Category Archives: Festivals

Linkin Park?

Posted on by
3

I have nothing to say, Here be pictures – Linkin Park @ Sonisphere 2009

Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California, formed in 1996. Since their formation, the band has sold more than 50 million albums and won two Grammy Awards. It achieved mainstream success with its debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005. Its following studio album, Meteora, continued the band’s success, topping the Billboard 200’s album charts in 2003, and was followed by extensive touring and charity work around the world. In 2003, MTV2 named Linkin Park the sixth greatest band of the music video era and the third best of the new millennium behind Oasis and Coldplay.

Having adapted the nu metal and rap rock genres to a radio-friendly yet densely-layered style in Hybrid Theory and Meteora, the band explored other genres in their next studio album, Minutes to Midnight. The album topped the Billboard charts and had the third best debut week of any album that year. They have also collaborated with several other artists, most notably with rapper Jay-Z in their mashup album Collision Course, and many others on Reanimation.

Linkin Park

Linkin Park

Linkin Park - Brad Delson

Linkin Park - Brad Delson

The steamy shadow of Chester Bennington

The steamy shadow of Chester Bennington

Pull the trigger - Chester Bennington of Linkin Park

Pull the trigger - Chester Bennington of Linkin Park

Chester Bennington of the loud'ish Linkin Park

Chester Bennington of the loud'ish Linkin Park

Actually, you know what, I do have a few things to say… I emailed a woman who I’m a bit scared of today… I’m after Pearl Jam accreditation for any / either of the London shows, I’m a fan and a photographer and I have a commission for a UK based magazine OR I can shoot for press – you choose… I’ve had a reply, just one, it said “We’re full, but Sue will sort you out” I’m not sure what that means, but I hope it’s painless… I’ve been a fan since they became Pearl jam, and indipendantly I’ve been a fan of individuals since before hand… Anyway, we’ll see…

I was offered a photography pass for V Festival and have kindly declined – I need to spend some time working on my magazine relatioships and working out how to “get to market” I know I won’t be able to photograph “Killers” and I am not interested in photographing Oasis… (Unless their security manager apologises for being a complete twat in Spain)

Turned out that the 100-400 was the perfect length for the big festival stages, so I’m happy with that. The Canon L 100-400 is a great lens, really beautiful light rendering… The color it creates is stunning.

I’m starting work on a photography book, High level ramblings at this stage, something to do with music photography, how to get into it, what it’s like, experiences and so on… So – that’s another reason why I’m spending a bit more time writing and a little less time filling my hard drive with photos (Though, I have a few gigs booked)

A mate of mine (Who shall remain nameless) had a porn shoot last night… 100 images, £400 – Why can’t I get £50 for 100 of my music images?!…

Sime

NiN | Sonisphere 2009

Posted on by
6

If I was asked, and I wouldn’t be asked, what I honestly thought of the Nine Inch Nails performance on Sunday at the 2009 Sonisphere Festival, this is what I would say…

“Trent Reznor, lead singer of prolific band Nine Inch Nails wasn’t his usual self on Sunday. He appeared to be giving it everything he had left in his being, pouring what was left into the microphone in one last feeble attempt to please the pathetic, yelling fans that have stuck with NiN for so long. Reviews of the performance are calling it “Soft” and others sighting that “NiN really didn’t deserve to be there” …So, they had a bad day? there were clearly issues and hell, I salute Trent and NiN for the performance they put on and for the years of amazing music that they’ve given us… And if you don’t like it, you can bugger right off” – Sime | http://gtvone.com

Trent Reznor | Nine Inch Nails

Trent Reznor | Nine Inch Nails

I am only accredited to use this photo for the commission that I had and for this, my portfolio. Please, for the love of all things holy, do NOT steal this image as it is © 2009 Simon Pollock and NOT for you to post on your blogs or your facebooks without PRIOR permission… (I’m not normally like this, but if you steal it and use it and I get banned from shooting, I will have you killed… honest)

Sime

Metallica @ Sonisphere 2009

Posted on by
2

To share is a good thing…This is Metallica setting Sonisphere 2009 alight…

James Hetfield of metallica

James Hetfield of metallica

James and Kirk of Metallica

James and Kirk of Metallica

James Hetfield gives me "eye time"

James Hetfield gives me "eye time"

All images in this post, and on this blog (Unless otherwise noted) are © 2009 Simon Pollock All rights reserved – not to be used in any way without prior permission.

Watch a metallica special after you get one of the satellite hd receivers with great dish signal strength at InternetLion.com, home of the bestdish deals!

That Photo Pass…

Posted on by
1

I love my photo pass stickers… But my favourite one came this weekend in the form of Metallica… They had seperate accreditation for the weekend at Sonisphere (As did NiN and Linkin Park) well, here’s my metallica one, it’s awesomely large…

Metallica @ Sonisphere

Metallica @ Sonisphere

Sundae on the common

Posted on by
3

Ben & Jerry’s always put on a nice festival – and this year was no exception. With great food, good music and a whole host of activities for the kids, the festival was sure to be a crowd pleaser.. The nice people at CAKE sent me out a press pass and so, I went along to shoot me some bands – my highlight being The Human League (Showing my age?) What do you mean you “DON’T KNOW WHO THE HUMAN LEAGUE ARE”… here, get informed – The Human League are an English synthpop band. Formed in Sheffield in 1977, they achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s. They have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.

The Brute Chorus

The Brute Chorus


Originally an avant-garde all male synthesizer-based group from Sheffield, the only constant band member since 1977 is vocalist and songwriter Philip Oakey. Since 1987, the band has essentially been a trio of Oakey and long-serving female vocalists Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley (who joined the band in 1980), with various additional musicians. The Human League have influenced many electro-pop, other synthpop, and mainstream acts including Madonna, Moby and Little Boots. They have been sampled and covered by various artists including YMO, Ministry of Sound, Craig David, George Michael and Robbie Williams.

Since 1978, they have released nine studio albums, twenty six singles (including 8 UK top 10 singles with 2 number one singles in the US/UK) and played over 350 live concerts. The Human League have sold an estimated 20 million records worldwide.

Philip and Jo on stage at the 2009 “Sundae on the common” festival

The Human League

The Human League

The were ably supported by “The Brute Chorus” (above) and “Camera Obscura” (below) amongst many others…

Carey Lander - Camera Obscura

Carey Lander - Camera Obscura

Much toooo much ice cream was consumed, waddled home on the bus…

See you next year, cows!

Sonisphere – Knebworth 2009

Posted on by
1
Franz Ferdinand, Benicassim 2009

Franz Ferdinand

I am having a pretty darn exciting day, firstly my work (day job) website has gone live… So if you’re a sports fan and want some cool content, sign up to the RSS feed or indeed the newsletter at http://www.worldsport.tv BUT further to that, I’ve had a confirmation for Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth… This is a Rock festival that runs over two days in country England and has the most amazing line-up! Check it out below…
Sonisphere_Full_Line_Up_2009_Knebworth

I am in the midst of sifting through the Benicassim 2009 festival images for MTV and hope to have a gallery up before the end of the week, I will drop a link for you all to see the main bands that I was able to photograph, meanwhile, you can see some crowd shots here – http://gtvone.com/benicassim-2009/

Must run, have to drop Kev’s lens back to him and it’s GO LIVE day…!!

Killers play Benicassim!…

Posted on by
1
For Jilly

For Jilly

And this is as close as it looks that I’ll get to them! – Tonight on Verde, the main stage at Benicassim we have Catpeople followed by White Lies (At which stage I will be lifted up into the air in a cherry picker to great heights!) then at 22:30 (note the revised time!!) Psychedelic Furs (Exciting!) followed by the killers (Sob!) then Rinocerose… All in all promises to be a good evening!… Anyway, as I won’t get to shoot the Killers, I’ve popped a photo from as close as I’ll get below… More to come throughout the evening!

The Killers!.. roadcase..

The Killers!.. roadcase..

Franz Ferdinand | Benicassim 2009

Posted on by
1

Franz Ferdinand played to a packed stage one at the 2009 Benicassim festival. I’ve got to admit, I’m not really a fan… But you know, they’re OK… I’d like to take this opportunity to say Benicassim 2009 had some of the worst lighting I’ve seen (And I’ve seen some horror stories!!) and some really keen security. Like, kick your head in security and I plan to do something about that… (The thugs, not the lights)

Anyway, on with our scheduled story…

Franz Ferdinand | Benicassim 2009

Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand

Continue reading “Franz Ferdinand | Benicassim 2009” »