Hitting some more big names with PUMA, enjoying huge press coverage with it all of over Europe too. Prior to the shoot we were kindly treated to some hospitality at the Dortmund vs Schalke darby - a bloody huge local rivalry with the most astonishing atmosphere. It was like a banging gig, where Schalke were the Chilli Peppers playing a homecoming show to 78000 of their most extremely dedicated fans. Bloody magic, with currywurst.

Hmm, awkward. To start with anyway. I was offered a baseball cap by these friendly, warm chaps and I said no, as I completely wrongly thought they'd plundered a shop they'd been playing at locally, only to find out it was like THEIR OWN MERCH. Non-music people be warned - THIS IS THE ULTIMATE DISS. Backtracking was futile and I had to wow them with some first rate snapsmanship to get them back on Tommy's track. Which I did. Afterwards, they offered me the cap again and I took it, merrily and not without a little relief. I hate bad vibes.

Deep inside the experience, Peace are properly having it right off currently and I've been assured that wherever they are is exactly where the party is. Right there. Photographed here at some gig in a back garden sort of space and Usher was there. Huh? Yup. Don't ask me, I don't really understand much of this myself.

Chilean cosmic rockers at sunset. All hair and good vibes and sonic atmosphere. Good for when you're feeling wide.

Just astonishingly good. The harmonies had people in tears (in a good way), just so well suited to the chapel. That said, not much has fallen on its arse in there but this was one to remember alright. New material coming soon.

I did fuck this up. A proper shitty situation leading to an experience that could have been managed loads better with some simple communication. Parquet Courts DO NOT POSE FOR PHOTOS. EVER. So don't bother trying. Don't bother flying to Texas to shoot portraits of them, cos they don't do it. Rather reasonably I thought, I understand their position and when you hear their music live (which is really strong and supertight) their values make more sense in some ways but I just think any band that moves beyond playing in their garage, gets signed, gets a publicist, loves free clothes from the nice backstage brand people, is already dancing with the devil and there's little point working hard to fuck up a shoot when there's a hundred more lining up behind me. Read all about it here in Ben Homewood's well written account.

So It's Nice That have featured my newspaper, which is nice. Here's the link - do let me know if you can fathom the caption they wrote. I have very little clue what it refers to but I think it might mean they think it's not that nice.

Speaking with Richard Strange at the 'A Might Big If' event at the HofStB, Brian Cox kept the chapel enthralled with Hollywood tales of a career that's spanned almost 50 years and has taken him a long way from Dundee. The shoot was perfect, a nice soft light in a lovely location with an incredibly gracious actor who responds well to light, like they all do really. It's just these musicians... More events forthcoming at the House, including their members club opening this year. I'm in on that for sure.

While I do find their content quite hit or miss, I still get excited when The FWA Photo Of The Day pick one of mine. An obvious hit. You should try it, go on. It's easy and makes you feel you're out there, cos it can be quite solitary sometimes huh.

New issue out now! Peace are thoroughly decent chaps, very pleasant company plus their music ain't half bad neither. You wouldn't believe the crappy location and sticky carpet environs surrounding this shoot but the ringflash irons out all the rough spots always.