Debbie Harry - Commodore Ballroom  - January 2, 1979

Les Wiseman - 1989

My friend Les Wiseman started a monthly rock column for Vancouver Magazine in the late 70s. I was his photographic associate and I had to learn lots from him. A few years before I thought that Alice Cooper was some woman singer. In short I knew nothing.

In short order Les Wiseman had many followers. For one, he was a good writer, and best of all, a good music critic has to be a snob. He disdained run of the mill rock bands and preferred the ones that were a tad edgy like the New York Dolls or Motorhead.

He was adamant that if I did not like Lou Reed I was going to be disassociated from him. And so Caroline Says became one my favourite rock songs.

By the early 80s we both knew that taking photographs of singers at the Commodore from the front stage and being forced to take microphone photographs was a no go. Fortunately there was an all-powerful record rep (first CBC and then Sony) called Dave Chesney who knew the value of Wiseman’s In One Ear so we were given access to back stage or hotel interviews and I was able to shoot my pictures at the interviews (with no mike!)

Today feeling a bit of melancholy slightly alleviated by the presence of my cats Niño and Niña I decided to go down to my oficina and randomly look at some files.

I had completely forgotten that I had photographed Debbie Harry with her band Blondie (but one stage). I managed to take this photograph of her without her mike. It does not stand out in my books. I don’t even think that anybody will call me and say, “Alex you photographed Debbie Harry!”

In this century without magazines or real newspapers, and with Dave Chesney a White Rock Councillor ( a very good one) all I can look forward to is that Chesney, a widower is getting re-married on August 9th. I will take some pictures. Are there back stages in churches or will the judge be behind a microphone?