On stage I make love to twenty five thousand people; and then I go home alone.”
Happy Birthday to the brilliant and tragic Janis Joplin.
Photo by David Gahr, 1968.
I recently made my Crime Reads debut with a piece on the wonderful Hollywoodland. Please read and hope you enjoy!
I have started a Substack, which is maybe counterintuitive to having a blog, but I guess we are all more inclined to click a newsletter in out inbox than to read a blog post on here. Or not? Maybe some of you are getting this via your email accounts now — who’s to say?
It’s a ploy to organise all the thoughts I have been having this year, of a variety of subjects, and have them out to readers in short posts faster than I can log on here.
I’ll endeavour to cross post, but should you wish to subscribe, you can find the latest products of my ever sporadic ramblings and workings of my inner cogs over at my Dream Palace — please sign up if you’re so inclined. Or maybe not. No pressure. Maybe you’re not reading this at all?
For Magnum On Set I wrote about Dennis Stock’s photographs of Grace Kelly and the filming of High Society:
I had the great pleasure of interviewing the iconic photographer Elliott Landy for Magnum Photos: (click to read!)
Elliott Landy Janis Joplin, Big Brother and The Holding Company. Joshua Light Show, Anderson Theater. New York City. USA. 1968. © Elliott Landy | Magnum Photos
August was hot. Work was slow. I took a week mid-month and devoured book after book. Six in two weeks, sometimes one per day, which is a record for me. Here is what I read, mostly music-oriented books; if you know me and my interests, you’ll understand.
Three years ago, we lost a screaming angel.
He had that voice, a voice that could tear you apart while comforting you at the same time.
Seeing Linkin Park for the first time, on MTV in 2000, it was impossible not to be floored by the gentle-looking blonde boy infusing his lyrics with all the pain he had endured, and would continue to endure throughout his life. A talented, young, brilliant musician. A tragic, heart-wrenching death.
RIP Chester, you are so very missed.
Currently listening: