Few events have become as iconic as Gery Keszlers annual Life Ballfor all not to forget that AIDS is still present. From Bill Clinton to Whoopi Goldberg, from Naomi Campbell to Elton John, the worlds of politics and fashion unite at amfARs (the American Foundation for AIDS Research) gala in Vienna, designed each year by a different artist and now one of the most coveted events in Europe. The spectacle invariably turns into an all-night party with several thousand donors dressed in the most stunning and outrageous costumes. This book is Michel Comtes portrait of the glamour and grit of the Life Ball. Comte remembers: My first journey started in New York. We all boarded a large chartered Airbus. Wherever I looked, there was somebody I knew, had read about or was interested in meeting. The experience onboard reminded me of a sixties rock-n-roll charter. People were frolicking through the aisles with glasses of champagne. In Vienna my assistants and I started working early afternoon before the legendary event began. Everyone was creating something special; chaos later turned into the most surreal experience. From the dazzling black-tie dinner to the fashion show, the performances and the late-night party, it all seemed like a crazy mid-summer nights dream. Here is our story.

Born in Zurich in 1954, Michel Comte trained as an art restorer before turning to photography. His editorial work has appeared in publications including Vogue Italia, L'Uomo Vogue, Interview and Vanity Fair; and he has created advertising campaigns for brands including Armani, Moschino, Mercedes and Jaguar. In recent years Comte had ventured into reportage photography, documenting war and famine in the service of the International Red Cross; in 2004 he founded a foundation to provide drinking water to the Third World.