9:30 to Fillmore... pictures of a tour, life on the road... (I'm jealous, Andy!)

Last weekend in Wolverhampton was one of the most intense imaginable... three major shows by my favourite band, Marillion, and yours-truly had a photo pass. You don't want to know how many photos I took. Seriously. And then had to sort and edit and reduce and run-away-from and then come-back-to and decide which ones to cull (am still failing at that--I may ask for your help).

So how the heck does a photographer do that, each and every night during an international tour, and be backstage, and be with the musicians throughout the tour, on the road and in the bus, and look after the excited fans wanting meet-and-greet photos too, and be a really nice guy about it all?
Meet Andy Wright, the photographer behind the new book, "9:30 to Fillmore, Photograpic Memories (USA & Canada 2012) Words by Marillion, Images by Andy Wright".

The book takes you, day by day, through Marillion's tour last summer. It's much more than concert photos; it's intimate snippets of life on tour; it's coffee and falling-asleep in the dressing room, it's posed and it's candid and it's discreet and it's rock, it's breaking down a set after a show and down the stairs and into the bus and on the road again, again: it's early-morning runs and soundchecks and ironing shirts, and it's setlists and diners and fast food and chat shows, and Washington DC and two nights in New York and Philadelphia and Boston and Quebec and Montreal and Toronto and two nights in Chicago and two nights in Los Angeles and, finally, the Fillmore in San Francisco.

If you were at any of these shows, you'll want a copy. If you were not at these shows, you will want to see what you missed. If you're a fan, you'll enjoy the insight into the life of the band. If you've wondered about life on the road while still working on your upcoming album... or if you just like music and have not--yet--listened to Marillion, well it's about time you did. Seriously dude.

The book is the same wonderful square of a precious vinyl record, just thicker. Solid and hefty and precious. Will fit on the shelf between Brave and Marbles. Once I've finished looking at it. Like maybe next year?

(While many may dream of following their musical heros around the planet, taking photos, getting in the band's hair, I'm not sure that many could live that nomad life for long. his book, and Marillion themselves, are examples of how to do it... and do it right.)

I bought my copy from the merch stand on Friday at the Wolverhampton weekend. It should soon be available from Racket Records, Marillion's store, if it's not already.

(I love the shot of the man in the mirror... had to do a double-take. You'll understand when you see it.)

Andy Wright's website:  www.andywright.ca
Marillion:  Marillion.com