Farewell to the, Storm.
Being of an age, my music tastes were formed at times, by music far older than I am. It was a time when bands, put about as much effort into the album covers as they did the music that lay behind them. Usually Vinyl record sleeves which became a form of art themselves. Their are those that hang their album artwork, as artwork, independent of the music.
One of the greatest proponents of Album artwork, was, The Pink Floyd. The music needed to be complimented by the vision of the band. Yesterday, the news reported the death of an artist, not a musician. Yet, this artist's death was reported by Pink Floyd's publicists because the artist had become so associated with the band that it seemed unsurprising that this happened.
The artist was called, Storm Thorgerson. He was 69 and he had helped create the 'Image' of Pink Floyd, from the early 70's all the way through to the mid 90's. Without this connection then certainly my perception of Pink Floyd would be different as the band was as visual (if you have ever seen them live then you will know this), as it was musical. You can identify the Floyd albums by their covers and the, Storm, created covers stand further out than the others due to his not inconsiderable talent to produce an almost, at times, surreal image or something so simple yet striking. The greatest, arguably, of his creations, is an example of this simple style for what became known as the 'Dark Side of the Moon'. It is here below; a light refracting prism on a black background.
Wish you were here, brought a more cynical lyrical from Roger Waters, yet the music of Gilmore, Wright and Mason managed to wrap this cynicism in some of the finest music the Floyd ever played. The hairs still stand up when I hear the introduction to 'Shine on you crazy diamond', the bands tribute to, Syd Barrett. Pink Floyd's 'lost' early genius. Animals, marked the power shift towards Waters lyrics being the main strut of a Pink Floyd album, with the music, though still impressive, in a subservient role.
Post, Gerald Scarfe, post Roger Waters departure and the three man Pink Floyd returned, both musically and to Storm, again, to invigorate and provide the visual architecture to accompany their music; from the return on 'Momentary lapse of reason', to the 'delicate sound of thunder', the live album. He bought back what was the Pink Floyd, 'look'. It was as though they had put back on the clothes that always suited them.
The beds are real, however, Storm lined up about 800 on a Devon beach to make the shot. Yet, it doesn't look real, does it? That's the joy. Slightly surreal, no-sense image (delicate above), yet it works, it really depicts the Floyd sound.
It culminated in the last Pink Floyd album, (whether I have truly given up hope of every hearing a new Pink Floyd release, I am not sure. Though the hopes fade after waiting, 19 years for a sniff of a new album, and now with Richard Wright being deceased I doubt it will happen, but never give up hope!), called, The Division Bell.
If I am honest, this album cover is perhaps my personal favorite. I love the way the image works. I love the fact that Ely Cathedral sits in the background beyond a nondescript english field . The figures make the theme of the album, communication even stronger. The sculptures are now placed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum. Again, an Iconic Storm Thorgerson cover. For those lucky enough to attend the following tour, then you were treated to video's of Storm's creation as a visual backdrop to the Floyd concert. These were as equally beautiful as the covers.
Storm Thorgerson worked with other bands and created other amazing, album covers, from Led Zeppelins, 'houses of the Holy', to Peter Gabriel albums, to doing a lot of work with more current artists, such as 'Muse' and most of their albums, 'Audioslave'. But, whatever he has achieved and this is only a Floyd snapshot, he is more than Floyd, obviously and it's all there to be seen on the internet, his greatest moments are inexorably linked with the greatest moments of Pink Floyd. In a way, the passing of Storm Thorgerson, is that of losing another band member. He was as crucial to Pink Floyd as if he had played an instrument with them. I, for one, salute the artist and the talent. The man who created artwork that I used to hang, as posters, on my bedroom wall is no more, taken so young when there was so much more left to give.
He gave the music of my youth the visuals that I still see when I hear the music. My phone cover for the past few years is a copy of the Dark side of the moon cover. He had the talent to reach into so many homes, but maybe so many of the people living in those homes, didn't realise the artist behind the Prism.
One of the greatest proponents of Album artwork, was, The Pink Floyd. The music needed to be complimented by the vision of the band. Yesterday, the news reported the death of an artist, not a musician. Yet, this artist's death was reported by Pink Floyd's publicists because the artist had become so associated with the band that it seemed unsurprising that this happened.
The artist was called, Storm Thorgerson. He was 69 and he had helped create the 'Image' of Pink Floyd, from the early 70's all the way through to the mid 90's. Without this connection then certainly my perception of Pink Floyd would be different as the band was as visual (if you have ever seen them live then you will know this), as it was musical. You can identify the Floyd albums by their covers and the, Storm, created covers stand further out than the others due to his not inconsiderable talent to produce an almost, at times, surreal image or something so simple yet striking. The greatest, arguably, of his creations, is an example of this simple style for what became known as the 'Dark Side of the Moon'. It is here below; a light refracting prism on a black background.
If you want a musical image that could be the musical icon of the 20th Century, then I would gladly and seriously propose this. Ignoring the fact that the album went on to become one of the biggest selling albums in the history of music, broke records all over then place for continuous presence in album charts, etc. It comes with an instantly recognisable cover. This was it, it blew the album cover art wide open. It announced Pink Floyd's arrival and Storm Thorgerson's too, into the world arena as artists.
Then followed more album covers. Each wonderful and yet so different with the full band. 'Wish you were here' & 'Animals'.
 |
| Wish you were here |
 |
| Animals |
 |
| Delicate sound of Thunder |
 |
| A Momentary Lapse of Reason |
The beds are real, however, Storm lined up about 800 on a Devon beach to make the shot. Yet, it doesn't look real, does it? That's the joy. Slightly surreal, no-sense image (delicate above), yet it works, it really depicts the Floyd sound.
It culminated in the last Pink Floyd album, (whether I have truly given up hope of every hearing a new Pink Floyd release, I am not sure. Though the hopes fade after waiting, 19 years for a sniff of a new album, and now with Richard Wright being deceased I doubt it will happen, but never give up hope!), called, The Division Bell.
Storm Thorgerson worked with other bands and created other amazing, album covers, from Led Zeppelins, 'houses of the Holy', to Peter Gabriel albums, to doing a lot of work with more current artists, such as 'Muse' and most of their albums, 'Audioslave'. But, whatever he has achieved and this is only a Floyd snapshot, he is more than Floyd, obviously and it's all there to be seen on the internet, his greatest moments are inexorably linked with the greatest moments of Pink Floyd. In a way, the passing of Storm Thorgerson, is that of losing another band member. He was as crucial to Pink Floyd as if he had played an instrument with them. I, for one, salute the artist and the talent. The man who created artwork that I used to hang, as posters, on my bedroom wall is no more, taken so young when there was so much more left to give.
He gave the music of my youth the visuals that I still see when I hear the music. My phone cover for the past few years is a copy of the Dark side of the moon cover. He had the talent to reach into so many homes, but maybe so many of the people living in those homes, didn't realise the artist behind the Prism.
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