Hope this contribution will
be of interest to members. Just put up a yahoo page (more later)for
my info,news and archive samples;
(click here to visit).
....there you can find some etchy-through-the-ether photos from the
first (and sadly last for leigh) Minty performance (Nov.24.1994),
also seen in the Violette Edition picturebook (under my full
picture credit name-don't ask!- Alex Mark Hanson called Simon).
It still is for me, and I'm sure the many who pacted that glowing,
sweaty cellar in Wardour st., a truly infamous and magical memory.I'd
watched some of the rehearsals which were just as fabulously edgy, if
not more so.
However it was clear that Leigh wasn't well,and at his request I
backed off from taking pictures for start with.He wasn't particularly
keen for anyone to photograph the actual show due to feeling a bit
off, but we had grown into a level of trust, and I felt it was
important to have some kind of documentation of his debut with the
band that I'd seen him,Nicola,Richard Torry,Matthew Glamorre and many
others work so hard for-and thankfully Leigh came around to think
this too.





Shooting from the side,wedged between a pounding amp and a dressing
area drape, I shot endlessly with disposible cameras as events
unfolded. The series shown here are of Leigh and Nicola's birth
action. Up until then it had always been performed with Leigh marching
on in full get-up singing, sometimes several songs, and then lying on
a tresle table to "produce" Nicola. This time they literally turned
things on their heads and did it in reverse, working from naked to
clothed. It was truly electric. So many details were memorable of
that night; Leigh singing a slow, moving peaen "Comme Des Garcons",
the expectation and realization of the crowd, Trevor working the
drums like a banshee,Sue Tilley's "breast feel" through smiley face
`frontdrop`at the entrance and Leigh, naked in kinkily "miss"
matching heels looking like a stately goliath, at once energized and
drained, he pushed and rose beyond the occasion.
The night proved extra special as it was a coming together of the old
and new,the famous and soon to be so...all coming to pay homage to
Leigh.I remember seeing Anthony Price by the bar, Marc Almond (who
had an interest in the venue)looking rocked and satisfied after.I
took one picture of the audience, during an interval,into the dark
(the lights were off,a underlying cresceno from the speakers)hoping
the flash would reveal a response.





It was only the next day, rushing to Richard's flat with the snappy
snaps first results,that other faces appeared- Alexander McQueen in
the front row- eyes agog, Lucien Freud ( who left early, apparently
due to the increasingly piercing noise)huddled in the middle and,
is that Bjork with her fingers in her ears?!.
At Richard's place the band had gathered in emergency meeting mode
with their manager Paul Hitchman. The show was the talk of the town
but unfortunately word had reached the devious ears of Lady Porter's
gang (of Westminster city council infamy) and the show (due to run
the rest of the week) had been shut down, due to to nudity/sexual
content or something similarly ridiculous.





Years later, when I took some work round to the publisher Robert
Violette's flat for possible inclusion in the book he was putting
together about Leigh, he looked at the audience and group pictures
and said they represented "a crucial,defining moment of the
nineties".It made me feel proud to have been there and humble to have
been the only documenting witness of such an event.

Last year Charles Atlas flew over from NYC with his cameras and
several people (inc.Stella Stein,Aidian Shaw,Cerith Wyn Evans,Fanny
and Patrick,Les Child and That Donald) did what can only be descibed
as "real turns" in a Bowery tribute.(I popped on my country-tramp-
goes-to-town look to "sing" my poem "Vertebrae" during a slot with
The Paper People).It was a night of tensions, pretensions, truth and
humour. Once again the audience were (mainly)more famous than most of
the acts; Boy George,"George Dawes",Micheal Clark, cousins of royalty
(leaving early)- there was a funny moment when I looked across the
stage during an-everybody-together Hey Jude!(not really) moment to
see Norman Rosenthal from the Royal Academy beaming and dancing like
a wild thing amongst the acts.
In February this year I went over to NY to promote pictures and met
up with Charles for lunch.I went round to his large flat in midtown
and was happy to see images of Leigh here and there, including a
colourful bust featuring the mirror helmet look. Charles showed me
where he works, a serious setup of editing and other filmic devices.
Over the street at lunch he seemed a little down about issues of
backing for his film about Leigh. The meeting was tense and awkward,
but I felt feeling happier after hearing him say he was "just going
to do it". I know it will be a labour of love for him, it is clear
that Leigh was and still is very dear to him and that he knows its
important.



Over&Out for now.Cheers!

Love to all.....AlexcalledSimon

Creation date : 19/01/2007 @ 15:33
Last update : 19/01/2007 @ 15:33
Category : Interviews
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