Annie Lennox and David Gray – Full Steam Ahead video
12 October 2009
I discovered two of life’s great levellers this week. High visibility waistcoats and hard hats. These were compulsory accessories on Monday’s shoot unless you’re a pop star. I was fuming, not quite in the manner of the monolithic chimneys of Battersea Power Station, but my stylistic resistance was futile. The hair and make up boys have never looked so butch and were quite enjoying their new rugged personas. I was styling the video for the Annie Lennox and David Gray duet Full Steam Ahead. Director Andy Morahan has worked with David Bowie, Michael Jackson, George Michael and Aretha Franklin to name just a couple of his clients. He is also responsible for the West End Girls video. The story included smoke, swag, industrial wasteland and pursuit to accompany the desperate tension of the song. A loose Bonnie and Clyde subplot has been employed, and Dave gets to drive a vintage Merc with money spewing out of the open top. For Annie it was a return to the scene of the crime. The Sex Crime in fact, as the video was shot here back in 1984. Battersea Power Station and the derelict building site that surrounds it is ludicrous considering it’s in a prime real estate position on the Thames. A massive wasteland in the middle of London. Absurd and quite surreal.
The lighting for the performance part was brilliant. Huge HMIs beamed lighting into an even smokier room with the two stoic performers rooted in dramatic postures. I’d like to shoot fashion shoots that way but the budgets barely cover the confectionary rider, let alone cranes.
The artists looked pretty damn sharp, even if I do say so myself. I can’t take much credit frankly except for perhaps enlisting the tailoring services of master style merchant Edward Sexton. Just look at the silhouettes that man has sculptured. Note Annie’s ‘Dick Tracy’ style hats are by Lock Hatters and Co. Their voices work together almost as well as my styling, heart felt and stirring. The video is going out in November and Full Steam Ahead is on Dave’s new Album, Draw The Line. Dave’s back and the music is as seriously good as the style in the video.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Interesting, informative and amusing article, many thanks.
Really looking forward to the video of ‘Full steam’, having read the article. Love the song!
There are two other tracks on the album worthy of singles ‘Draw The Line’ and ‘Nemesis’, so you may have your work cut-out if this is a success. ‘Fugitive’, the first single was an ok song but not really strong enough but the above three are.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:22 am
Superlative styling there, Mister Stubbs.
(But where are the shots of you in hi-vis vest and hardhat?)
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:22 pm
they were in video form,
had to take to down, will remedy this shortly Mr.Barker with some still grabs,
Stubbs