Ben Sullivan is a pretty laid-back dude. This must have helped when he was asked to photograph one of his favourite singers of all time. To make things even more nerve-tingling, he was given a crazy short amount of time to get it done. Looking at the result, we can probably all agree that the shot was worth whatever stress and palm sweat Ben experienced that day. We called him to ask a few questions. Here’s what he said.VICE: Hey Ben. How did you come to take this picture?
Ben Sullivan:I was asked by Oyster magazine back in early 2009 to shoot Primal Scream for an article they were running on them. I said yes even though I knew I wouldn't have long and shooting a whole band in a manner that I would be happy with in a short space of time would be pretty much impossible. Plus I only really wanted to shoot Bobby (sorry rest of band but he's by far the coolest!). Fortunately it ended up just being Bobby and I had even less time than I imagined but it turned out to be one of my all time favourite shots.What in your mind makes Bobby a legend?
He's just SO fucking cool. I can't even really describe why, maybe it's that he appears to just really not care about anything, maybe it's his incredible haircut. I'm not sure but to me he's pretty much epitomises cool.Was he good to shoot?
He was amazing to shoot, i got told to wrap it up by somebody from some record label about 2 minutes after i started to shoot him since he appeared to in some kind of daze, and obviously really didn't want to be there but i don't think you'd really need more than one shot to get an incredible picture from him anyway. Normally that kind of thing would make me think less of whoever it was, but for some reason it only elevated him to even more of a rock god in my eyes.Are you more of a Primal Scream or Jesus and Mary Chain guy?
Primal Scream! I never really got into the Jesus and Mary Chain.Are you going to see them when they come out this summer?
Shit yeah.If you had your pick, what other 90s alt. rock legend would you most like to shoot?
J Mascis. Although I'm not actually sure it would be a good idea. I'd be worried that I'd hate him afterwards. He's my guitar hero.You have a good answer for everything.
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Ben Sullivan:I was asked by Oyster magazine back in early 2009 to shoot Primal Scream for an article they were running on them. I said yes even though I knew I wouldn't have long and shooting a whole band in a manner that I would be happy with in a short space of time would be pretty much impossible. Plus I only really wanted to shoot Bobby (sorry rest of band but he's by far the coolest!). Fortunately it ended up just being Bobby and I had even less time than I imagined but it turned out to be one of my all time favourite shots.What in your mind makes Bobby a legend?
He's just SO fucking cool. I can't even really describe why, maybe it's that he appears to just really not care about anything, maybe it's his incredible haircut. I'm not sure but to me he's pretty much epitomises cool.Was he good to shoot?
He was amazing to shoot, i got told to wrap it up by somebody from some record label about 2 minutes after i started to shoot him since he appeared to in some kind of daze, and obviously really didn't want to be there but i don't think you'd really need more than one shot to get an incredible picture from him anyway. Normally that kind of thing would make me think less of whoever it was, but for some reason it only elevated him to even more of a rock god in my eyes.Are you more of a Primal Scream or Jesus and Mary Chain guy?
Primal Scream! I never really got into the Jesus and Mary Chain.Are you going to see them when they come out this summer?
Shit yeah.If you had your pick, what other 90s alt. rock legend would you most like to shoot?
J Mascis. Although I'm not actually sure it would be a good idea. I'd be worried that I'd hate him afterwards. He's my guitar hero.You have a good answer for everything.