The turkey has been stuffed and so have we – with lots of lovely food and drink that is – and now we’re squaring up to January and saying: “Bring it on pal!”
Well, if you can’t quite face it all just yet, grab yourself a coffee and take a moment to look at my new podcast series CATtales being broadcast on Deep Red Radio, a new on-demand radio service that has just launched. (more…)
Much of the country may have been looking forward to the release of 50 Shades of Grey, but it’s 50Folk that’s exciting me!
As a journalist of…huh-hum…a good few years, it is often hard to get excited about new writing projects, but I was thrilled to be asked to compile the introduction for a limited edition book, 50Folk, and give my take on its author, iconic rock photographer, Nick Elliott. (more…)
I saw a post on Facebook recently by a friend who had met the motorcycle champion-come-rock star, James Toseland, one of the celebrities I’d had the pleasure of working with last year. She was over the moon at meeting him at one of his gigs and having the opportunity to post a picture of her with him on her social works, as you can imagine.
It reminded me now lucky I am to move in professional circles that often bring me into contact with celebrities, like James, regularly and how easy it is to take it all for granted. Sure, the people I meet are not all wonderful…they are just human beings like you and I…but to those who are not lucky enough to meet the rich and famous regularly then it can be somewhat of a novelty and, maybe even, a lifetime’s ambition fulfilled. (more…)
If you’re a regular visitor to my site, you’ll no doubt be aware that I had an amazingly busy Summer working with my clients The Marmalade and rock photographer Nick Elliott on an incredible project.
I’ve also written, recently, about my thoughts on digital media and the increasing complexity of the role of Public Relations.
The digital revolution has a lot to answer for.
If the world of the PR specialist wasn’t already complicated enough with off and online content generation, media relations, event and project management, sponsorship and crisis management, digital media has made it a whole lot more demanding. (more…)
Since the rise in popularity of digital recordings, vinyl has been considered by many to be just a quaint relic from the past, a remnant of a by-gone era when the music industry was vibrant and record sales were in their millions.
Yes, there may have been some who clutched their PVC memories to their chests in a gesture of shear defiance but no-one can deny that the golden age of the 12″, 10″, and 7″ vinyl as the preferred method of recording music is now just a distant memory.
Vinyl enthusiasts, however, have ensured that this well-loved medium has not been totally relegated to the history books with the UK and US even seeing a vinyl revival in the last seven years or so and a new generation of music buyers now enjoying the unique audible experience.
There was a time when there was no choice other than a pen and paper to record the details of an interview in a journalistic situation. The nuances and specifics of the exact conversation were at risk of inaccurate recording or mis-interpretation.
The welcome arrival of the analogue tape recorder brought accuracy and clarity for the written transcription of the interview but the reproduction of audio was a still out of reach in the general office. (more…)
Over the course of the year, my thirst for creativity has been well and truly quenched with the production of a series of videos, The Collections, from iconic rock photographer, Nick Elliott.
It has been nothing short of a marketers dream to have been involved in, not one but four, fabulous videos which showcase a selection of Nick’s wonderful images against a backdrop of original music. (more…)
I found myself in a North Norfolk pub a couple of weeks ago.
I confess that there is nothing strange about that, in itself, but what followed filled me with surprise and bewilderment.
I was participating in a photoshoot with rock photographer Nick Elliott and Scottish hit makers The Marmalade when poor weather stopped play and forced us to take refuge in the rural drinking establishment.
I count myself very lucky.
Over the years I have been fortunate enough to meet and work with a lot of well-known, and not-so well-known, people through the course of my photo-journalistic and PR work and have enjoyed every minute of it.
I recently put together a snap-book for one of my PR clients capturing his exploits through the ages and thought it would be really nice to document my own journey in images. (more…)
One of the greatest things about working in communications is when you are involved in a project that really excites your creativity.
Recently, I’ve been managing the production of a series of new promotional videos, licensing images and music as well as discussing concepts and editing ideas.
Entitled The Collections, the videos showcase a selection of my client, rock photographer Nick Elliott’s, wonderful images against a backdrop of original music courtesy of some specially invited artists. (more…)
Recently, a television documentary was aired in which Pamela Stevenson interviewed celebrities about the negative effects of fame and how it influenced the way they treated others.
It made me think.
As readers of my previous blogs may be aware, I’ve been around the world of celebrity for many years in my role as a music PR and journalist and, as such, have been introduced to many musicians at various stages of their career and enjoying differing degrees of fame. (more…)
Last night I was reminded about the richness of my life.
As a PR who represents a client working in the heady world of rock ‘n’ roll and as a photo-journalist writing for music publications, I find myself often in the very privileged position of gaining access to areas of the music industry where angels may fear to tread.
Over the last decade, I’ve rubbed shoulders with famous musicians, interviewed dozens of artists and photographed and enjoyed hundreds of live performances. So, when I went along to Norwich’s UEA to cover the first night of an international tour for rockers Black Stone Cherry and Rival Sons, it was business as usual.
Januarys are pretty unattractive.
At least, they usually are. Post-Christmas blues, gloomy cold weather and to make it worse, I’ve been keeping off the alcohol all month in an attempt to do a ‘dry January’.
But this year, there has been a little shot of excitement with the management of a shoot for rock photographer Nick Elliott on location with classic rockers Thin Lizzy. (more…)
