From the Beatles to Bowie

There is a great photographic exhibition running at the National Portrait Gallery until the middle of January, called From the Beatles to Bowie.

I headed along last night with 2 friends... I can't remember the last time we laughed quite so hard. There were so many reasons that I'll have to take each one separately.

Firstly.... the tour guide..

We landed in just as a guide was taking a group around the exhibition. I'm a fan of guides and regularly hover at the back of the crowd. Didn't take me long to work out that this wasn't going to be one of those times... She was an American... not a sin in itself but it the American accent does have a tendacy to carry... and it did, all over the gallery. It shouldn't have been a problem except that she was the most clueless guide ever... The band, members and photographer were clearly labeled to the left of each picture but that didn't seem to help her. She stood in front of an early photo of the Rolling Stones and stumbled thro the members... its not like they are a one hit wonder... We fell about the place laughing as she gestured at the photo and said "eh, mmm,..yes.. he was in the band too..." The he she was referring to was Bill Wyman.. a bit of research wouldn't have gone a miss. She wasn't a staff member cos she wasn't in uniform so I've no idea where they got her but I only hope the crowd following her weren't paying... time to demand a refund if they were. The other thing that bothered me was her attempt to be edgy in the startorial stakes. I'm all for not following the herd but that usually requires that you have some sense of yourself and what you like. The poor cow followed the herd right to the doors of All Saints. Nothing edgy about replicating a All Saints mannequin.

The One Hit Wonders

Well maybe they had more success than that but they certainly didn't trouble the Beatles, Stones etc for longevity and lasting fame. These are the days before Photoshop, Celebrity Styling and most importantly a marketing budget. There was one picture, think it was the Trogs and it was a shrine to the Christmas jumper... the most evil exhibitions of knitwear and worn without any sense of irony. I have no idea how they got talked into it... and they weren't the only ones. Seemingly Scott Walker was a sex symbol, I couldn't see it myself but I must say he was cast into sharp and happy relief by his band mate who's hair channelled the lego people.

The Music Press

Each section of the exhibition had cases with samples of the music press coverage, album artwork and promotional material. All opportunities for the hapless bands to further embarrass themselves with daft poses and even dafter clothing choices.

There were some fantastic photos that I would love to have been able to purchase a copy of... unfortunately the copyright on the really great ones didn't belong the the Gallery so the exhibition shop didn't have the ones I wanted. My fav, the Beatles in about 1963, looking thro a beautiful red door that's slightly ajar.

hugs