Down In Front
Live Music Photography
When I was younger, I went to gigs with my mates. We’d start at the bar with a beer, and one by one we’d head off towards the stage. “See you down in front,” we’d say, on our way to the mosh pit. If we were meeting at a gig, we’d arrange to meet down in front.
With a camera, down in front is where I work: in the photographers’ pit, between the barrier and the stage.
When I photographed Ghost at Wembley Arena, I got my pictures, left my kit with the venue staff, got a pint and watched the rest of the show from the back. The old routine, the other way round.
I’ve written about some of these nights on my blog: Ghost at Wembley Arena, Babymetal at Brixton Academy, Disturbed at Alexandra Palace and Kiefer Sutherland in Oxford.
Using these photos
If you’re in one of these bands, or work for them, and would like to use a photo, get in touch.
If you’re a band or a promoter and need a photographer at a gig, see my event photography page.
Tap or click any photo to see it full screen.
John Moyer of Disturbed plays bass, with singer David Draiman on the big screen behind him, at Alexandra Palace, 2019
Rachel Bolan of Skid Row plays a glitter bass at the Forum, Kentish Town, 2019
Babymetal raise their hands on stage under red light at Brixton Academy, 2019
Dave "Snake" Sabo of Skid Row smiles as he plays guitar at the Forum, Kentish Town, 2019
David Draiman of Disturbed raises his arm as flames shoot up behind the drum kit at Alexandra Palace, 2019
Arya Goggin of Skindred grins behind his drum kit at Alexandra Palace, 2019
Scotti Hill of Skid Row plays a Les Paul, in black and white, at the Forum, Kentish Town, 2019
Dan Donegan of Disturbed plays a white guitar under red stage light at Alexandra Palace, 2019
Tobias Forge as Cardinal Copia of Ghost sings in a red suit and black gloves at Wembley Arena, 2019
Kiefer Sutherland sings with an acoustic guitar as a spotlight shines towards him at the O2 Academy Oxford, 2020
Abi Phillips of The Adelaides plays acoustic guitar at the O2 Academy Oxford, 2020
Cardinal Copia walks down the stage steps in front of stained-glass windows at Ghost's Wembley Arena show, 2019
ZP Theart of Skid Row raises a fist under the stage lights at the Forum, Kentish Town, 2019
Erik Grönwall of H.E.A.T. sings at the Forum, Kentish Town, 2019. H.E.A.T. were touring with Skid Row, and Rachel Bolan later said this tour was where he first had Grönwall in mind. In 2022, Grönwall replaced ZP Theart as Skid Row's singer.
Kiefer Sutherland plays acoustic guitar under a rig of stage lights at the O2 Academy Oxford, 2020
Benji Webbe of Skindred sings in a studded jacket, one hand raised, at Alexandra Palace, 2019
Su-metal (Suzuka Nakamoto) of Babymetal holds a silver fox mask at Brixton Academy, 2019
A masked Nameless Ghoul of Ghost plays bass at Wembley Arena, 2019
Elize Ryd of Amaranthe sings with one arm raised, in black and white, at Brixton Academy, 2019
Johan Andreassen of Amaranthe plays bass under blue stage lights at Brixton Academy, 2019