Storm Thorgerson, Iconic Album Cover Designer, Dies at 68
Storm Thorgerson, renowned for his graphic design of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon cover, died on Thursday, as confirmed by the band's management. His illustrious career featured memorable album covers for artists such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and The Cranberries. Thorgerson was known for blending surrealism with land art, often opting for tangible creations over digital formats. Among his celebrated pieces are The Cranberries' 2001 album Wake Up and Smell the Coffee, showcasing a woman in a desert, and Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here, depicting a businessman engulfed in flames. He was 68 years old and continued to work, highlighting production narratives in his art until his final days.
Key facts
- Storm Thorgerson died on Thursday at age 68
- He designed Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon album cover in 1973
- His clients included Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Cranberries, The Mars Volta, Scorpions, and Biffy Clyro
- He created the cover for The Cranberries' Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (2001) featuring a bed in a desert
- He produced the floating eye artwork for The Cranberries' Bury the Hatchet (1999)
- He set a businessman on fire for Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here (1975) cover
- He set a Biffy Clyro member on fire for their 2007 single Saturday Superhouse
- He was interviewed in 2012 during a photoshoot with photographer Rankin
Entities
Artists
- Storm Thorgerson
- Rankin
Institutions
- Pink Floyd
- Black Sabbath
- Led Zeppelin
- The Cranberries
- The Mars Volta
- Scorpions
- Biffy Clyro
- ArtReview