiring, we are at 11,000 feet above sea level and I start to notice how thin the air is. As I'm taking photos Kazuyo and Steffan do their best to say to the hordes 'No, por favor.'
You can always find something entertaining in LA....
