The Rolling Stones last night at Sydney's Allphones Arena.
It was such a thrill to finally shoot this band.
WAY back in 1995 I was a 15 year old and my first job was selling ice creams at big events at the Sydney Cricket Ground or Football Stadium. I carried a tray which held a chunk of dry ice and about 30 magnums and cornettos, and I'd wander the aisles selling them to punters.
It was mostly football and cricket matches, but in '95 The Rolling Stones came to town on their Voodoo Lounge tour, playing at the SCG, and I got the ice cream shift on it.
A vivid memory I have is realising that because I was staff, selling these ice creams allowed me to walk pretty much wherever I wanted.
So several songs in I waved my way past security, to the expensive front section right at the foot of the stage. For about 5 songs I stopped spruiking ice creams and lost track of time, just soaking it all in, the showmanship of the band, the bombast of the staging.
Then a security guard tapped me on the shoulder "Hey mate, don't you think it's about time you got back to work?"
I thought, "Can't you see i'm having a MOMENT here!", and quietly returned to make the motions of selling ice creams.
That thrill of being so close to a massive rock concert was etched into me. I didn't realise how I'd do it, but I wanted to experience that again, and again.
It took over 10 more years to figure out photography was my ticket into that world, and that's largely why I started shooting shows. More for the excitement of being so close to my favourite musicians than a lofty appreciation of the photographic arts.
So I think that's why last night was quite special to me, not just because the Stones are one of the greatest bands of all time, but because it felt like i'd come full circle and realised a childhood dream.
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