Eric Watson (photographer)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eric Watson (born September 9, 1955 in Newcastle upon Tyne , Tyne and Wear , England , † March 18, 2012 in Rye , East Sussex , England) was a British photographer and director of music videos . He became best known for his collaboration with the synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys , whose visual style he played a key role in shaping the band's early phase.

Life

Eric Watson was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in the north of England in 1955.

He moved to London in 1974 and studied art at Hornsey College of Art from 1977 to 1980 , where his fellow students included Stuart Goddard and Mike Barson . During his studies, Watson specialized in photography. He then worked as an assistant to the photographers Red Saunders and Gered Mankowitz .

After David Hepworth , editor of the music magazine Smash Hits , saw some photos of Watson for the band Madness , he hired him for the magazine. Watson rose to the position of chief photographer in charge and in this function was responsible for numerous cover pictures of the magazine. At Smash Hits he also met Neil Tennant , who worked there as a music editor.

When Tennant and Chris Lowe founded the Pet Shop Boys , Watson was part of their career from the start. Watson conducted the first photo shoot with the two musicians in 1983, the images of which were later used for the first record cover of the single West End Girls . After recording West End Girls , Watson played the piece to an A&R manager at Epic Records , who then offered the band their first record deal. Watson also directed the band's first music videos. According to Tennant, Watson significantly shaped the visual style of the Pet Shop Boys in this early phase, which the band should primarily show "un glamorous " and "without make-up". In 1986 he left Smash Hits and focused on his work as a music video director and photographer for the Pet Shop Boys. His photos have been used on the cover pictures of the Please and Behavior albums as well as numerous singles of the band.

Watson's photographs were also used on nearly 200 other record covers by other artists from the early 1980s , including Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark , Madness , Paul Young , A Flock of Seagulls , The Jam , Musical Youth , Gary Moore , Kajagoogoo , Fiction Factory , The Undertones , Frankie Goes To Hollywood , Eurythmics , Spandau Ballet , Depeche Mode , Mantronix or UB40 .

In addition to music videos, he also shot some television commercials. At the beginning of the 1990s he withdrew from directing and was only active as a photographer. He taught photography at Rye College .

Watson last lived with his family in Rye , East Sussex, in the south of England . In March 2012, he died there of a heart attack at the age of 56 . He left behind his partner, a son and a daughter.

Music videos (selection)

  • 1985: Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money) - Version 1
  • 1985: Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls
  • 1986: Pet Shop Boys - Love Comes Quickly
  • 1986: Pet Shop Boys - Suburbia
  • 1987: Pet Shop Boys - What Have I Done to Deserve This?
  • 1988: Sam Brown - Walking Back to Me
  • 1988: Pet Shop Boys - Domino Dancing
  • 1988: Pet Shop Boys - Left to My Own Devices
  • 1988: Samantha Fox - Love House
  • 1988: Rod Stewart - Forever Young
  • 1989: Sam Brown - Stop!
  • 1989: Holly Johnson - Americanos
  • 1989: Pet Shop Boys - It's Alright
  • 1990: Pet Shop Boys - So Hard
  • 1991: Pet Shop Boys - Jealousy
  • 1991: Pet Shop Boys - DJ Culture

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f Philip Hoare: Eric Watson obituary . in theguardian.com on March 22, 2012.
  2. ↑ a b Chris Heath : Pet Shop Boys, Literally. Viking, 1991, ISBN 978-0670836161 , page 91 ff.
  3. ↑ a b Pierre Perrone: Eric Watson: Photographer who worked with the Pet Shop Boys and for pop bible Smash Hits . In: independent.co.uk of April 6, 2012.
personal data
SURNAME Watson, Eric
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British photographer and music video director
DATE OF BIRTH September 9, 1955
PLACE OF BIRTH Newcastle upon Tyne , Tyne and Wear , England , United Kingdom
DATE OF DEATH March 18, 2012
Place of death Rye , East Sussex , England , United Kingdom