Photographer recalls celebrity culture of 1990s

A photographer who spent the 1990s capturing some of the world's biggest celebrities has opened an exhibition of his work in Tunbridge Wells.

Steve Read worked for magazines including Talk and Loaded, photographing stars such as JK Rowling, Eminem, Sharon Osbourne and Lennox Lewis.

Now an exhibition called Shooting Stars Pays the Rent is displaying images from the period at The Claremont pub in his home town.

"It was kind of a golden era of celebrity and magazines that doesn't exist any more," he said.

Read spent much of the decade working in Los Angeles.

"I'd be waiting for a call and they'd say: 'Do you want to do Eminem? Do you want to do Sharon and Ozzy?' It was amazing, it was such an incredible experience," he said.

The exhibition features portraits of stars from music, film, sport and television.

Among them is Sharon Osbourne, whom Read photographed as reality television series The Osbournes took off.

"I went to the house and thought - this is weird - there were cameras dotted all over the house," he said.

"The show would go on to become the blueprint for reality television."

Read said some of his most memorable images came from persuading celebrities to try unusual ideas.

He recalled convincing footballer-turned-actor Vinnie Jones to stand waist-deep in a swimming pool wearing a $5,000 Armani suit.

He said he walked out in the suit barefoot, adding: "I thought he looked amazing so I said to him - why don't you get in the pool?"

Read recalled how Jones said "yeah, Steve I like that", before getting in the pool with his suit and a cigar. He said: "It's become quite an iconic shot now."

The photographer also spent time with musicians including R.E.M. and Eminem.

"He was 27 and just about to explode," Read said of Eminem.

Asked to name the nicest celebrity he photographed, Read did not hesitate.

"Whenever I'm asked I say, without hesitation, Lennox Lewis," he said.

"Not the nicest guy in the ring - but in the flesh a beautiful lovely man and a joy to work with."

The exhibition runs until 30 August.

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