Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll

Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, the movie about the life of Ian Dury, was recently at the Tribeca Film Festival. I really wanted to see it, and then again, I didn't. I've photographed a lot of performers who are no longer with us, but Ian was someone I spent a day with. I'll see the film eventually I guess, but right now it just makes me sad.

We rode in a limo together to a record signing that I was hired to photograph. I found him to be a lovely English gentleman. He had a Union Jack plaque on his teeth, which he loved to show off for photographs. He patiently signed record album covers for his many fans. David Johansen showed up at the record store too, and I got to photograph the two of them together. At the end of the day, Ian gave me a small Union Jack from the limo to take home.

The next night I went to see him perform at the Bottom Line. An amazing, somewhat scary performance. I think if I had seen him perform first, I'm not sure I ever would have gotten into the limo with him.