Staks & Squeeze @ Cornbury Music Festival

On Sunday (15th of July), I was back at Cornbury Music Festival. The last time I was there was quite some time ago and I was with Amy Winehouse, Elvis Costello etc.. I am guessing that was around 2004. This time I was there with The formidable Staks Band. It was a boiling hot day, which to be honest, I love.. I am not one who complains when it's too hot. I am only unhappy when it's too cold. Anyway, Staks were hot! They are such a brilliant band with stunning musicians & singers.. Quite a rarity these days! Staks performed late afternoon as it was cooling off a little. Special guest with them was the brilliant Eli 'Paperboy' Reed. Along with amazing vocalist's Shean Williams & Roachie. They were superb! It was lovely to see fellow music photographer Harry Herd today as well. He is such a nice chap..

The headline act on Sunday were old friends of mine.. The incredible SQUEEZE.. Quintessentially British and without doubt, one of the worlds greatest bands, real Rock n Roll Royalty. I photographed their superb show and after that we returned to the backstage / dressing room area where we grabbed all of our belongings and headed home.. 

Here are a few shots from the day of The mighty Staks & the legends that are, Squeeze..

#Staks #Squeeze #Livemusic #ChrisDifford #GlennTilbrook #NikonPro #Music #Musicphotographer #EliPaperBoyReed #Roachie, @Squeezofficial

L-R Tony Remy, Eli 'PaperBoy' Reed, Malcolm Fitzsimons & Roachie

L-R Tony Remy, Eli 'PaperBoy' Reed, Malcolm Fitzsimons & Roachie

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Eli 'Paper Boy' Reed.

Eli 'Paper Boy' Reed.

Roachie

Roachie

Shean Williams..

Shean Williams..

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Staks Band

Staks Band

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The Multi talented genius's & God's of songwriting,, Glenn Tilbrook & Chis Difford.

The Multi talented genius's & God's of songwriting,, Glenn Tilbrook & Chis Difford.

Glenn Tilbrook

Glenn Tilbrook

Chris Difford

Chris Difford

Simon Hanson

Simon Hanson

Yolanda Charles

Yolanda Charles

Stephen Large

Stephen Large

Yolanda Charles

Yolanda Charles

A Little Radio Interview

I did a little radio interview last week with Victoria Pearson. We had a brief chat about a few of my photos & a little bit about my life taking pics.. If you fancy a listen, its here :-https://www.mixcloud.com/KyleRickards/victoria-meets-03/

#PinkFloyd #AmyWinehouse #Photography #RollingStones #LiamGallagher #Oasis #BobDylan #Queen #MusicPhotography #Music #TheWho 
 
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Happy Birthday - Billy Cross

I first met the brilliant Billy Cross when I joined the Bob Dylan tour in September 1978. He was one of the members of Bob's band. Billy is an incredible guitarist / musician. I have got some lovely shots of him on that tour back in 1978. But, here is a shot that shows his love for flowers and his spontaneity when it comes to entertaining back stage. I also love the 'Photo Bombing' by the tea drinking, catering lady at that venue..  Big happy birthday Billy.

 

#BillyCross #BobDylan #StreetLegal #Guitar #Tourphotographer #UStour #Dylan #recordingartist #Recordproducer #Songwriter #JackScardinoandAssociates

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The STAKS Band

The STAKS Band anyone? Well, there is a very good chance that they are the best band that you have never heard of..  Back around 1970 Joe Cocker pulled an incredible band together and went on to record one of my all time favourite albums, Mad Dogs & Englishmen. if you haven't heard that album, treat yourself and go and buy it.. I was warned about this prior to working with The STAKS band, that they are fast becoming the incarnation of Joe Cocker's band. Every single musician involved is absolutely 'Top Draw'. Admittedly, they are pretty much all stars in their own right and extremely well accomplished, brilliant musicians and singers. Almost all of them have contributed their outstanding musicianship to so many songs that we all know and love. There are quite a few people in The STAKS Band.  I was working with then this week, I counted about 18 people. This seems to change each time we meet due to various commitments and the band's requirements. They have had some incredible people who have joined them for live shows and recordings. Amongst them are, Steve Winwood, Jack Bruce, Beverly Knight, Madeline Bell, Paul Carrack, Steve Overland, Roachie, Sonja Jones and others. We have been in a recording studio for a few days whilst they are putting a few finishing touches to their first album. I am also off with them this weekend as they are performing at one of Britains most wonderful events, The Cornbury Music Festival. I have photographed them live a few times now and they are incredible.. if you get the chance to see them anywhere they are playing, do yourself a favour and make the effort. If you enjoy live music and real music, it doesn't get better than STAKS.... 

#Staks #StaksBand

Here are just a few photos of the band during recording sessions..

The incredible Madeline Bell. She has sung on so many big hits and has an incredible voice. In fact she sung backing vocals on the best Beatles cover song. Joe Cockers, 'With A Little Help From My Friends' She is an absolute legend.. #MadelineBell

The incredible Madeline Bell. She has sung on so many big hits and has an incredible voice. In fact she sung backing vocals on the best Beatles cover song. Joe Cockers, 'With A Little Help From My Friends' She is an absolute legend.. #MadelineBell

Astounding genius record producer and good friend (L) Andy Wright. To the right the brilliant vocalist Steve Overland of FM.. #Andywright #SteveOverland #FM

Astounding genius record producer and good friend (L) Andy Wright. To the right the brilliant vocalist Steve Overland of FM.. #Andywright #SteveOverland #FM

#AndyWright (L) #KevinRobinson (R) #SimplyRed

#AndyWright (L) #KevinRobinson (R) #SimplyRed

The one and only #Roachie

The one and only #Roachie

Bassist, Stefan Redtenbacher. #StefanRedtenbacher #Staks

Bassist, Stefan Redtenbacher. #StefanRedtenbacher #Staks

Mike Sturgis #MikeSturgis #Staks

Mike Sturgis #MikeSturgis #Staks

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The control room.. 

The control room.. 

Malcolm Fitzsimons #MalcolmFitzsimons

Malcolm Fitzsimons #MalcolmFitzsimons

The amazing Sonja Jones #SonjaJones #LifeofBrian

The amazing Sonja Jones #SonjaJones #LifeofBrian

Recording engineer, Gavin Goldberg (L) Andy Right Standing (middle) Kevin Robison, Standing centre the amazing guitarist, Tony Remy #Staks

Recording engineer, Gavin Goldberg (L) Andy Right Standing (middle) Kevin Robison, Standing centre the amazing guitarist, Tony Remy #Staks

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The amazing Tony Remy #TonyRemy

The amazing Tony Remy #TonyRemy

RIP George Bodnar

I cant actually believe it. Today I went to the funeral of my old friend and fellow photographer, George Bodnar. By all accounts he had fought a hard old battle against Cancer and very sadly lost. When I arrived at Ealing Abbey there were quite a few familiar faces there. Plenty of music photographers along with music industry managers etc. Simon Porter Status Quo amongst them. We all left Ealing and trundled over to Hendon, where George and his family live and is now laid to rest.

I first met George with his then sidekick, Denis O'Regan in the late 70's. From what I remember George and Denis were ushers at either Wembley or Hammersmith Odeon, I cant remember. Anyway, I was taking photos at the front as we do, along with my then sidekick and good friend, Matthew Taylor (who died tooo young), when George and Denis were asking us both how we do what we do etc etc. We told them how we blagged our passes and before we knew much more they had both promoted themselves from ushers to Music photographers and I must say, GREAT photographers they both became as well as wonderful top draw geezers. George spent a lot of his later life working with Prince Charles as I believe he was Official Photographer for The Princes Trust. Quite an achievement! I have some wonderful memories of George and he will be sadly missed by a lot of people.