In 1995 I had the pleasure of seeing Gil Scott Heron perform twice. The first being at a WOMAD festival in Adelaide which was also his first ever performance in Australia and then about a week later I saw him perform in my home town of Sydney. Both times I had direct access and remember our conversations well.
We talked of the demise of creole poetry-or ‘rhyming meaning’ and the disturbing direction Hip Hop was taking. His lyrics had carried me for so many years. Meeting him filled me with hope for the future and what I intended to do with my work. These pictures are a constant reminder of fighting for a brighter day.
His humour knew no bounds..when I showed up backstage at the second gig he just smiled and asked me if I was from the C.I.A.
It was March 1995
‘Pieces of a Man’ Collage on Hardboard with original Polaroid 665 prints
During his performance at WOMAD I was throwing my polaroid prints onstage as a gift to him. He acknowledeged it with a smile.
During his scheduled interview at WOMAD
He showed me his current book- Issac Asminov’s ‘Western Mysteries’
Thank you Gil
