http://dannyclifford.com

Mud and Photos

Title: Mud and Photos

Caption: Being a photographer in the music industry can be rather testing. This particular event was on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England. It was as muddy and slippery as could be. In fact it was absolutely mental. I had to walk for miles carrying loads of cameras, laptops, lenses etc. I must admit I was laughing quite a lot as I and everyone else was just falling over all the time. Only difference was that I had very expensive cameras to keep out of the mud. Oh what joy!!

This exclusive photo was taken at AIR Lyndhurst Hall recording Studios, Hampstead, London. Dame Shirley Bassey, David Arnold and Gary Barlow. This was the very moment that Gary Barlow brought a new song that he has written for Dame Shirley and he sat down at the grand piano and played it to us for the first time. he played it and sung like he was performing in an arena. It was stunning... the song is called "This Time" and it is now on Dame Shirley's brilliant new album, The Performance. Keith Moon late drummer with The Who seen here with Zak Starkey (son of Ringo Starr - The Beatles). This Exclsuive photo was taken in Bob Henritts drum store in Wardour Street, London in 1978 a short while before Keith Moon's tragic death. Years later Zak went on to become his replacemnt in The Who. This was his last press conference at London's O2 Arena where he was announcing his up coming concerts. This was taken in the toilet or men's room at the Grosvenor House Hotel during the Q Awards. Shane was being presented (by Bono - U2) with a lifetime achievement award. So, as you do, prior to the presentations Shane wanted me to go with him to the little boys room where he literally powdered his nose. Naturally we took some photos as well. It was all rather mad. All he kept asking me was "Do I look like Johnny Burnett?" Atmosphere at The Fuji Rock Festival held at Mount Naeba Ski resort, Japan. 2006 Led Zeppelin's three surving members got together for a rare few mins. They stood together for about 5 seconds if that. This was inside at the world premier of their movie 'How The West Was Won' We had arranged to do a shot of the three of them with their manager - Bill Curbishley - but they were not feeling too comfortable together. I didnt realise how important this shot was until it was pointed out to me that there were no current photos of them together anywhere else. Keith Moon and Norman Gunston. This was backstage at the Who's concert at Charlton Football Club. Apparently the loudest concert ever. Anyway Keith told me to get my camera ready and then started to pour the bottle of Vladmir Vodka over the head of Australian comedian Norman Gunstan. I was the only person who photographed this moment although it was filmed and is on You Tube. Freddie Mercury was just about to go on stage at Hyde park with Queen when I was roaming around under the stage. I saw some lights on in between the scafolding and stage supports. I walked over and saw some chap in a white boiler suite being secured and being handed a microphone. I started chatting to him and I asked him what his name was, he said Freddie, I said my name is Danny and can I take a few photos? He said of course you can dear boy. So I took a few photos and then suddenly he was pushed on a lift up through a trap door onto the massive stage in Hyde Park in central London. I then walked out to the front of the stage and photpographed the show. Sothis was the first time I had met Freddie or seen Queen. They were utterly amazing. Exclusive - St Patricks Day in London with Peter Doherty and Shane MacGowan. Oh what a jolly night we had. This photo seemed to get used all around the world from newspapers and magazines including Rolling Stone in USA. It's available to buy as a limited Edition of 100 only 20 x24 inches. Signed and numbered by Danny Clifford Shane MacGowan and Glen Matlock of The Sex Pistols together. This was a little exclusive moment of the two of them. I think that Glen is in the photo in the background on the left. That is the Sex Pistols back in the day. I was asked to go to the Headquarters of the UK's Monarch Airlines. I met up with their CEO Tim Jeans and Hed Kandi's Dan Baxter. We did some shots of them on the runway and then in the cockpit. Tim Jeans then said shall we go for a quick flight. So, a crew boarded and off we went. We went for a one hour flight over france and Englands South Coast. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) and Kevin Ayers (Syd Barret colaborator and genius musician in his own right) Roger Daltrey announcing The Who's new world tour Bob Dylan This was a backstage moment with Bob after one of the shows. We we were waiting for everyone to get ready to board our tour bus to head back to ur hotel. This was a special moment. I was spending a lot of time as official photographer for Babyshambles. There was massive media pressure to get any photos of Kate Moss with Peter at that time. I got a call at about 11pm by the band and they said we are doing a quick last minute surprise gig in Islington, London in about an hour, which was midnight. So, I grabbed my cameras and headed into town. I met Peter and Kate as I pulled up, we walked in together. It was a very strange venue, all unlicensed. It was pretty much a squat. No electricity as such. Power came from an old generator out the back with one electric cable dragging along the floor of this illegal old pub. Anyway, the band started up almost immediately. There were no lights working in there at all. It was rammed full of sweaty young kids. It was so crowded I couldn2019t get my cameras out and up to my eye easily at all. Anyway, as I did get my cameras out the lenses steamed up immediately. Then suddenly, through the dark steamy atmosphere I saw the dress that Kate was wearing. She stepped towards the band and grabbed the microphone. I wiped the lens and just shot as much as I could. She stood with the microphone for about 3 seconds. Then disappeared into the dark sweaty mist. I got the only shots of Kate singing with Pete and Babyshambles. They were used all around the world, newspapers and magazines. The evening ended very abruptly after that as the front door was pushed opened by about 40 riot police and we were all thrown out onto the street. Kate disappeared out the back door whilst this was all going on. I walked down the street with Pete who still had a guitar and he was playing and singing whilst being followed by hundreds of fans, a bit like the Pied Piper of Hamlyn.. Obviously I photographed it all. Iron Maiden's rhythm man, Nicko McBrain. I arrived at Donington Park in England on a Friday night to meet up with my mate Nicko. We did some shots of him and his new drum kit, then we did some quick shots of him in front of one of his beloved Jaguar Cars. The funny thing is that some time later, cant remember if it was the same year, but I was in New York with Iron Maiden when I was called in my hotel room by Adrian Smith's wife Nathalie, who said that Nicko has been arrested in Long Island, New York, because he ran a security Guard over who refused him entry with his Jaguar, to an Iron Maiden gig. Nicko seemed to be unimpressed with this mad security man. Nicko had tried to explain that he was in the band and showed him all of his credentials etc. But the guy still wouldn2019t let Nicko drive in, so, he ran him over.. Anyway, this photo that was taken at Donington and was him with a Jaguar was used in many many newspapers and magazines all around the world. Nicko is such a funny bloke. By the way, the security man was not hurt at all, in fact he tried it on big time, so I hear. Status Quo were one of the funniest and mental bands to tour with. This photo was taken in the dressing romm at the end of the tour on 19th December 1977 Dirty Pretty Things exclusive moment with ex-Libertines man Carl Barat in the tour bus after their concert at at The Fuji Rock Festival Mount Naeba Ski resort, Japan. 28th July 2006 MTV European Music Awards 2004 Show at Torr di Valle, Rome, Italy Every year in London the Q Awards are held. Amy Winehouse turned up with her dad Mitch. They seemed so lovely together Amy wanted her dad to go off and have his lunch whilst she did the press call, however, just before he went I asked Amy if we could get a shot of her and her dad. She obliged. She is a lovely girl and unbelievably talented. Rufus Wainwright his mother Kate McGarrigle and Gary Barlow at the music playback - Dame Shirley Bassey at the Ritz Casino Club, London September 21st 2009 Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend at the Hard Rock cafe in London. **EXCLUSIVE** Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones) with his ex-wife Jo backstage at Teenage Cancer Trust Concert held at the Royal Albert Hall on March 30th 2004 I photographed my Shane MacGowan's 50th Birthday party. Here Shane is with Chas Smash from Madness and sitting in between them is the legendary BP Fallon, on the right is Shane. This photograph was from the making a music video for the band "Starsailor" for which I did the stills. Left to right:- Richard Jones (Sterophonics), Paul Weller, Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones) Roger Daltrey (The Who) and Kelly Jones (Stereophonics). This was an exclusive moment I had. I was in the back dressing room at the Royal Albert Hall, London when I managed to get all of the chaps together for this photo. This was quite a rare and nice moment with a bunch of music legends. Being a photographer in the music industry can be rather testing. This particular event was on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England. It was as muddy and slippery as could be. In fact it was absolutely mental. I had to walk for miles carrying loads of cameras, laptops, lenses etc. I must admit I was laughing quite a lot as I and everyone else was just falling over all the time. Only difference was that I had very expensive cameras to keep out of the mud. Oh what joy!! I was inside shooting the Mercury Awards when I was walking away from the stage area and bumped into Bill Curbishley, Robert and Alison. So, Bill beckoned me to take a photo of the three of them which I obviously did. General View of the main stage at The Reading Festival 27th August 2005