– Street Portrait (for and of Steve Diggle), 2014 –
Wotcha! While I was away from here, I didn’t take many photographs – none for the first week, a few in the second. It’s funny how rusty you get when you’re not practising a craft – it takes days of wandering about achieving very little to get back in the swing of things. At the end of one of those particularly fruitless days I was about to pack the camera away when I spotted Steve Diggle. I loved the way he was dressed and his attitude. Steve was really nice about me taking a few shots. This one’s the first and my favourite. Thanks very much, Steve! Hope you like your picture.
Steve Diggle is the guitarist/ vocalist with Buzzcocks – one of the first punk bands in Manchester, and a role model for the raft of bands that followed (they were also one of the first punk bands to release a record on their own label: New Hormones), as well as introducing the city to the Sex Pistols (who they invited to play at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in 1976).
Incendiary, melodic and lyrically sophisticated, Buzzcocks’ music is an incredibly exciting, inventive take on Punk. Steve co-wrote the band’s Fast Cars, Promises, Lipstick, Why Can’t I Touch It and I Need, and is responsible for the classics Autonomy, Love is Lies and Harmony In My Head amongst others. If you want an introduction to the band, I strongly recommend you buy Singles Going Steady – it’s crammed with punk gems.
Buzzcocks release their ninth album, The Way, in November.
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This post is dedicated to Ashley Lily Scarlett.
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Welcome back Richard – and what a portrait to come back with!
Thanks very much, Alison! Steve was such a gent – I really liked him. Have been listening to Buzzcocks ever since.
We have them on here every three weeks or so, love them
Great hair, great face, great portrait! You came back from your respite even better!
Thanks, Ellen – what a lovely comment. I’ll have to go away more often, ha ha.
Yay! I recognised him straight away! I’ll have Buzzcocks songs on the brain all day now. Autonomy was one of my favourites. Oh, and you dedicated this to me! Thanks, Richard, you’re a treat.I’ve missed your posts and presence but I understand the need to take a break and also how it can be hard to get going again.
All this has made my day and it’s only 6.40am! 🙂
Thanks very much, Ashley! I’m really glad I made your day. 🙂
“Ever fallen in love with someone, ever fallen in love, in love with someone, ever fallen in love, in love with someone you shouldn’t have fallen in love with?”
That’s what’s hopping about in my head right now. 🙂
glad to see great portraits again!
Thanks so much, Inge! Nice to be back.
Welcome back Richard! And immediately a killer to start with!
Thanks very much, Chris!
Excellent.
Thanks very much.
Like he is laughing inside.
Yes, indeed!
Wow! Lovely photograph and what an amazing looking man! Gorgeous! You are so well placed to take photos like this, Richard, with your passion and wide plus esoteric knowledge of music! Just saying … 🙂
🙂 Thanks very much, Gigi! Yes,I have a pretty comprehensive knowledge of certain kinds of music between the end of the Sixties and the end of the Eighties, and a good memory for faces. It’s easy when it’s things you like.
Fascinating subject and story. You are actually making historical statements with these portraits. As well as beautiful art.
I was really pleased to have met Steve and shook his hand (the one that strums). That’s such a nice compliment, Steven, thanks!
“loved the way he was dressed and his attitude….”
me too!! and I like the mouth in the shot –
I like the tone of the photo and all the background info about Steve too!
Thanks very much, Yvette! Yes, it was a great expression.
“Nature abhors a vacuum”… truly an affirmation to pursue portraits & street photography 🙂
🙂 Yes, I guess so.
Oh yes, i thought I recognised this face – great shot, his eyes are speaking for him somehow.. Buzzcocks! Listened almost every day for years but not for a while now..(shuffles off to put them on again and relive angry youth ;))
always great to see you again btw..I havent yet got back into my posting rhythm somehow yet..
Aw, thanks! It’s not easy – don’t think you can force yourself. I’d grown a bit bored of not doing it (but now I’ve got some images I want to post, but can’t think what to write to go with them). I miss your posts, but I sort of think you’ve got to do it in your own time and your own way or it’s not worth doing. Breaks are really good.
Yes I think that’s really true – I want to come back to it when I’ve got a little more of a coherent idea, and something I really want to say..
I love it that you had an angry youth – it’s essential really, isn’t it? Yes, I agree about Steve’s eyes – there’s so much going on there, which is very Buzzcocks.
Wow, what a way to come back! Fantastic portrait Richard, but now I’ll be singing Autonomy for the rest of the day!
Ha, ha, thanks very much, Alex!
…I just noticed I missed the first post after the intermission.
Excellent!
Thanks very much, Rabirius!
Terrific! Again!
Thanks so much, Elena!
«What do I get? No sleep at night!»
Awesome!
Yes, indeed! Brilliant band – on tour in the UK right now.
Fabulous attitude in this great portrait Richard and welcome back!
(I don’t know how people do those 365 day blogs, it would kill me . . . !)
Thanks very much, Patti! (Yes, me too! I need a lie down whenever I think about it).
And he’s back in the room! 😀
Great shot Richard, a very honest portrait. I admit, I recognised the face, but not the man (if that makes any sense?!).
🙂 Thanks very much, Richard! Yes, totally.
Glad to see your back and great stuff, i love the Buzzcocks
Thanks very much, Leon. Yes, me too. Was listening again at the weekend.
Nice one. Very much a punk legend. Great portrait.
Thanks very much. Yes, indeed – great guitarist and a lot of style.
Focused with a deft hand. Great…
Many thanks! Glad you like it.
I have some catching up to do. I love this portrait of Steve!
Thanks very much, Cheryl. He was great!
Beautiful portrait of Steve Diggle.
Alive and kickin’. I’m a big fan.
In the same vein, I posted this one staring Devo, a few days ago.
Love the picture – thanks very much, Jean.