Kezia Geddes, the curator of the Lismore Regional Gallery, invited me to attend a talk by Tony Mott about the fascinating stories behind his ‘WHAT A LIFE’ photo exhibition, which is on at the gallery until August 13. Kezia opened the presentation and stated how: “Even though we have all grown up with Tony’s images, he has such an easy way with people.”
You can purchase his book @ www.tonymott.com. I will let Tony take it from here:
Within Sydney’s vibrant music scene a creative passion is spawned!
My real name is Tony Moulds. It was recommended to me by a lady from a record company that I needed to change my name if I wanted success in the industry. I explained that my favourite band was ‘Mott the Hoople’ and she said: “Great, change it to that.” I replied: “What, Tony the Mott the Hoople?” In 2009, Mott the Hoople reformed, and I was completely thrilled. I was hooping so loudly in the pit I was told to keep it down! It’s probably not best to photograph your idols.In the early 80’s, I arrived to Sydney from England as a French Chef. I had live in London and New York, but at the time Sydney was the best place on the planet to see live music. In fact, when The Cure toured in 1981, they stayed for three months and never played the same venue twice! After work, I used to head out on a Friday night to take photos of the Divinyls. I took photos of the Divinyls for three months, trying to catch the moment. No one was judging me. The Divinyls’s manager asked to see the photos and purchased one for $20. Chrissy Amphlett is the best female performer I have ever seen. Not the best artist, but the best performer. She was a screaming banshee, so I feared for my own safety, and that of the crowd. Photographing Chrissy was both a pleasure and pain! My first successful portrait was of Chrissy Amphlett. I took a photo of her in a white dress, and she never forgave me for it, as she wanted to be seen in black.
Rock Stars and their various eccentricities!
Tony Mott took off his hat when stating the following, rustling and spiking up his hair.
The Rolling Stones are a very generous band, possibly because I do a very good Ronnie Wood impersonation. The Rolling Stones employed me as a ‘fly on the wall’ photographer. My first ever Rolling Stone magazine cover photo was of the Rolling Stones on tour in Germany. I have attended sound checks alone with the likes of Elvis Costello. He came down off the stage and apologised to me afterwards! Avril Lavigne is a very nice lady and easy to work alongside. Her mother was her manager at the time, and Avril was only 17! On a shoot a beautiful Russian lady approached me and wanted to chat. Avril’s promoter panicked and rushed us all out of the building, which turned out to be a brothel owned by the record company. Considering Avril’s age, it would not have looked good. I never did the see the Russian lady again.
I was to shoot Perry Farrell who was in Porno for Pyros at the time, and he sat me down asking me if ‘we had trust!’ He then asked me to close my eyes. I did for a while until he again asked me if ‘we had trust’. He then yelled out: “So, we don’t have trust!” He again asked me to close my eyes. I did so, and kept them closed this time, at least until he grabbed hold of my genitals announcing loudly: “Now we have trust!” He suggested we didn’t need lights for an outdoor-shoot in Victoria, as the UFO’s would provide the back lighting! I really believe there could be a possibility he is insane. One of his crew said: “Don’t encourage him, as he really believes this!”
I was doing a photo-shoot in Sydney with Ozzy Osbourne, who I really like, not because of him, but because of Black Sabbath. Anyway, I asked if he minded me opening the curtains to let some light into the dark room. As I opened the curtains slightly Ozzy jumped up excitedly and ripped open the curtains onto a sight which included the Opera House and the Bridge- announcing: “F…. me, look at the view out there!” He had been in the room for three days and hadn’t thought to open the curtains!
I was doing a photo-shoot with Ben Harper in Sydney’s Newtown. I told him one of the old buildings there was an Aboriginal art gallery. He replied: “What a strange place to have an Aboriginal art gallery, here in New Zealand!” I told him that we were in fact in Sydney. He replied: “No, we’re in Auckland!” I explained that he had flown into Sydney that morning. He told me how he had remembered something about the flight! Ben likes a smoke…
Rock stars don’t believe they are eccentric. I asked Bjork to: “Do all your eccentricities for the camera.” She replied: “I’m not eccentric!” She then took off inside, suggesting that the light had to be just right for the shot. She appeared a few times before moving away inside once again, as the light still wasn’t right! When it was, she immediately showed off her eccentricity for the camera, screwing up her face. Only Bjork could make a photo like that work.
I knocked on the door of Nick Cave’s apartment. He answered the door and said: “What do you want?” I replied: I’m Tony Mott.” He replied: “I know who you are, but what do you want?” I explained how the record company had sent me to photograph him, he had no idea I was coming. He announced: “Okay, but I’m not leaving the flat!” He didn’t take off his pyjamas, but he did at least put on a shirt. Later on, the record company stated that they had been trying to get a photo of Nick for the past 10 months, but he wouldn’t have it. If they had told Nick I was coming he would have refused.
I toured with Michael Jackson. He was peculiar to tour with. But he, Prince and Freddy Mercury are best performers I have seen, though the rest of Queen have the charisma of a sardine! I remember Miles Davis sticking up for Prince during a conversation when Prince was being criticised, suggesting: “If Prince had played the trumpet, you wouldn’t even know my name!” I was never a fan of The Smiths, yet when I saw them live, I got it. They are great live, but I found it funny seeing surfer chicks in Brisbane listening to Morrissey singing about his miserable life back in Manchester! Iggy Pop is one of the greatest icons. When I first met him he was miserable. I don’t know what happened in the interim but when I met him next he was great! He has the energy of a 20 year old! He is manic. I was to take photos of him as he came off stage- after smashing up a piano, covered in bruises and blood! I was nervous, yet, as soon as he headed in backstage all wired up, he just switched back to normality, and was ready for the photo!
