Jagger's Jukebox

I was listening to Sir Michael in conversation with Paul Sexton yesterday.

Mick was talking about the music that had influenced him and forged the Stones unique sound.

It was brilliant. There was everything from The Staple Singers, Toots and the Maytals, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Credence Clearwater Revival, Peter Tosh, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, Ray Davies, Sly & The Family Stone, Eric Clapton Donny Hathaway and Peggy Lee.

No wonder they are the greatest rock and roll band on the planet.

But then I would say that.

Tattoo You.

Not to be confused with the brilliant Tattoo You, written up by some halfwit as the "last great" album by the Stones. It has the masterpiece "Slave" on it, have a listen.

Who are these people?

On Saturday night, I was doing event photography at a mega Christmas party at the Radisson Blu in Glasgow and spotted a couple sporting a startling array of tattoos. I got them to pose for a portrait and no, they had never met before.

I like tattoos as long as they are on other people.

The Arctic Pays A Visit.

I can't remember weather this cold in Glasgow in my lifetime.

The forecast is for -12C tonight.

What Was I Doing?

Over the years, I have been on and off the ciggies many times and finally managed to give them up totally over five years ago.

I was listening to my old pal Tom's radio show the other day and he was talking about those wall mounted ash trays outside pubs and restaurants that have sprung up since the smoking ban. He was describing in graphic detail one that had been overflowing
and had horrible black icicles hanging down, it sounded disgusting. I then spotted this bin with frozen dog ends stuck to the top.

I often wonder what I was doing.

Hattie.

I was at the Bafta screening of Hattie by Stephen Russell last Sunday. It is the true story about Hattie Jacques secret affair with a younger man in the sixties while she was married to John Le Mesurier.

Hattie is played by Ruth Jones and her young lover, John Schofield, is played by Aiden Turner.

I remember Hattie Jacques well from the classic Carry On films and working with the likes of Eric Sykes and Norman Wisdom.

We were invited to the newly refurbished and luxurious Blythswood Hotel after where I managed to get a couple of portrait shots of Ruth and Aiden.

It was a lot more risque than you may imagine.