Danny Clifford Photographer

25/10/2026

Lyn and I have just returned from another wonderful week aboard P&O Cruises’ rather magnificent Iona. Beautiful places, lovely people, a few rock ’n’ roll stories… and a slightly dramatic Bay of Biscay!
I returned as a guest speaker just a few weeks after our first trip aboard, and it was lovely to feel so at home again.
We sailed from Southampton, originally heading for northern France before continuing to Spain. With the captain explaining that unrest in France meant a change of itinerary, we headed straight for Vigo instead. I was very happy to leave those decisions to the people looking after us.
Somewhere along the way, I took to the stage in the Headliners Theatre for my first show of the trip, sharing photographs and stories from my years with some extraordinary bands and artists.
Vigo gave Lyn and me the chance for a little wander ashore, followed by another lovely stop in La Coruña. Meanwhile, the captain and crew were keeping a close eye on a storm heading across the Atlantic. The decision was made to miss Bilbao and head back across the Bay of Biscay towards the English Channel before the weather developed further.
As we sailed out of La Coruña, we passed the magnificent Tower of Hercules. Built by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009, it still serves as a lighthouse today. Quite something to sail past a landmark that has helped guide generations of sailors.
The extra time at sea meant a few more shows for me, with different bands, artists and stories each day. A theatre full of people willing to listen to my rock ’n’ roll adventures is a rather lovely way to spend an afternoon!
But some of the nicest moments happened away from the stage. As Lyn and I explored Iona’s 15 guest decks, people who had come to the shows would stop us for a chat. In the corridors, over a coffee, around the restaurants — those conversations became a real highlight of our week. Thank you to everyone who came along, said hello and shared a story of their own.
With 30 bars and restaurants aboard, there was certainly plenty to explore. Although, despite my best efforts, I don’t think I even managed to investigate every menu.
I’ve included a few photographs and a short video of the sea beginning to build as we left La Coruña. It became livelier overnight, but here’s the remarkable thing: from our experience inside Iona, you would hardly have guessed what was happening outside. We felt a little movement at times, but we were able to carry on enjoying life aboard in extraordinary comfort. The view certainly looked more dramatic than it felt!
There is something rather wonderful about travelling this way. You enjoy dinner, see a show, go to bed, and find that someone has very thoughtfully delivered you to another beautiful place.
A huge thank you to the captain, crew and everyone who made us feel so welcome. Looking after a ship full of guests while adapting to changing weather takes an enormous amount of work, and we really appreciated it.
Oh yes, Lyn and I could get very used to this cruise life.

13/09/2026

Well, that was quite an adventure!

I’ve been to Norway many times, but somehow I’d never visited the Norwegian Fjords. So when I was asked to be the guest speaker aboard P&O’s magnificent Iona, I jumped at the opportunity. Lyn came with me and, amazingly, it was the first cruise for both of us.

We sailed from Southampton to Stavanger, Ålesund, Olden and Haugesund, waking up to some of the most spectacular scenery we’ve ever seen. There’s something rather magical about going to bed on a floating hotel and waking up somewhere completely different.

I did have to do a little bit of work along the way! I gave my Rock Stars Don’t Smile shows in Iona’s wonderful Headliners Theatre and was genuinely touched by how many people came along. The theatre holds around 900 people and seeing it so full was quite something.

Thankfully, most stayed until the end. And very few demanded their money back.

Mind you, the shows were free!

A huge thank you to everyone who came along and stopped us around the ship afterwards to say hello.

Most importantly, Lyn and I had a wonderful week together. We saw some breathtaking places, met lovely people and discovered that, rather unexpectedly, we might actually be cruise people.

Who knew?

Here are a few photographs from our first Norwegian Fjords adventure. 🇳🇴🚢

13/09/2026

Hi

Well, we have just returned from what was quite an adventure…

I’ve been to Norway many times over the years, but somehow I had never visited the Norwegian Fjords. So when I was asked to be the guest speaker aboard P&O’s magnificent cruise ship, Iona, I jumped at the opportunity.

Lyn came with me and, amazingly, neither of us had ever been on a cruise before.

We left Southampton and headed north to Norway, visiting Stavanger, Ålesund, Olden and Haugesund along the way.

I have to say, we were both completely blown away by the whole experience.

Perhaps I’m stating the obvious to seasoned cruise travellers, but there’s something rather magical about spending the day somewhere extraordinary, getting back on board your enormous floating hotel, having dinner, going to bed and then waking up the following morning somewhere completely different.

And what places we woke up to.

The Norwegian Fjords are simply breathtaking. Photographs really don't do justice to the scale and beauty of the place — although, naturally, that didn't stop me from taking a few!

Iona itself is quite extraordinary. Nineteen decks, 18 restaurants, 12 bars, four swimming pools, numerous whirlpools, a cinema, health club, casino, live music, shops and goodness knows what else. There were around 7,000 passengers and crew aboard, yet somehow it never really felt like there were that many people around you.

I did have to do a little bit of work while I was there.

I was giving my Rock Stars Don’t Smile shows in Iona’s wonderful Headliners Theatre, telling stories and showing photographs from my 50-odd years of pointing cameras at musicians.

I really had no idea how many people would turn up.

As it happened, rather a lot of them did!

The theatre holds over 940 people, and I was genuinely touched by how well attended the shows were. Standing on that stage looking out at so many people who had chosen to spend part of their holiday listening to my stories was quite something.

Very few demanded their money back.

Mind you, the shows were free.

Seriously though, a huge thank you to everyone who came along, particularly those who stopped me around the ship afterwards to say hello, ask questions or tell me about their own memories of some of the artists I'd photographed. I loved those conversations.

But most importantly, Lyn and I had a wonderful week together.

We saw some spectacular places, met some lovely people, laughed a lot and discovered that, rather unexpectedly, we might actually be cruise people.

Who knew?

Here are a few photographs from our first adventure into the Norwegian Fjords.

And yes… I think we’d do it again.

Danny x

23/08/2026

Hi

Today would have been my mate Keith Moon's 80th birthday. Here is my Substack on what would have been his big day. Please click, like, share and subscribe. Best wishes, Danny

23 August 1946 – 7 September 1978

16/08/2026

Here is my latest Substack.
I know what you are thinking! Actually, I don't. This is about the night in 2003 when Gloria Gaynor and I met Elvis Presley. Yes, it's true, 'honest guv'.
I hope you like it, and if you do, please like, subscribe and share with your friends.
Best wishes,
Danny

Gloria Gaynor, Frank Sinatra, two unimpressed London policemen — and a rather unexpected Elvis Presley.

16/08/2026

There are some photographs that become more precious with every passing year. This is one of them.
This is my lovely friend Elliot Franks, photographed by me at G-A-Y Nightclub in London, twenty years ago, in 2006. I’ve known Elliot for more than 25 years, and even now, writing those words and looking at this photograph, I still can’t quite process that he has left us.
This particular photograph brings back such a vivid memory.
Elliot and I had met earlier that evening for something to eat in Soho, before heading over to G-A-Y. We then met up with our fellow photographer George Chin, and together we made our way to the club at around 11pm.
Those Saturday nights were always quite an experience. G-A-Y regularly had some fantastic artists performing, and the shows would usually start around 1am. That night, the artist we were there to photograph was Jamelia.
There was always a long wait before the artists were ready for us to go backstage and photograph them. While we were waiting for Jamelia’s manager to call us into her dressing room, I looked across at Elliot and took this photograph.
I’m so glad I did.
Because, without knowing it, I captured something that I would treasure all these years later: just Elliot, being Elliot.
Elliot was a hugely talented photographer, but more than that, he was a genuinely wonderful guy. Warm, kind, funny and someone I was very lucky to call my friend.
Looking back, those Saturday nights were exhausting. We would photograph the artists, often finishing around 3am, and then it was a race home to edit everything and get the photographs out to the UK’s Monday national newspapers. Somehow, we seemed to get our pictures into so many of them. By the time I finally got home, it was usually daylight, and I was completely shattered.
But what incredible memories they are.
And now, all these years later, I find myself looking at this photograph of Elliot and remembering not just that night, but a whole chapter of our lives, the friendship, the photography, the laughter, the madness of those long Saturday nights and the wonderful people who shared them with us.
I never imagined that one day I would be looking at this photograph with such sadness.
Elliot, my dear friend, thank you for all the memories, the friendship, and the wonderful times we shared over more than 25 years.
You were a talented photographer, a lovely man and a very special friend.
I’m going to miss you terribly.
And I’m so very glad I took this photograph.
Rest peacefully, Elliot. ❤️

07/08/2026

Today, I was deeply saddened to hear of my friend, William Orbit’s passing. I have posted a bit about this on my Substack. Just go to my profile and click on LinkTree and it takes you straight to my Substack link. William was responsible for Madonna’s ‘Ray Of Light’ and many more of hers and other artists, like:- Pink, U2, Britney Spears, Beth Orton, All Saints and many others. So, it’s my profile, and to LinkTree. Thanks, Danny

07/08/2026

RIP William Orbit – A Beautifully Unencumbered Genius.
Please read my post on Substack.

Just click on the link below.

Best wishes,

Danny

William Orbit.

26/07/2026

Hi

Here is my latest Substack. As it says below, it's the night. Shane MacGowan had one of his brainwaves!

I hope you like it. If you can subscribe to my Substack, I'd really appreciate it.

Best wishes,

Danny

Danny Clifford was there.