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June 28
Metallica came offstage and went straight on a plane home to San Francisco. I walked back to my hotel in the early hours. It was a vibe walking on a hot night with thousands of people all in black buying kebabs and cucumbers off street vendors, past the giant mosques along the Bosphorus.
Got up at dawn - I'm making myself go off to the gym then the Grand Bazaar before flying home early evening.
A morning at the Grand Bazaar. It is very exotic and it's meandering alleyways are worth seeing. The problem that I've always ignored is that the Turks who have shops there are just vile. I had a friend with me from Turkey Burak. This seemed to make the shop owners ruder. I asked in one rug shop if they have any Gabbas. 'My friend,' (said in the most insincere way) 'I don't know this, I have a shop since 1920, our rugs are good, this is no good.' I'm thinking if he doesn't know this how come it's no good? I ask how much for a Kilim pillow on the floor (I have two the same I got in Covent Garden for £30 each). '400 Euro my friend, this is antique.' it is plainly not just dirty from being left on the floor. I say no thank you and try to leave. 'Why do you not trust me, I give you good price.' By this point I'm just wanting to get out of there.
We try two more shops with the same patter and the same 'My friend' bollocks. At one lamp shop the owner says 'Come in, I promise not to rip you off as much as everyone else.' Burak tells me that the Turks see tourists as a bank that needs emptying and closing down, plus they don't give a shit and are rude and surly with it.
So my advice is if you do go to the Grand Bazaar go without any money. Although I will admit I got three cushions - I was in a I have to find something mode...
Thought about sightseeing, then after my morning of fun decided a lunch time doing nothing by the pool is far more fun and it was exactly that. Flew home early evening - shot huge thunder clouds flying out of Turkey.
June 27
Flew out of London last night on the last flight to Turkey. Immigration and customs was still slow buying a visa. Come on, this is 2010, not the dark ages scamming Turks.
Slept for a bit then enjoyed a day by the pool at the Grand Hyatt - reeeeeeeeeeally relaxing after days of Eastern European mud and rain. Maryjo, my tour manager, tells me we are off at 3pm with Megadeth and Slayer to a football stadium for a day of loudness to wake up a sleepy Sunday.
I shoot Anthrax live. Now I haven't seen them live since the 80s - they did Anti Social by Trust and Heaven and Hell. Fun to shoot plus the sun was on the stage so you got cooked while you worked - I thoroughly loved it.
Scott Ian took some photos of Lars and I showing true old school '80s style love then Lars shot Scott and I while he showed the sign of "Metal" with own little drumming "Metal" hand. As it's Sunday South Of Heaven went with Slayer on and off stage. Fantastic to shoot, I wish ever stage was set up like this. Found Dave Mustaine and got him in his dressing room having a Metal moment...
Good to shoot Metallica. I got Lars kicking a glass of water as it exploded on his foot - then it soaked me. The last show in Europe on the Death Magnetic Tour...
June 25
I drove back in the rain to Athens where I slept for three hours (or tried to - I couldn't sleep at all), then off to the airport at dawn leaving Kaz and Norieiga to go sightseeing. I write this in Athens airport, tired. I flew home on an empty plane, the best way to fly.
Had a relaxing day at home doing nothing. Found some original Jim Marshall prints - Janis Joplin sitting on her Porsche, in colour, a rare dye transfer print I got from Jim in 1989. Mick Jagger backstage at the LA Forum in '72 and Keith Richards recording Exile at Sunset Sound, signed by Keith and Jim. The Allman Brothers at the Fillmore East Cover print shot in Atlanta and Keith Moon from the San Francisco Civic '72.
I also got a Who poster today that is white type on black and just says The Who with the Who's Next Logo. I've never seen it before. Noriega gave me a Japanese book on the Who, Stones and the boring Beatles with lots of good pictures of record labels and sleeves, plus a book on Roger Dean both beautifully printed.
I'm going to chill tonight, sometimes being alone clears your mind, and mine needs clearing...
June 24
Athens today, so I thought 'let's have a nice day, rest by the hotel pool for a couple of hours, go to the gym then off to a Heavy Metal Festival an hour from Athens in the hills with the Big Four.'
I get up at 4am and get a 6am flight on British Airways, the first of the day. Kazuyo flatly refuses to do this and she is coming a few hours later with General Noriega. At Heathrow the terminal is quiet, even the BA lounge isn't open - I 
seem to be the first there. Nothing is open, the airport appears asleep. I check in, get on, doze off, waking up an hour later to find the plane still at the gate due to baggage being put on late and we now have missed our slot. The flight now takes off three hours late, arriving in Athens five minutes before Kazuyo and the General. Plus it is overcast and full of black Heavy Metal clouds.
I am so pissed off yet I am too tired to care anymore. Kaz arrives full of mirth at what has occurred. We all go and check into the Intercontinental (where I last stayed in the 90's with the Scorpions) to find Megadeth leaving for the show. I think I may as well get going and meet my friend Ange from Melbourne who looks at the sky and says as only an Australian can, 'The weather's been shithouse,' which kind of sums up my day...
After a wonderful two hours in traffic we arrive at a dirt road in the hills, which looks like a Sergeio Leone film set. Think "Bleak". The Greek Security have no clue where anything is so we give up and walk through the crowd to a backstage enclosure with some log cabins - these are the dressing rooms.
The sun shines for five minutes then it's the black sky of doom. I shoot Slayer and Megadeth, Dave and son Justis Mustaine as he's going on stage. Then come back to 'Chez' log cabins to shoot Anthrax which goes well. I must say all the bands have a good vibe, then again I've known them all forever.
The one thing I noticed is in England or the wherever, the photo pit barrier or what ever it is, all the photographers have an unwritten politeness of not getting in each others way. Not here, the Greeks just push and shove you out of the way, there is no finesse, it is like a rugby scrum. A rude bunch of smelly cunts - really a couple of them were smoking cigars and shoving you with elbows or just walking in front and blocking you. I physically grabbed a couple and shoved them back, something I have never done. They were uneducated and of a lower class....
And so to Metallica who come on stage just as the rain starts to fall "Heavily". Nice, all you need is to fight with some Greek photographers in a river of mud. I decide to spend the show shooting Lars who I tend to get the least of generally so I am going to make up for it tonight. I end up having a good show. I get good photos of the Dane and some unusual shots of the others by just walking out onstage. My highlight of the show is seeing Lars, who has a computer linked to the game between Japan and Denmark where he looks between songs, watch Denmark lose 3-1 to Japan. I tell young Ulrich 'Never mind it's only a game,' as Noriega and Kaz are screaming Banzai. He looks bemused...
I am planning to fly with Kirk to Paris after the show then take Eurostar home for the night until I find out French aerospace has gone on strike and he now has to go to Belgium and drive for three hours to Paris. God, if there is one hates me today - travelling can be no fun.
Enjoying the Big Four
June 23
Wanted to go home on a day off, so I slept for three hours, got up, found out there was no hot water in the hotel. A cold shower at 5am is no fun. Flying home via Munich. After the Balkans Munich Airport was civilsation. Connected then ended up flying over sunny London at 9.30am - a day asleep in my garden awaits.
And that's exactly what I did. Finished the day at the gym trying to turn myself into Superman or Superoldman.
June 22
Another flight at dawn for the Big 4. I was in sunny Sofia until the heavens opened just as Megadeth came on. It was wind/rain/hail/sun all at once - it was like Melbourne, all the seasons in a day. Here am having a beautiful day, I shot by Kazuyo.
Photographed Metallica with Megadeth and Anthrax and one of Slayer backstage jamming on Am I Evil. It was, umm, Heavy and fun. They even jammed on some songs of the Mighty Priest.
Got Metallica to line up for some photos just before they walked on and trust me, getting them together is hard work. I did the same with Megadeth and Slayer which was my favourite as I always try to get them smiling - South Of Heaven. All I need now is an Anthrax group shot.
Shot the Metallica show in a Balkan Stadium, most of the Big 4 came on and played at the end. People think it was like the second coming of Christ, I thought it was okay. Got them all to line up for a group shot with the huge crowd. Which made me at least think I was doing my job well.
Spoke to Tom Araya (of Slayer in case you've never been South of Heaven) who said, 'You know you've always been a dick but a dick in a good way, you always get something out of us which no one else does.' I had to laugh and he is right I suppose - thank you Tom. And to top it all off Dave Mustaine told his daughter in front of me that I'm the number one photographer in the world, the new Richard Averdon - and who am I to argue?
June 20
Metallica came off stage at 1.30am so we drove another hour to the airport, then I drove back to Prague to sleep a whole two hours. Got up checked out then back to the airport for 6.30am. At this point I didn't care anymore, I just wanted to go home.
Landed after turning over London and flying along the Thames. London looked quiet yet exciting. As the saying goes "When one is tired of London one is tired of life".
Came home and made myself run - felt better, the sun was shining and I felt like having a wander. Went to Marylebone High Street to Daunt Books. Got The Surrendered, Chang-Rae Lee and The Thousand Autumns Of Jacob De Zoet (just because I like the cover and title). Got on the slow train home and fell asleep arriving home in time for God's light. Then lay on my day bed and read as you should on a Sunday.
June 19
From one extreme to another. I got up early again and this time was off to Prague for the Big Four as in Metallica/Slayer/Megadeth/Anthrax. I thought the weather is so good I'll wear shorts then much to my chagrin after landing found it was freezing and damp. Checked into the plush Mandarin Oriental Hotel then drove out to a field over an hour out of Prague (it was so far I thought we might end up in Poland). It was grim, kind of like of the first time I went to Poland with Iron Maiden (but not quite as bad), just nothing anywhere.
Shot Megadeth, Slayer and Metallica plus all the drummers together. When Metallica were on it got so cold I felt disorientated. It was thoroughly miserable for me, even under the stage lights it was still cold. Couldn't concentrate or focus on what I was doing at all.
June 18
Flew at dawn. What other time is there to fly, it's always at dawn (which is a 4am wake up at home)? Went to Nice then on to Monte Carlo.
I'm shooting a travel piece which was nigh on impossible as Monaco was packed full of tourists and big and spacious it is not.
Spent today in the company of John McLaughlin who is looking amazing for being sixty-eight. John and his wife Ina were fantastic company, they insisted on lunch at the harbour, a very civilised affair. Then John gave me a tour of the city. I ended up shooting him in the Japanese Gardens as it was peaceful and serene.
Finished shooting John at his apartment which is full of art from India, Japan, Africa, Cambodia and with some of his guitars. John even drove me back to Nice Airport. He was also very funny. I can honestly say it was an honour photographing him...
I am all alone
Between failure
And frustration
I am the red thread
Between Nothingness
And Eternity
Ross demonstrating his posing skills with the guitar
June 17
My phone rang at 2.30am, it was Dean Deleo who started having a conversation with me then realised he'd rung the wrong person. He did apologise which musicians never do - don't forget, it's all about them.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is Rock'n'roll John Bionelli's birthday today. I found out from the very sexy Jessica Squire he is fifty-nine!!!! Rock'n'roll has been lying, he always claimed he's forty-eight.
I went to see Steven for five minutes who decided to join me on my errands running around London. So we went to Liberty's then walked through Soho to JB's, my favourite record store in Hathway Street. I got a Led Zeppelin LP - Dancing Avocado, Pink Floyd - KQED on green vinyl, Rolling Stones - Oakland '69 Second Show. Steven bought a Moondog LP from 1957 and told me he'd see him in NY on street corners.
We walked down Oxford street to the HMV Store and he got stopped every five feet by people wanting photos. Had a good time shopping and ST has a good knowledge of music.
Went and ran this evening to clear my head of loonie thoughts, a bit of cardio is good for the mind.
June 16
Well in true Aerosmith fashion a day of drama. Steven Tyler was in Superman mode, up and ready to go. Joe Perry wanted a day in bed relaxing. Eventually they both agreed to do the session at night. My 1pm session started at 7pm then finished at 10.30pm. Played Steven on my iPod, a bit of Black Sabbath, Scott Matthews, JB Lenoir, Zeppelin outtakes - he then wanted my ipod which I gave him. Steven's gonna hate it when he finds it's full of Kiss...
It was good in the end. It always is with Steven and Joe once you get through the clouds that seems to hang over Aerosmithland.
I honestly went to bed and thought 'why...?'
June 15
Aerosmith at the 02. A two and a half hour drive across Crystal Palace, Norwood, Catford etc in the rush hour to the 02 was not my idea of fun. The weather was hot-cold-hot-cold, it couldn't make up it's mind. Got there tired. Peter Makowski came with Jimmy Page. I took a photo of Jimmy with two real rock stars, Randle and Rock'n'roll John Bionelli - and a few of the other people they work for.
Jimmy Page with some real Rock Stars
Good show, okay, a great show. It took me a while to figure out the lights but The Master succeeded, got good stuff towards the end - far more fun than Download.
Drove home across London Bridge and the city. St Pauls lit up at night is a majestic sight to behold, daunting in a melancholy way.
June 14
Off across the south of London to the 02 for the Metal Hammer Awards. I had no real reason to be there apart from Joe Perry wanted me to come with him. It was strange not having to do anything. I saw Tony Iommi and Airbourne and even Sir Christopher Lee. Aminta Townshend (Pete's daughter was the PR) was super nice and rounded up Sir Christopher to do a photo with Joe. I asked Sir Christopher to sign an old Dracula Prince Of Darkness poster I had and nearly got thrown out the building. 'I'm under contract not to sign,' Sir Christopher thundered. It was worse than asking Jimmy Page...
Maria Iommi (Tony's fantastic wife) told me she was a photographer and insisted on using my camera. She took some photos of Tony and I pissing off his management. It is amazing that I've known Tony since 1977 and he really is a gentleman yet every time I see his manager it's an attitude of negativity all round, and yet Tony is always pleased to see me. He even asked me to send him the photos.
Left the south and was off to Knightsbridge for dinner with Rock'n'roll John Bionelli and entourage at Signor Sassi. It was a civilised affair and how an evening should be conducted, apart from Rock'n'roll drinking five bottles of chianti, seeing double, staggering back to his room singing Kiss songs at full voice along the Brompton Road. The sexy Jessica Squire and the very ugly Kazuyo had to undress him and tuck him in bed.
I came home and spoke to Boh Runga who now as well as singing is designing rugs - Boh and I are going to catch up soon.
A picture of me onstage with Slash at Download, sent in by Adam
Been a fan of yer shots for many years. Was great to finally see you at work at Download yesterday. Thanks for the great images and fucking funny writings.
Joe Perry, Sir Christopher Lee and Tony Iommi live at the 02 - or undead at the 02...
Tony and his hero
Two sexy ladies looking for love
June 13
Woke up to a sunny London, so warm it was shorts and t-shirt weather. Rock'n'roll John Bionelli called me to say he and Joe Perry were already Rocking'n'rolling to Download at 9.15!
I thought I'd better give the gym a miss and as Judas Priest say headed out the highway. Got up to a sunny Donington at 1.30 in time to see Slash warming up in his dressing room. He seemed nervous. I rounded up his band and did (according to Slash) the first band shot. Myles Kennedy took my abuse well considering I kept calling him Robert Plant and a bit of 'it's the golden god' (as he did audition for Led Zeppelin). He was very okay and charming and he was a good front man. I got shots of him bouncing along the ego ramp.
Billy Idol came on just as a sunny day turned into the North of England I know so well. It started raining and I don't mean just raining I mean pouring down. Billy shouted 'Let's have some fun,' and he was fun, the crowd loved him. Billy Morrison, a friend of mine from Los Angeles via Brixton, was on guitar. He was just what you need in the rain.
By the time Motorhead played it was now monsoon season. I was so wet I looked like I'd been dropped in a bath plus my feet felt as if I had trench foot. It was no fun. By now the soaked crowd of 98,000 people looked like bodies from the First World War as if we'd been transported to the Somme - miserable and cold and mud with nowhere to go.
Went to see Dean from STP who felt so sorry for me he got me a towel. Joe Perry came in to see him so I made them stand in the rain while I took photos, I even got a photo of Dean kissing Joe - true love at Download...
Shot STP from the stage as they valiantly played as the skies just became worse. I was too wet, too cold and too miserable to get into it. I was happy-ish with my photos - Scott Weiland jumping, Dean laughing. I'll go and see them at Brixton this week.
And then the Aerosmiths. Steven did do a rocking setlist and told me not to write that I wrote it on my diary. He did, and he did and put some effort into it. Shot ST getting ready and Joe walking to the stage, I got Joe to play the riff to Combination through the PA. It was still pouring when they went on, finally stopping about halfway through the set. They played Lord Of The Thighs, Kings And Queens, and my Aerosmith favourite, Back In The Saddle.
And before I finish a big thank you to Andy Copping for looking after me.
June 12
Turned into a nice Saturday. I went and got some vinyl, some 180 gram pressings - got ZZ Top Tres Hombres, Fleetwood Mac Blues Jam At Chess, Stones Exile On Main Street, Thin Lizzy Still Dangerous and Rod Stewart Every Picture Tells A Story, one of my all time favourite records. Nice to get LP's, like the addict I am.
Had to go to the land of Aerosmith to pick up passes for Download, it was a Rock'n'roll Evening. Dodgerlini Eyers chain-smoking away, John Bionelli, the VERY ugly Kazuyo in heaven as she was reunited with the Sex God of Jackson Hole, Randle Feagin (she looked at him with lust, he looked with horror - I think Randle's evil ways have caught up with him), Brad Whitford and wife Kimberly, and we all dined at Nobu. At the next table was the most beautiful Chinese girl I have ever seen with some Eastern European men - I couldn't take my eyes off her. I think she was a working girl and believe me I would have paid.
I finished the night with Steven Tyler having a midnight stroll in Hyde Park for an hour. It was good to see him and he was in great form - I told him to dump the ballads and make the Download set rocking...
Got home at 3am, a fun evening.
June 11
Weeeeeeeell, I was thinking of Download today but it is raining, damp and humid so forget it - my son is up there camping. Amazing what you find entertaining when you're young...
It's turned into a sunny day, maybe Download would have been a good idea after all.
I was going to have a wild night with John Bionelli and Joe Perry, tearing up Knightsbridge. But Joe is cream-crackered after playing Sweden so it was a wild-ish Friday night at Waitrose. Now am staying in to read - a bit of mind education.
Here you go girls, slightly well-used, free and single...
June 10
The Mojo Awards, or maybe the Homo Awards - it was the campest I have ever been to. A large collection of male testosterone lusting after other males. The thing that I found the biggest turn off was photographing Mark Almond, all make up and camply coy, while Anthony of Anthony And The Johnsons looked on with lust, and I mean drooling with desire. Even the PRs were benders and I love camp PRs. It was a "BOYS" night out. Please let me point out that I am not homophobic in the slightest, I just cannot stand the unnecessary shrill campness.
Amongst others I shot Andy Bell and Rufus Wainwright who surprisingly came over the most masculine of the bunch. A youngish looking Bill Nelson was with Duane Eddy, a nervous Kasabian presented Jimmy Page (it was going to be P Diddy but he didn't turn up after he found out there was no KFC). Tony Christie told Jimmy that JP had played on his first ever single. A youthful Jean Michel Jarre who I said I'm not shooting without lasers.
I spoke to Roger Daltrey for ages then he wouldn't do photos, I could not figure out why. Emmylou Harris, Anne McGarrigle, Rufus and Martha Wainwright were all crying. Hawkwind were grumpy old men, 'Can you stand here?' I said. I got 'What's your problem man?' They are like Lemmy in the way everything is a "BORE man", silly old men. Jarvis Cocker was good to shoot and my highlight of the night was Wilko Johnson, unfortunately with that public school boy snob, Julien Temple, who is deliberately awkward. Wilko said with excitement, 'I've never won anything!'
June 9
And far more interesting than any band, another of my late cat as I'd find him when I woke up in the morning....
From my cat Jinxi back to the world I inhabit to make a living...
Aerosmith are in town. Steven Tyler called to say hello and he sounded like the old Steven, fresh and funny.
Been having a loft clear out, found a box of Page-Plant crew tour t-shirts which I offered to my son who said 'Haven't you got any good rock t-shirts?' He may have a point... I even found some old Who and Led Zeppelin but he said no to both, then took my Paul Frank t-shirt of Pete Townshend smashing a guitar. The one I liked, pointing out I'm to old to wear it. Found some stuff I may keep the rest can go in the bin or to Tight But Loose (Dave, they're yours if you want to get them).
Been playing doomy or dark soundtrack music all day then I thought I've got to cheer up a bit and played The Jeff Beck Group at the Shrine Los Angeles '68 which was rocking in a bluesy way.
The books are from America. Plus some Guitar World editions with my covers, Jeff Beck from France and Jimmy Page with his soon to be released Rimowa Custom Guitar Case (details in the new issue of Guitar Aficionado), and a bit of me and my Man Friday.
More RATM from Finsbury Park. See more...
The new cover of Guitar World shot in London last month
June 8
Thought I should put up a short but heart felt thank you to all the messages about my cat - and I only thought people liked dogs...
June 7
My cat Jinxi was put down today. I have to honestly say it has upset me more than a lot of humans who I've known who have died. I buried him in my back garden.
June 6
A hot sticky Sunday. Drove into London to see my friend Steve Kidd, tour manager for Rage Against The Machine, then came home and ran to clear my mind - it didn't work, but at the end I felt better for doing it. Still having looney thoughts though, so to speak, as my mind "wanders".
Made Kazuyo drive to Finsbury Park (as I was too lazy) to see Rage, via Chateau Page. The crowd were mental from the moment they walked on. Zak De La Rocha's rant on Israel was good (and quite true). Not bad to shoot, it was crazy on and off stage. Left just before the end but it was still the drive from hell to get home. I don't do North London, I am a Southerner.
Rage Against The Machine at Finsbury Park in the far north of London.
June 5
Wide awake at 3am, like the middle of the day with my mind in overdrive. End up taking Ambien which means a day feeling drugged in my garden. Also I realise when you are drugged you don't relax.
Went to see Jimmy Page in the evening. We were off to the Jazz Cafe in Camden to see Roy Harper at a Mojo show, the first I have ever been to. Roy was introduced by Phil Alexander. He played Commune from Flashes From The Archives Of Oblivion and I came home and dug out Flat Baroque and Berserk.
Also I am going to read The Gate by Francois Bizot which I read a few years ago.
June 4
Some new cd re-issues of the whole Bon Jovi catalogue (just in time to cash in on his 02 shows). I am told Jon wanted photos of him and the band hanging backstage with the crew, being regular human beings. I pointed out to the art director that JBJ didn't actually do that (he was the person who stole Def Leppard's crown when they took four years to make an record) and all the early shots were dressed up and posed. They still are in a hanging around way.
I have a fondness for Jon and I haven't shot him since the These Days Tour of 1996, he has more rules and contracts than the army... and I doubt if I'll ever shoot him again.
I've run into Richie Sambora who says rubbish like "I don't know why we don't work with you! I'm going to talk to Jon, I'll call you". Of course I never hear from him. As JBJ would say, Blood On Blood...
The late Paul Gray of Slipknot, shot at the Los Angeles Forum
June 3
Lenny Kravitz shot in the Bahamas hood inbetween watching Jimmy Hubbard drinking rum and driving with one eye closed. It was one of those jobs where everything worked well, the only thing missing was a KFC.
The latest issue of Guitar Aficionado, featuring my pictures of Lenny Kravitz
June 2
A message from Paul Stanley - the man himself tells me how it is...
Trust me.
It goes over absolutely huge and sounds great. In the context of the show and part of a six song encore, it's really massive. The crowd singing is deafening.
You have to be there!
New Green Day cover shot in San Francisco published in Italy and some pictures of mine in the latest Metal Hammer, sent to me by Joel McIver.
June 1
June 1st and it's raining - nice.
John Bionelli rang me from South America today. 'Real Rock and Roll has happened in Hamburg - look online!' I look on my laptop. Has John has sent me a youtube link of Kiss onstage playing The Elder? Noooooooooo - he's sent me a link to Kiss playing Beth with Eric Singer singing. It is truly cringe-inducingly bad. I mean, the song is crap in the first place. I tell John this. 'Crap - crap? What do you mean? This is the song I'm having played at my wedding when I get re-married dressed as Gene.' He sounds disgusted. ' You Have No Taste.' He might have a point, but Beth is still awful...
Joe Bonamassa from the Hammersmith Apollo (Odeon). The one thing I didn't like was the light show - it was like the crappy Who light show, just a white follow spot on Joe all night. Bands must be paying roadies less - 'Just use white then you can have a sleep during the show...'
And some Ian Anderson during A New Day Yesterday - An Old Day Now.
The painting is a detail of one I have from Nepal.
Stone Temple Pilots from Los Angeles, which I like. You can say what you want about Scott, he is a real rock star.
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