So after a sore arse from all that flying (quiet in the peanut galleries!) and the time change I arrive in Glasgow a couple of hours late. Get through immigration quicker than I ever have I'm very relieved to find that ll my luggage and gear has made it on through to the right place and everything is intact. Grab a cab and head to the hotel. Got checked in, showered and got a couple of hours sleep. Saw Viv Campbell and Rick Allen and said hi. Was feeling a little shagged out so I went out for a walk around Glasgow and took advantage of the cold June weather. I haven't had to wear a jacket in June in years! We're burning our asses off in Texas by mid April so I'm VERY grateful for the cooler climate of the UK. Got caught up on a few emails, checked my cameras and went downstairs for a meal in the hotel restaurant and bar. Couple of hours and a few Guinness' later Malvin, Def Leps tour manager and Mark come into the bar for a beverage or two and we put the world to rights and they give me a brief education on some of the characters I'll encounter in the music industry... Great guys and very funny. It was a good start to the first day of being here back in the UK.



Head off to the venue mid afternoon with Malvin, Rick and Viv and meet up with the rest of the guys except Joe who's late as his flight is delayed. Get sorted out and get a space in the dressing room for my gear and head down to the stage to check out the venue. It's strange being there actually as this is the first time as a music photographer that I've officially worked outside of the US. The venue is a little smaller but the staff and security are a whole lot more organized than stateside. The band starts sound check and still no Joe... Walk around onstage and get some great shots of the guys sound checking... About 30 minutes into the check I'm on the runway and I turn around and Joe's walking on... He gives me a big hug and goes straight into the song the guys are halfway through. They sound great! Get some dinner and hang with the guys in the dressing room as they prepare for the show. Phil and Viv have their trainer "Jean" with them and he sure puts them through their routines. I head downstairs to an area behind the stage with Phil and Jean. Get some photos and video footage of Phil training doing his martial arts workout... At 50 Phil punches and kicks harder than someone half his age. I'm pretty fit but don't have anything on him! See my mates in Black Stone Cherry and hang for a while. Tell them that I think the crowds are gonna love what they do, turns out later judging by the crowd reactions and the other bands that I was right... They are a powerhouse of energy and sound. Love those Kentucky boys! The Whitesnake boys are happy to see me and give a warm welcome... Bump into "The Cov" in the hallway who gives a huge squeeze. He invites me into his dressing room and we catch up a little before I get back to the Def Lep room and start shooting the guys doing their show prep.
  

Well the Lepps filled up the arena in Glasgow and the crowd were electric! Saw one of the Whitesnake forum members I knew and her husband which was very cool. Anyhow, the guys went out and did their thing. Shot the whole set pretty much about half from the photo pit area and then from onstage with the guys for a different perspective. Had to get my timing right when onstage though as they more around so much and I almost got clobbered by Savs bass. Viv likes to flip me off and swear at me and Joe just likes to swear... Too funny! I couldn't be working for a cooler band! They added a couple of new ones into the set list, 9 Lives, C'mon C'mon and Bad Actress. I think I like C'mon C'mon mostly out of the three. When they did the encore they headed to the end of the thrust stage to thank the crowd and I ran out and got them with the audience in the shot as well, quite a rush being out there in front of thousands! Here's a few shots.

ASH