Street photography, photo features, travel, protest, seaside, railways, rainy days, London, NYC, Wales and more
A complex of seven sound studios, Maida Vale Studios have been in use by the BBC since the 1930s, but the BBC has recently announced plans to vacate the premises …
In photos: BBC’s historic Maida Vale studios – a look around Studio 4 before it closes forever Read More
This is easily one of the best exhibitions I’ve seen at the Photographers’ Gallery for some time, with plenty of interesting and thought provoking imagery demanding engagement, Taking over several …
Photographers’ Gallery, London: How to Win at Photography: Image-Making as Play – till 25th Sept 2022 Read More
It has to be said that Coventry isn’t one of the prettiest cities in the UK – but you can’t blame the place for that. What was once a beautiful …
Coventry: the good, the bad and the ugly in 55 photos Read More
For the Record: Photography & the Art of the Album Cover celebrates the unique ‘object d’art’ that is the Album Cover and reflects upon its role in shaping and making …
For the Record: Photography & the Art of the Album Cover at the Photographers’ Gallery, London Read More
Rock and rollers were dealt another grim blow yesterday with the news that the famous Crobar in Soho was closing its doors for good due to coronavirus-related issues.
Goodbye to the Crobar, one of the last of the central London rock’n’roll bars Read More
I think it’s fair to say that the Glastonbury festival of fifteen years ago wasn’t one of the best. After a promising sunny start, the site swiftly degraded into a …
Mud, mud, glorious mud! The swampy boglands of Glastonbury Festival in photos, June 2005 Read More
Here’s another glimpse into one of the long and many ‘lean’ years of my music career. This time it’s June 1983, and I can be seen youthfully posing at the …
Failed bands of my past: east London soul/funk hustlers, Apartment Read More
Here’s the story of how the punk revolution changed everything for this Welsh boy living in Cardiff in the 1970s, and how the dreams of rock’n’roll stardom took a blow when …
From the Valleys to the Roxy: Welsh punk rock dreams from the 1970s Read More
It’s a brilliant venue – and one I’ve visited and performed at many times – but The Lexington in Islington is now struggling to stay afloat as the coronavirus lockdown …
North London music venue The Lexington launches crowdfunding campaign Read More
As London heads into an anticipated total lockdown with reports of the army being drafted in by the weekend, there’s only one song to play:
London and the coronavirus crisis: Clampdown by The Clash Read More
Here’s my final selection of photos from my trip to Tokyo a while back. This time I was taking pictures of the architecture, street signs and people plus some scenes …
Tokyo photos: street scenes, signs, architecture, a beer cocktail and the Monochrome Set Read More
Last weekend, I headed up north to Dundee, a Scottish east coast trading port once known as the city of “jute, jam and journalism” and – of course – the …
Dundee photos: Desperate Dan, street scenes, architecture, Tunnock’s and salt shaker seediness Read More
I was up in chilly and wet Glasgow over the weekend playing a show with The Monochrome Set – here’s some photos from my brief stay.
Glasgow photos: rainswept roads, street scenes, urban art and winter sun, Feb 2020 Read More
Tucked away in a Shinjuku alley and up a flight of stairs is the wonderful Gravity rock bar, a diminutive venue which wedges in a fully stocked bar and a …
In photos: the fabulous Gravity Rock bar in Shinjuku, Tokyo Read More
On the weekend, I was back up in one of my favourite UK cities, with the Monochrome Set playing a show at Jimmy’s in Liverpool. Here’s some photos from my …
In photos: A drinking night out in Liverpool – Jimmy’s, The Grapes and the Motel Bar Read More
I was last in Oxford in March last year, and posted up a comprehensive selection of 80 photos showing off the city’s architecture, fog, frozen canal, and church tower views. …
In photos: A quick look around the streets of Oxford, England Read More
Every Sunday afternoon, various rockabilly dance crews in matching outfits gather by the Harajuku entrance of Yoyogi Park to enthusiastically dance to 1950s rock‘n’roll music. Their energy, passion and dedication …
In photos: The wonderful rock and roll dancers in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, Japan Read More
I was back in Paris a few weekends ago, playing a show with The Monochrome Set at the Petit Bain, a floating 45-meter-long floating cultural venue. Here’s some pictures from …
In photos: Paris, street art, architecture and The Monochrome Set Read More
Here’s a short selection of photos taken around central London fifteen years ago, back in October 2004.
London 15 Years Ago: Rain, a Banksy in the street, Le Tigre and Centre Point, October 2004 Read More
I was back up in Bristol playing a show on the weekend, and although my time in the city was brief, I managed to grab some photos on my travels:
Bristol photos: street art, station, gigs, pubs and rain Read More
Fresh from a BBC6 radio session in Maida Vale on Thursday, the Monochrome Set played a sold-out album launch party at the Lexington in Islington, north London. We were launching …
The Monochrome Set and support at the Lexington in Islington, Sat 28th Sept 2019 – photos Read More
The Monochrome Set were back recording in the BBC’s wonderful studios in Maida Vale, west London yesterday. I first visited the studios back in September 2016, where we performed in …
In photos: Another look around the BBC’s Maida Vale studios with The Monochrome Set, Sept 2019 Read More
Last weekend, I was wandering around the Athens Exarchia neighbourhood late at night, enjoying some of the bars and taking in the sights. Here’s some photos from my nocturnal travels:
In photos: Exarchia, Athens at night – street scenes, bars, street art and rooftop views Read More
In March this year, The Monochrome Set embarked on a breakneck USA tour, packing in nine gigs in ten days on both the East and West coasts of America. Merchmeister …
Tour diary – The Monochrome Set on the west coast of the USA Read More
It’s now changed out of all recognition with the legendary 12 Bar Club closing and several music stores moving out due to redevelopment, but this small road in central London …
London 15 years ago: Denmark Street, 12 Bar Club & The Astoria, Soho, London in April 2004 Read More
Last September, The Monochrome Set played the main stage at the BAM Festival in Barcelona and had a brilliant time of it. We were playing in front of thousands of …
In photos: The Monochrome Set at the BAM festival, Barcelona, Sept 2018 Read More
Earlier this month, I was with The Monochrome Set on a whistle-stop tour of the US, taking in no less than nine gigs and three radio sessions on both the …
Dispatches from the Monochrome Set’s USA tour, March 2019 Read More
Here’s a selection of London scenes photographed over a decade ago. Above, you can see the much-missed Astoria Theatre which was cruelly flattened to make way for CrossRail. Read more …
Lost London: photos of The Astoria, 12 Bar Club, Denmark St and street scenes, Nov 2008 Read More
Last weekend, I paid my second visit to Sheffield in recent times and once again failed spectacularly to see anything of what I know is a most excellent city.
A damp and grey day in Sheffield – with high-level flasher, main roads and The Monochrome Set, Feb 2019 Read More
Here’s a selection of photos from a rainy walk around central London on a rainy Saturday afternoon in December.
London pics: Christmas lights, rain, Pixel 3 and a bloke dragging a golden cross, Dec 2018 Read More