The photographs have all been taken by Denis O’Regan, David Bowie’s friend and favoured photographer throughout the 1980s. The exhibition aptly named ‘David and I’ is Denis O’Regan’s photographic account of travelling the world with David Bowie.
Off Beat Lounge are the organisers of the exhibition with one of the world’s largest collections of rare, limited edition fine art album covers, and music-related art and photography.
For ‘Bowie and I’ Off Beat Lounge are displaying over 40 beautiful photographs of David Bowie at specially adapted Mini car showrooms across the UK. These one night only events, with Denis O’Regan take visitors on a journey with Bowie as ‘the tourist’, ‘the relaxed back stage band leader’ and of course the ‘legendary live performer’.
All photographs were shot as David and Denis toured the world together between 1978 and 1987 and many have never been seen by the public before. During the event Denis even provides a ‘friend’s eye view’ of one of the world’s most famous rock stars and provides an enlightening question and answer session for VIP ticket holders.
During a special interview with The Ocelot’s Gina Akers, Denis O’Regan revealed more about David Bowie and one or two other prolific musical acts. In fact Denis had so many stories and insights that the enthusiastic discussion didn’t feel like an interview at all.
How did this exhibition get off the ground? What did it take to make it happen?
Lots of planning, the idea came about before David passed away. It was about three years ago at an event in France I was with a few other photographers.
I’ve been photographer for Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin and Oasis but I decided to do this event on David, the show (David and I) is based on photos picked for the event I did in France.
What is your best David Bowie memory?
It’s a memorable tiff actually, we were to do a few shows in Japan and should have captured backstage but David was getting mobbed and it didn’t happen, he wasn’t happy.
A few days later he ordered a picnic and hired a car to take us out to a nature reserve, so we went for a picnic for the day. It was the type thing he did when he felt he’d been unfair to someone. David hired the car and actually drove it himself to the nature reserve.
On one occasion Prince decided to throw a party. Prince’s playlist for that night actually became The Black Album, and that playlist was put together as a result of that evening for David.
What was he like to work with?
He could be on his own and mysterious sometimes. I didn’t get on with Co-Co (fans will know who she is), she was very defensive and protective of David, she did his bidding, she was a bit troublesome.
We quite often had no days off. Lots of good photos were taken when it wasn’t work time though, on the odd night or day off, so really there was never a ‘day off’. I started to realise the more offbeat moments I got the more I was getting the real David.
[caption id=“attachment_22975” align=“alignright” width=“363”]
David & Denis[/caption]
I would always shoot on film until the late 90’s, there was no photoshop back then. I’d save up the rolls of film and drop them off for developing the photos. They would then get sent to another place and both David and I would go through them. David always approved the photos and the photos he didn’t think were good weren’t kept. The photos he didn’t like got binned, when David found out he didn’t speak to me for two weeks, over concern that the cleaner or anyone could have found the bad photos!
Offstage pictures were the ones with real value. I could go where ever I liked on the tours, dressing rooms, on stage, wherever.
I’ve worked with The Rolling Stones, Queen, Thin Lizzy, lots of egos!
Once when trying to photograph I got pushed off a stage by a security guard, it resulted in me whacking the security guard and ended up with all the security guards beating me up. I had to get on to the stage to get away from them and run past Mick Jagger with me bleeding from the beating.
Which is your favourite Bowie photo?
The earliest shot I took of him was in Newcastle in 1978. I first saw David Bowie in 1973 as Ziggy Stardust, I loved the mime artist work he was doing and didn’t know that was in rock n’ roll.
There were lots of spontaneous photographs.
My favourite Bowie moments were…the lots of mime on Ziggy Stardust, the worst time was in Leon, the worst city. The best show on a tour was Edinburgh Football Stadium, a cloud of steam rose up from the audience.
Did we get to see the real Bowie or did we just always see the artist?
I thought David would be very private but he actually wanted me to get everything.
David was more into art than anything. He was really nervous at Live Aid, he used to get nervous and edgy before shows.
His name on his passport said David Jones, checking into hotels could be interesting, they had to use pseudo names. Keith Richards would use things like Dr. Ugs and Jack Daniels, I even needed a pseudo name!
Which photograph would you say best captures the real Bowie?
The 1978 one, or the one of David chuckling would, some of the early ones, and the one on the sofa - that’s just David not David Bowie like the live pictures.
If you had one more chance to photograph him again, what would you do? What would you want to capture?
A close up of his face and just capture him.
What are you doing now? What projects are you working on?
Books, a Duran Duran book, Pink Floyd, David and I and David II.
Duran Duran are interesting to photograph, John Taylor from Duran Duran took ecstasy before we did a photoshoot.
What has been the overall highlight of your career?
The moment I knew I was going on tour with David. Rehearsals with him in a giant shed, warehouse. David asked which are my favourite songs at one of the first rehearsals and that moment I thought ‘I can’t believe this is happening’.
If you could photograph anybody who would it be?
Lady Gaga, I’d love to photograph Lady Gaga.
‘David and I’ truly is a unique exhibition experience and has been incredibly well thought out and put together. This is a must go to event for all photographers, music lovers and of course all David Bowie fans.
The exhibition has been so popular additional dates and venues have been added for 2017. Early booking is recommended as tickets for the events have been consistently selling out.
Visit www.offbeatlounge.co.uk/davidandi
