Schlepping With The NME

This photo was possibly taken in 1992 - around the time of NME's 40th birthday. I think the venue was Subterrania on Ladbroke Grove and I see a merry confection of young hacks. There's Stuart Maconie, Steve Lamacq and Andrew Collins. I see Live Reviews Ed Helen Mead, secretary Karen Walter plus James Brown, who went on to found Loaded magazine. Centre back is Bill Prince, now looking after GQ while the man waving his hands madly is Derek 'Bridges' Ridgers, a photographer of some notoriety.

In front of Derek is Gavin Martin, who learnt his trade with the Alternative Ulster fanzine. Another quality smudger is Kevin Cummins, just in front of Lamacq. I also see Danny Kelly, who was Deputy at the time and Editor Alan Lewis, looking quite pleased with a circulation rise to 105 000 copies a week. I think he had steered it up from around 88 000. Now it probably shifts 30 000 on a good week. Oh, them days...