Denis O’Regan has photographed the royalty of rock. Miranda Jessop visits his gallery of greats...
Just across the road from leafy Ravenscourt Park is an unexpected enclave of rock and pop art. Candid photos of David Bowie hang in the window next to iconic shots of Freddie Mercury, Duran Duran and The Rolling Stones: a piquant taster for what’s inside. For this is the brand new gallery of celebrated, Barnes-born photographer Denis O’Regan, whose images capture both the grit and the glamour of rock.
For the young O’Regan, several milestones proved definitive along the road to life behind the lens with the giants of the music scene. When he was 10 years old, he persuaded his mother to take him to Hammersmith Odeon to see The Beatles. And it was also at the Odeon, in 1973, that he watched in awe as David Bowie strode out in the guise of his glam alter ego, Ziggy Stardust.
A year later, he was working in a corner shop in Barnes when two girls alerted him to Bowie’s presence at the Olympic Studios nearby.
“I ran home, got my little camera and took some photos of him outside the studios,” he recalls.
Soon afterwards, Denis went on an Interrail trip around Europe. He returned home determined to combine his three great passions: music, photography and travel.
After a period spent photographing new punk bands, Denis persuaded another snapper to take him on tour with hard rockers Thin Lizzy, in 1978, before talking his way into the role of the official photographer at a Rolling Stones gig. He was then asked to join the Stones on tour.
“It was my first really big tour and I didn’t get to know them that well, as I felt slightly in awe of them,” he admits.
From those acorns, however, arose the coveted oak: an opportunity to work with his hero, David Bowie.
“Ever since that time at Hammersmith, he was the one person I really wanted to work with. The tour accountant for the Stones was putting together a world tour for him. So I put myself forward for it, suggesting that we work on a book together at the same time.”
There followed an unforgettable eight months with Bowie on his Serious Moonlight Tour of 1983.
“After that, I thought that I’d achieved all I wanted. But the younger bands were coming along, like Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet, so I got to know them too and ended up touring with both.”
Then there was Queen.
“I was a huge Freddie Mercury fan, and so to see the master in action was just amazing,” recalls Denis.
Pink Floyd, Neil Diamond, the Bee Gees: the tours just kept on coming. For Denis, however, there was never any doubt as to who was number one.
“Uncle Dave,” he says without hesitation. “I spent so much time with him. I was a huge, huge fan and he was majorly creative – more down-to-earth than I expected too. Great to work with.”
As indeed were Duran Duran.
“We had so much fun, as I was close to them in age and it was all new to them too. They’d never been to America before and it was like ‘Beatlemania’. To be in the middle of all that was incredible.
“Really, it was like one fantastic holiday with your friends. I’ve got a great shot of two of them in the back of a limousine on the way to the airport first thing in the morning. One of them is holding a bottle of beer in one hand and a magic wand in the other. That just about sums it up,” laughs Denis.
Famous for his deceptively relaxed approach and easy-going personality, Denis credits the natural intimacy of his work to the friendships he was able to forge with his subjects.
“The great thing about tours is that you get to know the people you are working with, and they get to know you. Every night you’re in the dressing room taking pictures; you’re always around. In a way, you’re one of the band.”
Over the years, O’Regan’s images have become legendary. When Bowie died, Mick Jagger tweeted a photo of himself and David laughing at dinner, while Madonna tweeted one of herself with David and Billy Idol. Both were by Denis.
His favourite shot? Impossible to choose from so many, he says, though he points out a photo of Queen arriving at Knebworth by helicopter in 1986.
“I came in another helicopter and we flew side by side. There were over 100,000 people below. It was amazing. We didn’t know it at the time, of course, but that was to be the original Queen’s last ever concert.”
Also dear to his heart is a photo of Bowie curled up on a sofa, giggling behind his hand.
“People love it because it shows the true personality inside the rock star.”
Now, for the first time ever, the entire O’Regan archive has been brought together under one roof. A large selection of limited edition prints are for sale at the gallery, where Denis is hosting a series of exclusive events with guest speakers, canapés and gin cocktails.
Fleeting mention of a private strip show backstage at a Queen gig aside, my requests for behind-the-scenes rock ‘n’ roll tales are met simply with a grin. Still living in Barnes and doting father to his 13-year-old son, Denis is happy to put his crazy touring days behind him – though not to put down his camera.
“My favourite place to be is the photo pit at a festival: the band in front of me, 80,000 people behind me having the time of their lives. It really is like the world’s best-ever party.”
Denis O’Regan Gallery is open weekdays 10 am – 5 pm, Sat 12 noon – 6 pm; 271 King Street W6 9QF; denis.uk
