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Sunday Times
Another priceless assignment a story about Northern soul The Wigan Casino specifically with one of my favourite writers on the magazine at that time Gordon Burn. ‘Keep the Faith’ was the manifesto here r&b lovers and muli racial dancing all weekend early 70s . Id been a mod on the early 60’s pilled up all nights at the Flamingo club, Scene club and whiskey a go go in London’s Soho.
So when we walked in this loud garish scene I was quite at home, this girl is so of the night and time look at the eyes … yes that’s amphetamine, orange in a coke bottle, look at the clothes’, her hair the school chair the tacky flock wallpaper This is a copy most of these Wigan casino images were lost in the arson attack on my studio in the 90’s, but whilst not being an original I so pleased I still have these copies. Love this photo, this whole story was shot on Nikon F3 35 mm Kodachrome transparency film mainly 24.28 and 35mm lens, my assistant was Geaoge Taylor who I have not seen for years, he carried my trusty Norman flash light hand held no tripods it wasfaster in a very fluid shooting situation half way thru the night I had lost my voice … I had been scream at people all night to be heard above the music I was quite disorientating pitch dark lit only by ultra violet disco lights, loud loud music and every now and again my flash popping of freezing everyone in the darkness out side and young guys were still dancing bare chested in the falling snow we arrived at Wigan railway station about 5am post amphetamine and totally dehydrated and collapsed.
I still have my Keep the Faith badge.