Nigel Skeet: Turning the homeless into “Rock Stars”

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Professional rock star photographer Nigel Skeet talks about turning the homeless into Rock Stars.

Photographer Nigel Skeet has made a very successful career out of taking pictures of famous American rock bands like Motley Crue, AC/DC and Metallica, among others. When he became aware of the homeless problem in his own community, he decided to photograph some of them the same way he would a rock star, complete with professional hair and makeup.

“I simply wanted to create a sense of relatability for the community towards the homeless,” explains Nigel. “Instead of ‘them’ and ‘us’, let’s create some kind of bridge where we can relate to one another.”

The results were astounding—attitudes changed, understanding and awareness increased and a movement was born: The Homeless Rock Star Project.

Nigel Skeet: Turning the homeless into “Rock Stars”

Professional rock star photographer Nigel Skeet talks to Mike Walter about turning the homeless into "Rock Stars".


Through the project, Nigel’s been able to encourage his community to look at the problem of homelessness with a fresh perspective and has encouraged new dialogue through the project.

“For those who were participating, who were homeless, you could tell, right away, that they were feeling respected,” Nigel says. “So that combination was quite magical.”

Nigel joined Mike Walter in our Los Angeles studio to share what inspired him to act and how conversations can transform lives.