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| Johnny Thunders - 1981 |
When I started my Vancouver photographic career in the late70s I immediately was assigned to photograph the celebrities of the time. One of those memorable occasions happened when Wayne Gretzky showed up at the CBC’s Paul Anka variety show. It happened to be his 21st birthday and he had signed a huge million dollar contract that day.
When he faced my camera after taking his photograph I shot a Polaroid and requested he dedicate it to my older daughter Alexandra.
From that point on I worked with many writers from Vancouver Magazine, Western Living, Vancouver Sun, the Globe and Mail and many others. Invariably the writers wanted me to take a snap of them with our subjects. I was never keen on having my photo taken with them. I stayed behind the protection of my camera.
But there was one single occasion where things did not go as planned. I was at Gary Taylor’s Rock Room to photograph the great proto-punk Johnny Thunders. When he faced me he said, “Alex since you are going to take my photograph it is only fair that I take yours.”
I find this one exception very pleasant and I am proud of my Thunders snap.
And even though I had completely forgotten I found three Kodachromes in his files.
