Angus Young AC/DC 1991

This photo was taken at the back of the Sydney Entertainment centre in 1991 when AC/DC were in town to do some shows. I really like this photo as it reminds me of the AC/DC song ‘Jail Break”.

   Kurt Cobain Nirvana 1992

This photo of Kurt Cobain was taken in 1992 when Nirvana were in Sydney to play some gigs. I met the entire band at their hotel (The New Hampshire) in Sydney’s red light district, Kings Cross.

The day that I met Kurt, I rang a bunch of friends asking them if they wanted to meet Nirvana, the answer I mainly got was, “who”. The day that I was at the hotel Kurt and Courtney were having a fight outside. Courtney went one way and Kurt walked over to me. He posed for this photo and walked up to Kings Cross.

Kurt returned after only a few minutes, he mustn’t have been interested in strip shows, brothels or prostitutes. After Kurt walked back into the hotel the other two members of Nirvana, (David and Chris) came back in their rented van, which had obviously been in an accident. Chris told me that he had smashed the van whilst driving around Sydney.

   Bono U2 1993

This photo was taken at the Quay West apartments in Sydney. U2 were in town to perform some shows for their ‘Zooropa” tour. There were a lot of U2 fans outside their hotel and Bono would come outside everyday and sign autographs and pose for photos.
Bono is always very good to the fans.

   Courtney Love Hole 1995

I took this photo of Courtney at Sydney airport. Courtney Love was with her band ‘Hole’ to perform at ‘The Big Day Out’. When she arrived (at the airport) there were a few fans waiting for her. Courtney was kind enough to sign an autograph or two for the waiting fans. Once outside Courtney sat on the ground and had a smoke. One of the fans gave her a scrapbook which was full of newspaper clippings of Kurt Cobains death. Courtney happily took the scrapbook and spent sometime looking through it.

   Robert Plant Led Zeppelin 1996

Robert Plant was having breakfast with Jimmy Page in Sydney’s prestigious suburb of Double Bay. Both of these musical legends were in town to do some gigs.
I went down to the hotel one morning and noticed that they were having breakfast across the road. As Robert was walking back to his hotel I asked if I could take a photo of him. He asked me why I wanted to take a photo of him for. I told him that he was a legend of the 70’s and that I enjoyed his music. He then said to me that he can’t understand that after all of these years people were still interested in him. Strangely enough he couldn’t understand why I wanted to take his photo. As he was about to walk across the street he opened his arms and told me to take the photo.

   Denzel Washington 1996

I took this photo of Denzel when he was in Sydney to promote a movie. As you can see by the photo, Denzel had a lot of fun at the press conference.

   Elle Macpherson 1992

I took this photo of Elle in 1992 when she was at 2DAY FM radio station.
It was a few years before paparazzi had taken off in Sydney. Before 1993 I used to just hang out at hotels, airports, radio & T.V stations with my $90.00 camera and take happy snaps of the stars. After 1993 it all changed. Today if Elle went to a radio station there would be photographers trying to get their exclusive photo, and security guards and P.R people trying to protect their ‘prized star’.

   Halle Berry 1995

I took this photo of Halle while she was at Maroubra beach in Sydney. She was in Sydney with fellow actor Jim Belushi to film the movie ‘Race to the Sun’
Halle was almost unknown then and it’s great to see her now with an Academy Award.

   Ian Thorpe 2003

I took this photo of Ian at the airport. The media were interviewing him before he and the rest of the Australian swimming team were about to leave for a swimming meet in Germany. While he was answering questions from the media, I stood in the middle of the journalists and took some photos with my instamatic. I was very surprised when I got my film developed and saw that I had this photo of Ian. It was by sheer luck that he is smiling and looking straight down my lens.

   Mel Gibson 2002

Mel was in Sydney to promote a movie and for the re-opening of the acting school where Mel learnt to act (NIDA). When Mel arrived at NIDA, he walked up the red carpet and spoke to the media. I stood in the middle of two news camera guys. As he was going from one interview to the next, I yelled out his name. Mel looked at me and pulled this funny face.

   The Queen and Prince Phillip 1991

The Queen was in Sydney with Prince Phillip in 1991. I took this photo as she was leaving Royal Randwick Race Course, where they had spent the day at the races.
A number of admirers were waiting to see the Queen & Prince Phillip. As they drove down the street and away from the crowd I took this single photo. It’s one of my favourites as even though they were out in full view of the public, it’s almost like a private moment between the Queen and Prince Phillip.

   Diana Princess of Wales 1996

I took this photo of Diana when she was visiting Sydney for a charity event. On this particular day, Diana was visiting patients at St’ Vincent’s Hospital. A large crowd of admirers and just as much media were waiting for a glimpse of Diana.

When Diana left the hospital she walked around and met the crowd. I, like everyone else was trying to get a great photo of Di. As she came closer to me I went under the barricades and walked with Diana for 10 seconds or so. Let’s just say I wasn’t in the Police’s good books. Though I did get some great photos.