Babylon Wales: Chalkie Davies

[Chalkperson]

http://babylonwales.blogspot.com/2010/1 ... avies.html

This is too bizarre for words, this guy knows all about me, my anonymity is gone, up till now all you got on the Internet was this one reference that was factually incorrect, although quite flattering...he thinks I should be on Welsh Stamps...

http://music.msn.com/music/artist-biogr ... ie-davies/

[Werner]

Nice to meeet you, Chalkie. And there's more to you, as we can tell from the knowledge and sophistication of your musical posts, and your presence on this site. Not to mention the potential we still don't know.

I repeat myself - nice to meet you, good to have you on board. Keep up the good work!

[Seán]

I am in agreement with Werner, it is a real pleasure to have you here Chalkie, is this one of yours?

[karlhenning]

Quite the head-banger, she!

Cheers,
~Karl

[Fergus]

Wow Chalkie, famous at last

[HoustonDavid]

Chalkie has left clues about his "famous" side in his many postings and thread
responses, but this kind of put specifics to the clues. Sorry you've lost your
"anonymity" good friend, but most of us here knew at least a little about some
of your younger escapades and more famous enterprises. Thank you for sharing
the details. Can't quite see you on a stamp, though.

[slofstra]

In the year 2525, British Post is please to announce #73 in a series of stamps commemorating leading lights of the 20th century. Featuring Chalkie Davies on the 1p stamp, and Simon Rattle on the 2p.

[Donaldopato]

In the year 2525, British Post is please to announce #73 in a series of stamps commemorating leading lights of the 20th century. Featuring Chalkie Davies on the 1p stamp, and Simon Rattle on the 2p.

I can only hope I am around to see that! And you know he would moan the fact that Rattle's stamp is worth more.

[slofstra]

In the year 2525, British Post is please to announce #73 in a series of stamps commemorating leading lights of the 20th century. Featuring Chalkie Davies on the 1p stamp, and Simon Rattle on the 2p.

I can only hope I am around to see that! And you know he would moan the fact that Rattle's stamp is worth more.

Somehow I don't think you will be, unless your last name is Zager.

[Chalkperson]

Chalkie has left clues about his "famous" side in his many postings and thread
responses, but this kind of put specifics to the clues. Sorry you've lost your
"anonymity" good friend, but most of us here knew at least a little about some
of your younger escapades and more famous enterprises. Thank you for sharing
the details. Can't quite see you on a stamp, though.

I follow the same path as Stanley Kubrick, the Photos should speak for themselves, I am merely the conduit for those images, the only interview I ever did was with the Western Mail, the Welsh National Newspaper 30 years ago, I knew there was a chance that it may get on the internet one day, the Blogger and I have been in contact today actually, I have turned down every request for these images from the 70's and 80's for nearly forty years, but, Wales asking is something quite different, I will agree to do whatever they want, even though it means going on TV etc, but, I will still refuse the offers to take my picture, I think it's pretty cool to pull that trick off, Stanley never had a single posed picture taken of himself, of course there are images of him at work on his movies, when asked who I would like to photograph, given that I had done almost everyone I admired, I always said Stanley Kubrick, when putting out my book I approached him via his daughter Vivian who I knew because she wanted to follow up her Documentary on The Shining with one on my friends in the band Squeeze, he refused so graciously, he would proud of me for sticking to my/our policy, I think...like Stanley I hated being famous, having people ask for your autograph at 24 years old just because you take pictures of Rock Stars is crazy, and, whenever I was introduced to people, as soon as the word Chalkie came up the reaction was always the same "you are that famous photographer", it meant the conversation immediately became about me and my clients, people would ask things like "Did you really meet David Bowie", I never gave the answer but in my mind I always wanted to reply "No, he just happened to be standing in front of a piece of white paper, with his stage clothes on and fully made up and I just walked past with my camera", so, I gave up Rock and Roll when my dear friend and housemate Phil Lynott died, by that time I had lost about 16 friends, when Keith Moon died I told Pete Townshend that maybe we should just accept that Keith had run out of life, he liked that idea, so that's how I tried to see my departed friends...rather than risk running out of my own life I came to America and moved into a different kind of photography, the reason I say my cover is blown is because none of my clients have a clue about who I used to be, Welsh people are Mad by definition, so any of my idiocyncracies can be put down to that, especially the oddball list of likes and dislikes that I air here every week or so...CMG are my friends and family, I could never ask for anything more than that, you guys are awesome, thank you for your kindness and friendship...

PS, it's not me they want for a stamp, it's my Photos, not sure about it now, but, in the past you could only put dead people on stamps, can you imagine how cool a Sid Vicious stamp would be...

[Prometheus]

Thanks for sharing, Chalkie!

[HoustonDavid]

Chalkie, is the book of your photographs still in print - and for sale - and are you
planning to publish another collection of your photographs?

[Chalkperson]

Chalkie, is the book of your photographs still in print - and for sale - and are you
planning to publish another collection of your photographs?

Should be some for sale cheap on Amazon, Townshend published it on Eel Pie Books, I told him i'd only do it if there was a guarantee that I did not have to do another, they consume your time up so badly...if I were to it, i'd not do a conventional book, i'd do it as an App for the iPad, i'm in the Apple Development Program...i'm already working on a Design Photography App Book...

[Seán]

In the year 2525, British Post is please to announce #73 in a series of stamps commemorating leading lights of the 20th century. Featuring Chalkie Davies on the 1p stamp, and Simon Rattle on the 2p.

or
Featuring Chalkie Davies on the 1p stamp, and Simon Rattle on reverse so that you'll have to lick SSRattle to put our dear Chalkie on the letter.

[Seán]

Chalkie has left clues about his "famous" side in his many postings and thread
responses, but this kind of put specifics to the clues. Sorry you've lost your
"anonymity" good friend, but most of us here knew at least a little about some
of your younger escapades and more famous enterprises. Thank you for sharing
the details. Can't quite see you on a stamp, though.

I follow the same path as Stanley Kubrick, the Photos should speak for themselves, I am merely the conduit for those images, the only interview I ever did was with the Western Mail, the Welsh National Newspaper 30 years ago, I knew there was a chance that it may get on the internet one day, the Blogger and I have been in contact today actually, I have turned down every request for these images from the 70's and 80's for nearly forty years, but, Wales asking is something quite different, I will agree to do whatever they want, even though it means going on TV etc, but, I will still refuse the offers to take my picture, I think it's pretty cool to pull that trick off, Stanley never had a single posed picture taken of himself, of course there are images of him at work on his movies, when asked who I would like to photograph, given that I had done almost everyone I admired, I always said Stanley Kubrick, when putting out my book I approached him via his daughter Vivian who I knew because she wanted to follow up her Documentary on The Shining with one on my friends in the band Squeeze, he refused so graciously, he would proud of me for sticking to my/our policy, I think...like Stanley I hated being famous, having people ask for your autograph at 24 years old just because you take pictures of Rock Stars is crazy, and, whenever I was introduced to people, as soon as the word Chalkie came up the reaction was always the same "you are that famous photographer", it meant the conversation immediately became about me and my clients, people would ask things like "Did you really meet David Bowie", I never gave the answer but in my mind I always wanted to reply "No, he just happened to be standing in front of a piece of white paper, with his stage clothes on and fully made up and I just walked past with my camera", so, I gave up Rock and Roll when my dear friend and housemate Phil Lynott died, by that time I had lost about 16 friends, when Keith Moon died I told Pete Townshend that maybe we should just accept that Keith had run out of life, he liked that idea, so that's how I tried to see my departed friends...rather than risk running out of my own life I came to America and moved into a different kind of photography, the reason I say my cover is blown is because none of my clients have a clue about who I used to be, Welsh people are Mad by definition, so any of my idiocyncracies can be put down to that, especially the oddball list of likes and dislikes that I air here every week or so...CMG are my friends and family, I could never ask for anything more than that, you guys are awesome, thank you for your kindness and friendship...

PS, it's not me they want for a stamp, it's my Photos, not sure about it now, but, in the past you could only put dead people on stamps, can you imagine how cool a Sid Vicious stamp would be...

I understand where you are coming from Chalkie.

[karlhenning]

. . . Welsh people are Mad by definition, so any of my idiocyncracies can be put down to that, especially the oddball list of likes and dislikes that I air here every week or so. . . .

I know you really prefer Maksim Dmitriyevich to Kirill Petrovich . . . that's a peculiarity we can share, certainly : )

Cheers,
~Karl

[stenka razin]

Chalkie, you never cease to impress and amaze me. You really have the 'it' factor. I sincerely hope that everyone respects your desire for anonymity and lets you lead a well deserved private life, my friend.


Regards,
Mel

[absinthe]

Wow, Chalkie, what a scene you presided over!

I had a terrible crush on Susan Ballion - Her beauty prevailed right though. I have a lovely photo of her, I suppose in her 20s, (without the accoutrements that brought her initial fame, back in the days of Love in a Void and Captain Scarlet). To think you might have been her photographer.

I also had a thing for Viv Albertine of The Slits but she was going out with a Mr Strummer in another of the groups associated with your work!


Alas I was born too late.

Elevating to learn of all this, though! Something sincerely to appreciate.
And yep, you should be on a set of commemoratives!

[Fergus]

I follow the same path as Stanley Kubrick, the Photos should speak for themselves, I am merely the conduit for those images, the only interview I ever did was with the Western Mail, the Welsh National Newspaper 30 years ago, I knew there was a chance that it may get on the internet one day, the Blogger and I have been in contact today actually, I have turned down every request for these images from the 70's and 80's for nearly forty years, but, Wales asking is something quite different, I will agree to do whatever they want, even though it means going on TV etc, but, I will still refuse the offers to take my picture, I think it's pretty cool to pull that trick off, Stanley never had a single posed picture taken of himself, of course there are images of him at work on his movies, when asked who I would like to photograph, given that I had done almost everyone I admired, I always said Stanley Kubrick, when putting out my book I approached him via his daughter Vivian who I knew because she wanted to follow up her Documentary on The Shining with one on my friends in the band Squeeze, he refused so graciously, he would proud of me for sticking to my/our policy, I think...like Stanley I hated being famous, having people ask for your autograph at 24 years old just because you take pictures of Rock Stars is crazy, and, whenever I was introduced to people, as soon as the word Chalkie came up the reaction was always the same "you are that famous photographer", it meant the conversation immediately became about me and my clients, people would ask things like "Did you really meet David Bowie", I never gave the answer but in my mind I always wanted to reply "No, he just happened to be standing in front of a piece of white paper, with his stage clothes on and fully made up and I just walked past with my camera", so, I gave up Rock and Roll when my dear friend and housemate Phil Lynott died, by that time I had lost about 16 friends, when Keith Moon died I told Pete Townshend that maybe we should just accept that Keith had run out of life, he liked that idea, so that's how I tried to see my departed friends...rather than risk running out of my own life I came to America and moved into a different kind of photography, the reason I say my cover is blown is because none of my clients have a clue about who I used to be, Welsh people are Mad by definition, so any of my idiocyncracies can be put down to that, especially the oddball list of likes and dislikes that I air here every week or so...CMG are my friends and family, I could never ask for anything more than that, you guys are awesome, thank you for your kindness and friendship...

PS, it's not me they want for a stamp, it's my Photos, not sure about it now, but, in the past you could only put dead people on stamps, can you imagine how cool a Sid Vicious stamp would be...

What an excellent and indeed eloquent post my friend and methinks that one is being far too modest in respect of ones abilities as I know that it takes just a little more than "point and shoot" to create a good image

[absinthe]

PS, it's not me they want for a stamp, it's my Photos, not sure about it now, but, in the past you could only put dead people on stamps, can you imagine how cool a Sid Vicious stamp would be...

He was certainly the image of his times... no doubt Mr Rotten/Lydon would have expected to be on the next value (stamp). The only problem with Sid Vicious is that he couldn't play - the irony being that's probably why Glen Matlock had to leave, having co-written most of the songs on Never Mind the whatever...

Well, I reckon Siouxsie Sioux should be on the £5 stamp. She may not have 'departed' but the spirit of her age has, more or less. Hopefully you'll have photographed her.

[Donaldopato]

In the year 2525, British Post is please to announce #73 in a series of stamps commemorating leading lights of the 20th century. Featuring Chalkie Davies on the 1p stamp, and Simon Rattle on the 2p.

I can only hope I am around to see that! And you know he would moan the fact that Rattle's stamp is worth more.

Somehow I don't think you will be, unless your last name is Zager.

I read it as 2025 .. yeah, I do not think I will live to see the day.

[Lance]

Anthony Brockway's tribute to the Legendary and Great Chalkie Davies is QUITE a tribute! I was very pleased to read the whole article. I always knew Mr. Davis was a very special and talented man! Twould be nice if our Chalkie WAS on Welsh (and American) stamps!

[Chalkperson]

PS, it's not me they want for a stamp, it's my Photos, not sure about it now, but, in the past you could only put dead people on stamps, can you imagine how cool a Sid Vicious stamp would be...

He was certainly the image of his times... no doubt Mr Rotten/Lydon would have expected to be on the next value (stamp). The only problem with Sid Vicious is that he couldn't play - the irony being that's probably why Glen Matlock had to leave, having co-written most of the songs on Never Mind the whatever...

Well, I reckon Siouxsie Sioux should be on the £5 stamp. She may not have 'departed' but the spirit of her age has, more or less. Hopefully you'll have photographed her.

Glen got thrown out by Malcolm because he said publicly that he liked the Beatles, Siouxie and I stayed apart, Pennie Smith always shot her for the NME, I abstained cos I hated her music and because you should not shoot someone who's music you dislike...

[Chalkperson]

What an excellent and indeed eloquent post my friend and methinks that one is being far too modest in respect of ones abilities as I know that it takes just a little more than "point and shoot" to create a good image

It's actually pretty easy, you just have to know where to put the camera, which lens to use, and where to put the light...there is only one Sun in the Sky, so you only need one light to photograph a human, although sometimes it's a very big light...

[Fergus]

What an excellent and indeed eloquent post my friend and methinks that one is being far too modest in respect of ones abilities as I know that it takes just a little more than "point and shoot" to create a good image

It's actually pretty easy, you just have to know where to put the camera, which lens to use, and where to put the light...there is only one Sun in the Sky, so you only need one light to photograph a human, although sometimes it's a very big light...

I was involved in club photography for many years here in Dublin and I have some friends who are excellent (amateur) photographers both technically and artistically so I know that you are being over modest dear Chalkie (intentionally or not). Greatness in any field is always making the difficult or challanging things seem easy.

[CharmNewton]

Chalkie, you have a gift of capturing warmth in artists who don't generally project that quality. The artists are very much at ease.

I'm curious how you got that picture of Paul McCartney's bass (with its hand-written copy of the program taped to it) in San Francisco in 1966.

John

[absinthe]

Glen got thrown out by Malcolm because he said publicly that he liked the Beatles, Siouxie and I stayed apart, Pennie Smith always shot her for the NME, I abstained cos I hated her music and because you should not shoot someone who's music you dislike...

Shame. Oh well....but... I'm of a slightly different view about not shooting someone whose music I don't like. I've attended a few concerts where I might have done something terrible to a performer.
But you know what it's like these days, they don't even allow you to take a catapult and bag of tomatoes into the Royal Opera House, let alone a Barrett Light 50 paintball gun.

[jbuck919]

At least he didn't divulge your real (Welsh) name. Don't worry, Chalkie, your secret is safe with me. After depositing your check for the meet-up, which did show your real name, I promptly forgot it (trust me, folks, you never heard this one).

[IcedNote]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading that! Thanks for calling some attention to yourself, Chalkhuman.

-G

[Chalkperson]

Chalkie, you have a gift of capturing warmth in artists who don't generally project that quality. The artists are very much at ease.

I'm curious how you got that picture of Paul McCartney's bass (with its hand-written copy of the program taped to it) in San Francisco in 1966.

John

I was touring with Wings in 1979, I was backstage in the Guitar Room at Edinburgh and opened a Flight Case, inside was that Hoffner Bass, it had the Set List from the last Beatles Concert taped to it, I was speechless and took a very quick snap of it, hence the not so great composition, it was during the time that Paul was reluctant to talk about The Beatles so I put it away very quickly...I spoke to someone quite recently who said the list was still taped to the Bass, in 1979 it was insured for One Million Pounds...as for people looking relaxed, most of these people are my friends, that's why they look like that...

The 1966 San Francisco caption refers to the Set at Candlestick Park, not the Photograph...

[Chalkperson]

At least he didn't divulge your real (Welsh) name. Don't worry, Chalkie, your secret is safe with me. After depositing your check for the meet-up, which did show your real name, I promptly forgot it (trust me, folks, you never heard this one).

Actually, i'm named after a beloved Welsh King who lived from 880-950 AD...Google away folks...

[Seán]

At least he didn't divulge your real (Welsh) name. Don't worry, Chalkie, your secret is safe with me. After depositing your check for the meet-up, which did show your real name, I promptly forgot it (trust me, folks, you never heard this one).

Actually, i'm named after a beloved Welsh King who lived from 880-950 AD...Google away folks...

and I'm named after an Irish Chieftain so our american friends have royalty in their midst...........................and politically I'm a REPUBLICAN

[Seán]

Glen got thrown out by Malcolm because he said publicly that he liked the Beatles, Siouxie and I stayed apart, Pennie Smith always shot her for the NME, I abstained cos I hated her music and because you should not shoot someone who's music you dislike...

Shame. Oh well....but... I'm of a slightly different view about not shooting someone whose music I don't like. I've attended a few concerts where I might have done something terrible to a performer.
But you know what it's like these days, they don't even allow you to take a catapult and bag of tomatoes into the Royal Opera House, let alone a Barrett Light 50 paintball gun.

Love it.