The message above should have me on it – I must have entered something wrong or something.

I must say Brian Ward who did the original black and white classic photos did a great job that night. The outakes are really good too from that photo session. It’s amazing how he made that gaslamp look so big and menacing. Just check out on my photo at the top how big it really is and I don’t think that’s a replacement. It’s nothing like is it? Great use of the wide angle lens at work here from old Bry. He also did the hand tinting afterwards to add colour to what was originally a black and white photo so in those days he would have had one chance to get it right or have to completely redo it. Not like now where it can all be knocked off in minutes using Photshop or something. Hey Rick it’s a good job I don’t have many weeks off work or I’d probably be inundating you with all this trainspotting rubbish. It wouldn’t be long before you would be applying the “Message Blocker” function!!! ha ha ha!!!

I just lapped up being in the historic confines of Ziggy land and after the fuss with the foriegners I went to the restaurtant for a drink and sat outside near to Bowie’s doorway where he had cocked his leg up on the stone that juts out holding Ronno’s black Les Paul which he borrowed for the photo shoot on that rainy night back in January 1972.

Oh well Abbey Road next I suppose or Salford Lads Club!!

The phone box hasn’t been moved along it’s in the same place. But more importantly it’s not the original phone box. So its a case of same position but different box.

The telephone box in the picture is the box they installed in April 1997 as part of the London renovations. The original box is said to have been auctioned off to an American fan in the late 70’s but it’s not been confirmed. Either way there is some reason why it disappeared. It was replaced by a modern (of the time) blue box and remained there until the renovations happened. It was then they decided that this should be replaced by a red 70’s box this being the same model as the original (a ‘K Series’ box apparently). In a way restoring it to it’s rightful place.

To be honest the best part for me really is not the telephone box which the Japanese and the Swedish were in awe of its the actual precinct itself where the famous doorway is. When I first entered the area I felt a chill almost like a deja vu feeling because the Ziggy cover in all its detail is just one of those images that’s always been there in my subconscious and probably lots of other people’s. Despite the changes over time everything is still instantly recognisable.

Apparently Bowie’s last visit here was the 1st March 1993 as part of a Rolling Stone interview before the new red box was installed. His memory of standing in the box seemed to be a bit vague and he was said to have been saying something like “Ere I think there was a phone box around here somewhere”. Then a woman who happened to be walking past and instantly recognised him said to him “They’ve gone and taken your telephone box away haven’t they isn’t it terrible??? He had tried to disguise himself too!!!!