Storm Thorgerson

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Storm Thorgerson (2010)

Storm Elvin Thorgerson (born February 28, 1944 in Potters Bar , Middlesex , United Kingdom - † April 18, 2013 in the United Kingdom ) was a British graphic designer known for his work with rock bands such as Pink Floyd , Led Zeppelin , Black Sabbath , Scorpions , Peter Gabriel , Genesis , Europe , Dream Theater , The Cranberries , The Mars Volta , Muse and Biffy Clyro .

Life

childhood and education

Thorgerson, who had Norwegian ancestors, was born in Potters Bar , Middlesex (now part of Hertfordshire ) in the UK . He attended Summerhill School , Brunswick Primary School and Cambridgeshire High School for Boys . In the latter he played rugby with Roger Waters , who was a school class higher. In the same school, a year below him, was Syd Barrett , whose mother was a good friend of Thorgerson's mother. Barrett and Waters were later founding members of the band Pink Floyd . Thorgerson studied English and Philosophy at the University of Leicester from 1963 to 1966 , from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts . He then attended the Royal College of Art until 1969 , graduating with a Master of Arts in film and television.

Career

In 1968 he founded the graphic company Hipgnosis together with Aubrey Powell , and later Peter Christopherson joined them. In 1983 Powell and Thorgerson founded another company, Greenback Films, which produced music videos.

In the early 1990s, Thorgerson and Peter Curzon co-founded StormStudios, a loose company made up of several freelancers. Rupert Truman (photographer), Finlay Cowan (designer and illustrator), Daniel Abbot (designer and painter), Lee Baker (retoucher and designer) and Jerry Sweet (designer) as well as Thorgerson’s personal assistants Laura Truman and Charlotte Barner were busy. Later, Silvia Ruga (designer) also joined.

In 2013 Prog Magazine named the Grand Design Award after him, which he won himself in 2012 for his work with Pink Floyd.

Health problems and death

In 2003, Thorgerson suffered a stroke that partially paralyzed him. He was later diagnosed with an unknown type of cancer. He fought cancer for several years, but succumbed to the disease on April 18, 2013 at the age of 69. David Gilmour published an obituary in which he described Thorgerson as "a constant force in my life, at work and in my private life, a parapet to carry on and a great friend". A post on Pink Floyd's official website called him a "graphic genius". Nick Mason said that a "restless worker went to the end".

In consultation with Thorgerson's widow, StormStudios will continue to exist.

Style and works

Probably the most famous works by Thorgerson are the covers of Pink Floyd . His artwork for The Dark Side of the Moon has been named one of the best of all time. It was designed by him and Hipgnosis, painted by George Hardie , a designer from NTA Studios.

Much of Storm Thorgerson's works are known for their surrealist elements. He often placed objects outside of their usual background, especially in huge rooms, to emphasize their beauty.

"I like photography because it is a reality medium, unlike drawing which is unreal. I like to mess with reality ... to bend reality. Some of my works beg the question of is it real or not? "

“I like photography because it's a real medium, whereas drawing is unreal. I like to play with reality ... break reality. Some of my works raise the question - is it real or not. "

- Storm Thorgerson : The Music Box, October 2004, Volume 11, # 10

Over the years, Thorgerson and his team wrote several books about their work. The Gathering Storm - A Quartet Storm in Several Parts was Storm's last book and was only completed shortly before his death in April 2013. It was published in September 2013 and contains cover designs, photographs and anecdotes that document his work in the 45 years since Hipgnosis was founded.

Cover

Solo designed Thorgerson album and single covers for 10cc , The Answer , Anthrax , Audioslave , Biffy Clyro , Black Sabbath , Catherine Wheel , The Cranberries , The Cult , Deepest Blue , Bruce Dickinson , Disco Biscuits , Dream Theater , Ian Dury and the Blockheads , Ellis, Beggs & Howard , Ethnix , Europe , Peter Gabriel , Genesis , David Gilmour , Helloween , Led Zeppelin , The Mars Volta , Megadeth , Steve Miller Band , Muse , The Offspring , Mike Oldfield , Alan Parsons , Pendulum , Phish , The Pineapple Thief , Pink Floyd , The Plea , Powderfinger , Program the Dead , Rainbow , Herman Rarebell , Rival Sons , Mike Rutherford , Scorpions , Shpongle , Slow Earth , Styx , The Alan Parsons Project , Thunder , Umphrey's McGee , Villainy , Ween , Wishbone Ash , The Wobats , Rick Wright , Younger Brother , Yourcodenameis: milo . There are also works on Hipgnosis, see cover designs by Hipgnosis .

Music videos

Thorgerson has also directed music videos by Paul Young , Rainbow , Robert Plant , Yes , Kevin Kitchen , Nik Kershaw , David Gilmour , Belouis Some , Glass Tiger , Pink Floyd , Bruce Dickinson , Helloween and Alan Parsons .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Adam Sweeting: Storm Thorgerson obituary ( English ) The Guardian . April 18, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  2. ↑ TateShots: Storm Thorgerson on Magritte ( English ) tate.org. July 11, 2011. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  3. ↑ Pink Floyd News :: Brain Damage - February 1998 ( English ) Guitar World . February 1998. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  4. ↑ Tonya Turner: Storm Thorgerson's album covers are works of art ( English ) couriermail.com.au. June 20, 2009. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  5. ^ Andrew Hough: Storm Thorgerson: Pink Floyd cover designer dies ( English ) The Daily Telegraph . April 18, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  6. ^ Charlie Farrell: Storm Thorgerson - Taken by Storm ( English ) dprp.net. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  7. ↑ Floydian Slip: Design award renamed after Storm Thorgerson ( English ) floydianslip.com. August 10, 2003. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  8. ↑ Pink Floyd : Pink Floyd - The Official Site ( English ) Pink Floyd . April 18, 2013. Archived from the original on January 21, 2014. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved February 6, 2014. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.pinkfloyd.com
  9. ↑ Tributes paid to Pink Floyd album artist Storm Thorgerson ( English ) BBC News. April 19, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  10. ↑ Article on Storm Thorgerson ( English ) Q . 1992. Archived from the original on June 29, 2009. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved February 6, 2014. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / utopia.knoware.nl
  11. ↑ The Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd's Iconic Album ( English ) h2g2. April 7, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  12. ↑ Nina Naran: Taken by Storm - The Art of Storm Thorgerson ( English ) The Music Box. October 2004. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
personal data
SURNAME Thorgerson, Storm
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Thorgerson, Storm Elvin
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British graphic designer
DATE OF BIRTH February 28, 1944
PLACE OF BIRTH Potters Bar , Middlesex , United Kingdom
DATE OF DEATH April 18, 2013
Place of death United Kingdom