Photographer Jill Furmanovsky in conversation with the late Storm Thorgerson, legendary British designer behind some of the most memorable album covers of all time.
"Many people agree that Storm Thorgerson is the best album designer in the world. Look at the evidence. By which I mean look at your collection of LPs." Douglas Adams from ’Eye of the Storm’ 2000.
He began Hipgnosis with Aubrey Powell in the 60’s, more by chance than anything, and ended up designing album covers for Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Genesis and many others. In 1983 he turned to videos by forming Green Back Films with Po and Peter Christopherson, and making clips for Paul Young, Yes, Robert Plant and Nik Kershaw, before disbanding in 1985. He later joined PMI, Harry Films and Lee Lacy and has been making films ever since.
Born, if that’s the word, in Potters Bar, Middlesex in 1944. Moved through Grays in Essex and Whitley Bay in Northumberland and settled in Cambridge. Educated at A.S. Neill’s Summerhill, the original free school. Disturbed early years were followed by exciting teenage life in the early 1960’s, in Cambridge, from which emerged several artists and musicians including Pink Floyd. Adolescence blighted only by parents’ divorce. Dedicated student for six years reading English at Leicester University and then studying Film and TV at the Royal College of Art.
Storm has written and produced some of the most essential books on album cover design ever, including ’Walk Away Renee’, ’Mind Over Matter’ and ’Eye of the Storm’. Many say that Storm Thorgerson could genuinely claim to be the 6th member of Pink Floyd, certainly his visuals for them and others have played an essential part in the psyche of rock and roll culture.
Sadly Storm passed away in April 2013, Rockarchive is honoured to showcase his work.
