Glasvegas NME Cover shoot Glasgow 16/01/2011
In 2011, after James Allen, lead singer and songwriter of Glasvegas, had been through the gauntlet of stardom and addiction, NME assigned me to shoot the cover story.
The editorial team had asked me to shoot James in a straight jacket. I’m sure we can all agree that this didn’t feel particularly sensitive to James or anyone else suffering from mental health difficulties.
I felt quite uncomfortable presenting this idea to James, as having shot them many times over the previous four years, we were friends. Without even having to explain how I felt, James immediately said no to the idea. So we sat down in the Glaswegian studio and threw some ideas around about what this record represented, and ultimately it was a rebirth, and in this conversation, James quoted Blade Runner.
“I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain. Time to die.
Only James proclaimed that it was “Time to live”.
James said he wanted to write this across my body. That’s the shot.
Off the top of my head, I had to think of a lighting plan that would highlight this statement of intent and have a sci-fi-ish feel to it.
Despite having a whole studio of lights, I fired up the two flashes (Speedlights) I’d brought. I gelled one red and used theatrical foil wrap to mould a gobo, a light shaping tool. And in this instance, one that would give me a beam of light.
Despite myself and James being super happy with the shoot, I was nervous (I was bricking it) about how the team back in the office would feel, having shelved the original idea and winged it.
The reception to the photographs was incredible. Messages and emails came in from several editorial team members praising the shoot and saying it was one of the best covers they’d had for years and years.
