HOSTILE - New band line up

Newest Black Country Metallers HOSTILE, met myself at a secret steel factory location, to create some new images for them as they now have a new line up. Introducing new guitarist Jack Young! They have their debut album coming out on 31st October so hurry and pre-order yours!

They will also be holding an album release party at Birmingham's O2 Academy on the 29th October. So get yourself a ticket and come say hi, i will be there with camera in hand snapping away all night!

Hope to see you there! |,,|

SHEFFIELD TATTOO CONVENTION...

Just over a week ago now, i attended Sheffield's, 'City Of Steel', Tattoo Convention. This was the first time i had actually been at a tattoo convention and i had a great time! I went around checking out all the artists' work and taking some shots of them too....im sure i will attend other conventions in the future. Looking forward to it!Unfortunately, there was a 'celebrity' amongst us.....might i add a very talentless celebrity. And, of course, she was there as part of the judge panel! A bit insulting to criticise hard-working artists' work considering that she has NO capable drawing skills, respect and did i say 'talent' of her own....my friends...i'm talking about the one (and only) Jodie Marsh.......!

But, 'jokes' aside....being part of the tattoo industry, as i also work in a studio myself, is great as you get to meet some decent people with interesting things to say and have passion about their art! I love it and always have and will continue to have a very strong interest in tattooing......past and present!

Check out more images from the convention located on the galleries page...!

BOWLING FOR SOUP AND THE TWO BIG WHITE BALLS...

After finding out that Bowling for Soup had added an extra date to their tour, I couldn't help by grabbing me a pass to go check them out. Never had they failed to amaze me live.
Very tight, very funny, very sharp......its just great to catch them when they come around...!

It was extremely hot in the venue, so being down in the photo pit was more gruelling than usual, but once i got my shots i headed up towards the balcony to finish watching the bands set. I gotta say, it wasn't much cooler up their either!

But it was a great gig so i left on a high....!

If anyone wants to catch them, they are playing at the Birmingham Acedemy on 13th October 2010. Might just see you there...

Heavy at the Slade Rooms..

So, first time i covered a gig at The Slade Rooms tonight. i gotta say, i was pleasantly surprised. The sound was awesome, and the room was a descent size, enough space but also great for bands to get up close and personal with the crowd!
Three bands on tonight are: Adrenaline, Slab and Hostile.
Unfortunatley, a silly mix up as the doors were advertised to be open at 8:00pm but Hostile came on shortly after 7:30pm. So most people missed the first half of their set! Not good promotion, but not the bands fault im aware though!
Anyhow, the whole night was pretty cool and like i said, the sound was awesome!
I shall have no problem in covering another band there, plus the lighting was really all that bad, considering!

Metal @ the Masses.....

Round 10 for the Metal 2 The masses Tour!

Held at The Queens Hall, Nuneaton, for bands to battle it out for the chance to take to the stage at this years Bloodstock open Air festival.

I was there to catch all 4 bands and was very surprised to see how hard it getting as more local bands are stepping up and producing some awesome sounds!

The bands that were taking part were: Amongst the Survivors, Infury, Reigning Fury and Hostile!

Once the submitted votes had been counted, Simon Hall, BOA promotions, announced that the band going through to the semi-finals, was.........HOSTILE!!!

So ill shall be there covering the gig again for Midlands Rocks for the semi-finals! Looking forward to it. There will be 7 bands competing so im guessing itll be another awesome night!

Crowded House @ Symphony Hall

Last night i covered Crowded House @ Symphony Hall, Birmingham. They have been around for quite some time and only now got the chance to see them. Unfortunatley, i wasn't there long enough to hear the ovbious tracks that got played over an over, but still i thought they were great to watch. I also missed out on when they had the crowd brought down to the front of the stage, but having a photo pass at the Symphony Hall, means only having time for 3 songs and THATS IT!!
Maybe next time around eh?

Wakefield Festival...

I headed up to Wakefield over the weekend, on 16th May. The whole event was in aid for the Hospice Charity. There were some great bands playing over the weekend, such as; Inme, Pitchshifter, Panic Cell, Hostile, Heavens Basement, etc...! I shot four of the bands as i was travelling up with Hostile and we had a tight schedule to travel back. However, it was a great weekend for a great cause!

Well done to those who pulled together and made it happen!

Also cheers goes out to Wayne who sorted out my pass...! ,,

Francis Rossi...

It was great to have been able to grab some shots of Francis Rossi on his first ever solo tour away from Status Quo. To be honest i have never even seen 'Quo before but still it was great to have been apart of his experiance on his own.

Well....maybe just one more time...

So from last time i trekked down to Eddies in Birmingham, i wasn't impressed to say the least but second time around was much better! Besides 2 bands dropping out, 3 bands enjoyed the extra time on stage. First up was London based 'Kyrbgrinder'. I never saw them before and i was pleasantly surprised. I would go and see them again if they are around the Midlands. The drummer, Johanne James , was obviously the heart and soul of the band. Not many drummers can pull off being the drummer, the singer and the full lime light all at once! It was great to watch!

I didnt get to see the second band, unfortunately but the headlining band, Black Country based Metal band Hostile, stormed on stage and performed yet another awesome show! These guys are surely only made for larger venue stages as the energy they have needs to be showed to more than just a couple hundred crowd pleasers! ,,

Eddies....no more!

I was looking forward to shooting this evenings gig. Flymore, a Russian band, very influence onthe very early days of Korn. With support from Midlands based metal band Hostile.

I had heard a bit about Flymore and was hoping for some good excitement at the gig.......

........what was it again.....bad promotion from the managers, or bad promotion from the venue...or etc, etc!

I never got to check out the original venue, Eddies, but this 'new' Eddies, isn't much to boast about! Half the room didn't even fill to see this gig! It was a very big shame, i don't think Flymore were impressed much with their management either!

I shall say this.........that was the last time i shall go to Eddies!!