Hugh Cornwell © Greg Gregori

Hi all just came across your awesome web site while researching Reading Rock Festival 1987, I shall explain why later.

I was fortunate enough to be invited along on the Sunday by a very good mate and a close member of Alice Cooper's crew, who not only was kind enough to get me in on a backstage pass but also a press pass to boot!

As a keen amateur photographer the prospect of having full access to the photo pit for the day was the icing on the cake and so arrived ready and armed with my Olympus OM10 camera and five rolls of film.


I made my way to the pit, photo pass hanging from my neck like some magic pendant casting burly security men aside with no questions asked

Whoever thought up of having The Stranglers opening for Alice Cooper in my mind is a bloody genius, I had already seen them live a few times in previous years and have always been a fan. They were never too far away from controversy and trouble, many of their gigs would end up with smashed seats and auditoriums, so they can handle what ever Reading throws at them.

Which brings me nicely to my next recollection, an other plastic bottle comes flying pass high over the mob and lands at the feet of The Stranglers bass player Jean Jacques Burnel, so what does he do?

He takes the screw cap off and has a swig, realises something is not quite right here, spits out the contents and utters a few choice words. Suddenly the penny drops for me, the buggers are filling up the bottles with piss!

Another roll of film taken and The Stranglers will be coming off soon, so time to head back stage for a beer and a burger and if I am lucky, I might get a few shots of Alice arriving.

As I passed down the side of the stage heading towards the rear The Stranglers are coming off.

A huge bloke must be weighing in at 20 stone at least is hurled through the air and rolls down a stage ramp in a heap, a very angry Jean Jacques is pursuing, throwing punches and karate kicks at this man mountain, he may have been a roadie or perhaps security, I never did find out and I am still kicking myself for not being quick enough to take the picture!

Greg Gregori

 

 

Mr Burnel © Greg Gregori