I was lucky enough to score a photo pass for Social Distortion at The Observatory for Sunday, September 13, 2015. No, I was not the oldest person at this show, which was great. Getting on the list and getting a photo pass for Social D in Orange County is crazy.  I asked a friend, who can usually come through on anything and he said “Social D in OC? Are you fucking crazy?” But, the magazine I am contributing to, New Noise, was able to score me a ticket and a pass!

I got to the ticket window and was asked to sign a release before I was given my photo pass. I asked for a copy, but none were available, so I took a picture of it so I could read it later. I shot Social D. I processed the photos on Monday and submitted them to the mag the same day … Then, a day or 2 later, got an email from Social D management advising me that I was in breech of the agreement I signed and that the photos needed to be removed until they were approved. I honestly misread the release. I thought it said I could post the photos ONLY with the approved magazine and that if I wanted to use them in any other manner, I needed to get permission. But I was wrong. Social D’s management was very cool about the whole thing, they were not pissed, they were saying “these things happen” and “next time we’ll all be on the same page.” So I submitted my 18 photos for approval and a few days later was advised that only 9 of them were approved. Of course, the one I like the most, was not approved …

Anyway, here’s the link to the New Noise Magazine gallery of my Social D shots, along with Nikk Lane and Drag The River (who were freeking awesome).

I’m dying to post my favorite unapproved photo, but I am playing by the rules so I can hopefully shoot them again.