Have been busy putting together a composite image for the new Def Leppard US Summer Tour poster.  Lots of going back and forth with the band and tweaking.  I think the result came out pretty good though.

Here's the Def Leppard video that I made from footage I took on tour throughout 2008. Hope you enjoy.

So Mr Collen of Def Leppard has a new website featuring photos by yours truly.

Have a peek over at www.philcollenpc1.com It's rather smashing!

Took a drive up the road to San Antonio yesterday to see my mates in Black Stone Cherry and hang out of for the day and evening.  Hadn't seen the boys since last year when we were in England and the trip was long overdue.  Black Stone Cherry are one of the few bands of the last few years that have had a big imact on me.  They're great on disc but are a band that you have to see live to realize the energy that they hold.  Plus they're four of the nicest guys met and worked with.....Ever! 

Get up to San Antone mid afternoon and the guys were just getting up.  There was an abandoned house next door to the venue so we ended up jumping the fence and setting up a shoot right there.  I kept the boys entertained with some mucky limericks and general tomfoolery as I layed in long grass shooting I put myself at the mercy of ticks, chiggers and snakes probably as I "suffered" for my art....yeah right...  The lads had a laugh about it anyway.

Later on our buddy Mark from Roadrunner Records turned up and we all took off for a radio station visit, interview and live spot.  Got some pics of the guys crammed in to a small recording booth as they belted out some acoustic numbers.  They even mentioned and included me in their interview....Bless 'em!

The live show later was superb.  Loud, hard and faultless.  John Fred is probably one of the hardest hitting drummers that I've ever seen and is dangerous to be next to when he's playing.  Still, I braved the danger and got shots right next to him although I felt a stick "whoosh" dangerously close by my head a couple of times.  Great show in a smaller club but a healthy and enthusiastic crowd.  My friend Sandy and her husband even came out to see the boys.  Great night!

Been a while since I posted anything I know. January got kind of busy. Went out to LA for the annual NAMM show and also spent a couple of days in Malibu with Rick Allen and his lovely wife Lauren. Flew into Orange County airport this time as LAX is just a major pain in the posterior getting to and from. LA was hot. It was in the low 50’s in South Texas yet mid 80’s in LA…strange reversal. Took a drive up to Venice Beach and had a mooch around looking in the stores and people watching. Such an eclectic bunch of folks in Venice it always seems. Don’t know what it is about the coastal places that seem to attract the “different” ones but it’s good for a change. Rick came out later on and we caught up and he and I had dinner. Always such good company with a fellow Northerner and a right good laugh to boot! It’s looking like a busy year for Def Leppard with lots of things planned. Spent the next day with Rick and Lauren shooting pics all day at their home in Malibu for their Raven Drum Foundation Charity. Really great clear and sunny day, far away from the LA smog and noise. Got some great solos of Rick on a trail adjacent to his place and then he and Lauren in various locations. I wish that photo sessions were this laid back every time. Had a blast telling silly jokes and reciting my filthy limericks. Lauren even learned what a moose knuckle was…..poor girl! Ended up shooting in the last part of the afternoon at a place up the coast at a place called El Matador beach. Got my best shots of the day I think of Rick and Lauren together sat on the rocks right by the waters edge as the sun went down, very ethereal feeling to them. El Matador was where they filmed the closing scene of the original Planet of the Apes movie where Charlton Heston rides up the beach and discovers Liberty sticking out of the sand… Pretty cool to be at such a famous place.

Just did the NAMM show for a couple of days this time around but had a fun time and saw a lot of friends once again. Went up to see the Fender folks and it was nice to see their huge room had my photos used all over the place. Went to the VIP room and saw Phil Collen who was getting ready to do a performance and a signing. Got caught up a little with Phil and Scotty Applepips and got a chance to hang with Rich, Billy and Brian from Fender as well. Great folks over at Fender and always easy to work with. Noticed a distinctly lower attendance of overseas vendors at this show. More than likely due to the current economic slump.

A few pics from NAMM….