Photo by Chalkie Davies (thanks to Dave Evans)
He's renowned for his iconic photos of all famous pop and rock stars : Blondie, Elton John, The Specials, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney and.....me and my mate Dave Evans!
The background to this photo , taken on June 19th 1976 ( I know because I googled it), is that we met up with Chalkie Davies at Bob Marley's concert at Ninian Park, Cardiff, where he was taking photos for the NME.
Dave knew him quite well, having grown up in Barry. I'd never met him previously.
This was just before Marley came to prominence with the single 'No Woman, No Cry' and also before Chalkie went on to become one of the world's greatest rock photographers, producing countless memorable pictures for the NME and then many album covers, including those for The Specials, Elvis Costello and Thin Lizzy.
Coincidentally, on a day of tampin' rain much like that June day at the home of City (who we both supported then), myself and Dave met up at the National Museum to view Chalkie's exhibition there ( it runs till September 6th).
If you haven't been yet, then it's a must for anyone remotely interested in music, as it's fascinating seeing the photos of David Bowie in his Ziggy Stardust tour with all his transformations, Dylan alongside Graham Parker looking like brothers in arms and The Specials all gazing up at something (you're not sure exactly what).
When you witness the ones of Debbie Harry in oh-so-sensual pose and Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungeon together in Phil Lynott's bathroom, you realise just how much part of our awareness of rock music Chalkie's images have become.
All in glorious black and white, despite the fact that he did take up colour when he moved from the NME to The Face magazine.
Chalkie Davies simply gave up rock photography in the 1980s when he lost interest in the music scene.
It's a shame really , as Dave and I were discussing how much great stuff was around then, apart from the charts : bands like Carter USM and The Fatima Mansions whose anarchistic views and highly original styles were reflected in the Welsh scene by the likes of Datblygu.
It was good to meet Chalkie that day and to see his battered camera case open up to reveal a wondrous machine.
Despite the torrents of rain, the Marley gig was unforgettable as we left singing the chorus of 'Get Up, Stand Up' , voices to and fro in a soaked but song-shone crowd.
BABYLON FALLING
Babylon was falling down
that day at Ninian Park
where we sat in the Bob Bank,
place where we'd cheered,
chanted and often groaned.
Swigging back a cider flagon
like hobos to keep out the cold
and damp, the sparse crowd
gathered to see a wiry Jamaican
and his band, to wail along.
Intoxicated, we played football
with the empty bottle, kicking
it into a goal ; I raised
two fingers in a Robin Friday salute
to an empty, sodden field.
Little did we know how the lens
that caught us then - like rebel tones
of that Rastaman singer -
would enter from those drab wings
onto a stage of heroes and villains.
RSS Feed