This photo was taken on PJ Harvey’s first American tour for her debut album, Dry. I only took about a half dozen shots at the very dimly lit, small but packed club before her tour manager asked me to stop or leave. I respected that, and it was obvious that at that point in her career she was a powerful but plainly shy performer, which to me this image portrays in a very raw sort of way. I think that’s why she adopted her ‘personas’ later in her career, the dresses and makeup giving her something to hide behind when up there on stage in front of thousands

I was huge fan of hers from the very get go, having been introduced to her music and first album by a mutual friend I was visiting in London. A few years later, back in Seattle, he would introduce me to her after one of her shows, and for once I was totally starstruck.