I’ve just looked up at the little clock at the top corner of my screen. It’s 3:40am. Bed calls but the blog is calling much louder. The reason being is that just a few short hours ago I was starring down the barrel of my lens trying to set my sights on one of music’s biggest stars. Axl Rose. For this was my very first gig for MCD and Guns N’ Roses were blowing the roof of the Odyssey Arena in Belfast.
The brief was short and sweet. We meet at 8. Get our passes. Then wait until around 9 where we’d (the photographers covering the gig) then be brought into the photographers stand and get ready for action. We’d be allowed to shoot for the first 3 songs with no flash and that was that.
While waiting, I stood in complete awe and wonder. Resisting the urge to pinch myself. I knew they’d be late on stage but I really never noticed that they were keeping people waiting as long as they did (around 40-45 mins). I was too busy looking around me, trying to check my twitter, reading emails from my friends wishing me luck to be worried about the promptness of the band.
We were pretty far back. Taking our places just either side of the mixing desk which was about 3 quarters of the way back on the main floor. Telephoto lenses where the order of the day. Shame I didn’t have one with me! Apart from a couple of shots with the wide angle (above) my 135mm was firmly fixed to the camera. I knew that all I could do was try to be as artistic as possible with the shots as there was no way I could compete for shots of Axl with the guys beside me and their 400mm lenses.
When they did hit the stage, the place went ballistic. Plastic pints getting fired around the place, fists in the air, an array of tiny screens from mobile phones and cameras shone like mini torches. People where going absolutely crazy! It was awesome!
Three songs is not a long time. Opening with Chinese Democracy then straight onto Welcome to the Jungle (which resulted in the more craziness x100) and then It’s So Easy. As the song ended I felt the tap on the shoulder and that was that. Time to put the cameras away. I have never had such a buzz photographing anything – sorry brides but I’m sure you’ll understand 
MCD – I hope I did you guys justice. Thank you!
Click on any of the images below to open the slideshow for larger versions and a few extra photos.
Roll on the next gig and this time, I’m going to bring a bigger lens!
Bridezilla
A sneaky kiss under the stairs
The missing ring
Mum gives Barbara and her father some last minute advice on how to walk down the aisle.
“Are you guys up for something quirky?”
Windsor knot? The four armed knot is where it’s at.
Mammy’s boy.
