Page 46 - Classics Issue

Billy was painted for life long friend Gareth Thomas and his wife Chola as a wedding gift and now resides in their apartment in LA, California. There’s a bit of history in the linen canvas, it was ‘rescued’ from the Belfast Telegraph newspaper circa 1994, originally a heavy linen roller blind shielding the production staff from the late afternoon sun glaring through the tall industrial windows, it survived bomb explosions and shattering glass through Belfast’s dark days. I hate to see waste and I managed to salvage a large piece that I could work on. Having ‘grown up’ with Gareth in Belfast the history of the canvas is signifcant, through the height of the ‘troubles’ we were usually to be found supporting some live music venue in Belfast ignoring the hazards of venturing into the city at night in that era. Live music was and still is a big thrill for both of us, and why Billy Idol? Well who doesn’t like Billy, an icon, a great showman and thumping rock and roll.Artist: Jim Armstrong - Painted in 2013DON’T NEED A GUN