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Grant Fleming

Grant Fleming is a British photo and music journalist. As a West_Ham_United_F.C. fan he joined the Inter_City_Firm ICF. He was bass guitarist for the punk band 'Kidz next Door' (1979). He followed this by playing bass guitar for Mod band The_Chords. In the mid 80s, Grant recorded and toured the US with The_Lords_of_the_New_Church

Early life (1960s-1970s)

Born in the Stepney area of East_London, England. Grant started his working life as a City runner, and then followed his father Bill Fleming in the West_India_Docks.

Music

Involved with music from a young age, Grant became press officer for Sham_69 before becoming their road manager. During this time he became the subject of a BBC Arena_(TV_series) drama documentary 'Kids United' about a Sham_69 fan.

Kidz Next Door

The 'kidz next door' were formed with Robbie Pursey (younger brother of Jimmy_Pursey, on lead vocals, Angus Hope Wynne on Guitar, Peter Woodley on Drums, and Grant on bass guitar. They went on to release one single 'What's It All About' on Warner_Bros._Records in 1979, supporting The_Clash and The_jam.

The Chords (1981 and 1996)

Grant was involved in the Mod_revival subculture in the late 70s. In 1981 he went on to play bass guitar with The_Chords, and also on their short tour in '96, which culminated at the famous the 100_Club.

The Lords of the New Church (1986-1988)

In the mid 80s, he joined The_Lords_of_the_New_Church replacing their bass guitarist Dave Treganna, and played on their US tour.

Photography Career (1988-present)

No longer involved in bands, Grant found himself back in London and on the dole. It was here that he started playing around with a camera. Already active in political circles, he became incredibly interested in Latin American politics, primarily through popular culture via The_clash and their album Sandinista! and later the Oliver_Stone 1987 Salvador_(film). Grant would go on to cut his teeth as a photographer in the UK - at Wapping, the South African Embassy, through CND, UK_miners'_strike_(1984–1985), and the NHS Demos. Taking a job in Phillips Colour Printers in Spitalfields he, learned more about the photographic process, getting the cash together, he continued on his destination, passing the 1988_Republican_National_Convention in New Orleans on the way.

Inspired by the war photography of Don_McCullin, Grant wanted to put himself to the test, as a photographer: "to see if I had the balls" In Panama_city, he was arrested one evening by a drunken immigration officer who was publicly reprimanded and made to apologise. The following day, the immigration officer had mobilised local street gang 'The Famous Ones' and Grant found himself with a gun held against his head and was run out of town. In three months, he travelled through eight different countries, undertaking a journey throughout the region, and visiting all the countries of Central_america, some of which were more hostile than others. "Witnessing life in all those places would not only turn out to be an unforgettable and life-changing experience, it would also serve to give me a better understanding of the issues down there. I timed my entry into the US to begin this 'all seeing' mission overland to be in New_orleans for the Republican_Party_(United_States) convention, populated of course by the very architects of the Foreign policy that kept the people of where I was heading to oppressed. Even though this felt like I was entering into the belly of the beast it was worth it."

Primal Scream (1990s-2000s)

In the 1990s he was the official photographer for Primal_scream and published a book 'Higher Than The Sun' in 1997.

Loaded Magazine (1994-1999)

Grant was the go-to-man at Loaded_magazine for photographic coverage of music, football, carnivals and fiestas as well as placing some of the more harder-edged reportage into the magazine.

Films (1993 - present)

Moving on in the millennium, to making films, he directed a dance music programme for Channel_Four and a feature length documentary on Paul_Oakenfold and the cult of the superstar DJ. Currently editing several Primal_scream shorts in advance of the feature 'Screamadelica'. He has just completed the short, Trainspotting20 with Irvine_Welsh to commemorate the books '20th anniversary. He will also direct his first feature film 'The Knockers', this is scheduled to start production in the summer of 2014. The film is based on his experiences selling goods as a door to door knocker. A self-titled documentary was screened by Channel_Four in 1983 which documented Grant, and various knockers going from door to door trying to sell goods to housewives in the suburbs. A follow up documentary was broadcast in 1993.

2010s

He has photographed, international sports figures as diverse as David_beckham to Maradonna, musicians Chemical_brothers to Oasis_(band) and political figures such as George_W._Bush and Nelson_Mandela.

!Hasta La Victoria! is Grant Fleming's first major exhibition in a series of 5. His forthcoming book 'Who Let Him in?! will be released in 2014, the title is a reminder of the astonished response from doormen to dictators and assorted authority figures, unsure how to process the arrival or indeed manager the departure of East London's restless and relentless son.