Hit Me With Your Best Shot (Pat Benatar 2)

Rory Gallagher and Pat Benatar

I liked working with Pat Benatar. From our first shoot together, backstage with the late, great Rory Gallagher in September 1979, through those backstage photos with John "Cougar" Mellencamp, to a couple of her own concerts in NY, I always found her to be easy to work with. I actually got to photograph her five times in less than a year, and went from seeing her good-looking husband Dennis backstage, to his being gone the next time, to finding that she was with her good-looking guitarist, Neil "Spyder" Giraldo (who she later married and is still with today)

Pat Benatar at The Bottom Line, November 1979

This shot was taken backstage at the Bottom Line after Pat's first performance there. Not only the band is in the photo, but the Chrysalis executives are joined by the owners of The Bottom Line, Pat's manager Rick Newman and more. Everyone just knew how big she was going to be, and they all wanted to have their picture taken with her.

Backstage at The Bottom Line, November 1979

But by the last show I did with her, I found that fame had taken over. I'm not blaming her at all, but I couldn't get near her. She was surrounded by her "people" and there was nothing I could do about it. They were controlling access and keeping her attention. I'm not saying that she and I had ever been friends (I tend to be low-key when I'm shooting- it's not about me, it's about getting the shot) and I doubt she'd even remember me at this point so many years later, but she knew me then, and I know we would have talked if she knew I was there, but she was surrounded. It was an interesting rock and roll moment.

In The Heat Of The Night (Pat Benatar)

Not many shows tempt me these days. Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo onstage after all these years, well that would tempt me. (Though I'm probably not tempted enough) They're playing Monday and Tuesday at B.B. King Blues Club. Yep, tempting. Shot them a lot back in the day. Especially Pat.

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo at The Bottom Line, November, 1979

I first photographed Pat Benatar a couple of times just before her album In The Heat Of The Night came out, before her first tour. One time, Chrysalis Records sent us to The Bottom Line to see John Cougar (yes, that was his name then) since Pat had released a cover of his song "I Need a Lover" (a really good song, both versions-- and it still holds up) 

Pat Benatar and John Cougar (Mellencamp) at the Bottom Line, September 1979

This was my favorite shot from that night and it ran in CREEM. Now that was a magazine...

Look Sharp! (Joe Jackson)

I liked photographing Joe Jackson. He always made it interesting, like when he was performing with FUBAR the robot. Loved the songs, too. Is She Really Going Out With Him? Still makes me smile, every time I hear those chords at the beginning. Every single time.

Joe Jackson and FUBAR at The Palladium, 1979

I was warned about Joe Jackson though. He doesn't like photographers, they told me, gives them a hard time. You don't want to go backstage and bother him. Yeah, well. I went backstage anyway. He was great. Posed for me and everything. Don't believe everything they tell you. 

Backstage at the Bottom Line, 1979

Backstage at the Bottom Line, 1979

This shot ran in CREEM. Check out the receipt I got from the magazine. Low tech even for its time. I can't believe I still have stuff like this, but I do. More to scan.

Jackson's new live album is coming out next month. Should be interesting, he toured last year with his original bassist and drummer. Here's a link to his recent interview with Billboard Magazine. 

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.

Hail Hail Rock 'N' Roll

I also photographed Lou backstage with Garland Jeffreys in November 1979. Garland had just given a concert at the Bottom Line and Lou was visiting after the show. If you don't know Garland's music, you should. Wild in the Streets is probably his best known song, but he is still an active, exciting performer, with a new CD coming out soon. Can't wait! He'll be playing a show in New York this fall. Of course, you can find videos of his songs and performances on YouTube. Go. Listen. It's worth it. 

Lou Reed and Garland Jeffreys backstage at the Bottom Line in 1979.

Here's Garland posing backstage at the Dr. Pepper Music Festival in Central Park in 1977.

And here he is performing at the Bitter End in 2007. The place was packed. And yes, he's still a man who wears many hats.

Street Hassle

I didn't see Lou Reed around anywhere when I went to the New York Photo Festival, but I did get to photograph him quite a bit back in the day. I love this shot from the stage at the Bottom Line, which was taken while Lou was touring to support the release of Street Hassle. Lou Reed smiling! And winking at me! Lou's people loved it too, and Arista Records bought 3 copies of the print. I heard they wanted to use it as his publicity photograph. But it just didn't fit with his image at the time, so there you go. The photograph did run in the June 1979 issue of the late, great Grooves Magazine. 

Lou Reed smiling at the Bottom Line in May 1978