These pictures were taken during the summer of 1986. I made contact with Peggy and Ewan to request a brief portrait session for what was at that stage a major picture story project for my course in Newport.

Permission granted we made arrangements for me to visit their home for the pictures. The morning of the shoot I got a call from Peggy putting the whole thing off because of a migraine. That was that. They obviously thought better of having a complete stranger come to their home and I was getting the big E. I never expected to hear from them again.

I couldn't have been more mistaken. A few days later Peggy called with an open invitation to the recording of White Wind Black Tide. Anti Apartheid songs for the Anti-Apartheid movement (13 Mandela Street, London NW1 0DW)

On and off for a few days, with a broken arm, I photographed Peggy, Ewan and the family while they recorded White Wind Black Tide.

I watched and learnt about genius, professionalism, perfection, passion commitment, politics and morality, I listened to the tape again today and I can still hear it all in the music.

I Shadowed Ewan, Peggy and Kitty for a little while longer, got the obligatory concert shots but still needed some strong portraits. The session, which was intended to provide me with perhaps 2 useable pictures became an extensive story in it's own right

A visit to Ewan and Peggy's home was arranged. One afternoon at the end of the summer of 86 I made my way to South London. There I had the incredible privilege of having one of my heroes sing Dirty Old Town in his front room while I photographed him.

A magic moment that will always stay with me. The pictures were ultimately used on the cover of Journeyman, Ewan's autobiography published posthumously and Black and White.

Looking back at the pictures, some are very clumsy and some pedestrian but there are a few that I would still find hard to better. I will always be grateful to the family for making me feel welcome and allowing a clumsy student the opportunity to hone skills in such a professional, intimate environment.

Jim Maginn 1999.