June 21^st- Up early to Belfast. The airline has a stupid weight limit on hand luggage so Rick Allen kindly lets me offload a couple of heavy lenses and my laptop into his bag so I'm allowed to take mine onboard. He's a gent! The bloody airlines in the UK are getting worse enforcing their rules, they're succeeding in driving their customers away more than anything else......SWINES!

Bumpy flight in from Manchester but we're on time and get checked in okay. It's cold and raining but Belfast seems like a nice place. I told by everyone that it's a nicer place than during the time of "The Troubles" which really doesn't take that much to imagine. Head down to the venue and shoot the crews setting up the stage and sound. Get some good shots of Rick mooching around in the general admission area. Pop in to David Coverdale's dressing room for a bit of a chat, he's on form as usual. Grab a few shots of him in the hallway with Doug and Uriah and then with Rick Allen. Quite the raconteur he is.

Great crowd in Belfast, actually the loudest crowd so far. I went up into the roof of the building tonight on to the catwalks. This mindless act of photographic determination almost caused me a couple of involuntary bowel movements as the walkways are metal grills that you can see right through! Right through to the crowd and stage a hundred feet below. The poor bloke guiding me up there has to do his best not to laugh at my spasmodic stumbling and baby steps as I hold the railings and attempt to shoot with two cameras around my neck. If you're looking to sweat off a few pounds quickly then this is the way!

Late leaving the venue and getting to the hotel.... Crash on the bed tired and thankful that I didn't yakk up on the Balmy Belfast crowd below.



Pics of Ash Working : Photo Credits to JAYNIE (Thanks!)