Died On This Date (May 12, 2014) H.R. Giger / Created Iconic Album Covers

Hans Rudolf Giger
February 5, 1940 – May 12, 2014

hr-gigerPerhaps best known for bringing the Alien  creature to life for the film of the same name, H.R. Giger also made a considerable contribution to pop music as well.  A surrealist painter born in Graubünden, Switzerland, Giger grew up to be one of the most revered if not controversial artists of his time.  He was awarded an Academy Award for Best Achievement for Visual Effects as part of the team who created 1979’s Alien.  Throughout his career, Giger also created some of the most visually stimulating album covers in rock history – the kind you couldn’t take your eyes off of as you listened to the album.  That list includes Emerson, Lake & Palmer‘s Brain Salad SurgeryDeborah Harry‘s Koo Koo, Danzig‘s Danzig III: How The Gods Kill, Triptykon‘s Melana Chamata, as well as the notorious poster inside the Dead Kennedy‘s Frankenchrist which lead to an obscenity trial.  He was also commissioned to design an occasional microphone stand and guitar based on his artwork.  H.R. Giger was 74 when he died while being hospitalized after falling down the stairs in his home.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

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Died On This Date (June 25, 2013) Mark Fisher / Designed Stages For U2, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones & More

Mark Fisher
April 20, 1947 – June 25, 2013

mark-fisherMark Fisher was an esteemed British architect whose contribution to popular music came by way of tour stages he designed some of the biggest tours in history.  His highlights include the Rolling Stones‘ 1989 Steel Wheels 1994 Voodoo Lounge stages, U2‘s 2009 360 stage, and Pink Floyd‘s 1980 The Wall stage.  He also developed stages for tours by Madonna, Tina Turner, Peter Gabriel, Robbie Williams and Lady Gaga to name a few.   Mark Fisher died in his sleep while in hospice care on June 25, 2013.  He was 66.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus at Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.



Died On This Date (June 8, 2013) Arturo Vega / Ramones Logo Designer

Arturo Vega
1948 – June 8, 2013

Arturo-Vega1Arturo Vega was a graphic designer who is best remembered for his 20+ years of creative service for the Ramones.  Originally from Mexico, Vega emigrated to the United States during the ’70s, and settled in New York City.  He soon became friends with the band and even let Joey Ramone and Dee Dee Ramone live in his loft for at time.  As the band’s artistic director since 1974, Vega created many of the band’s logos including their iconic “Hey Ho Let’s Go” shield logo.  For many years, t-shirts that were adorned with the shield where the main source of income for the band.  His handy work can be seen on such albums as Ramones, Leave Home, and Ramones Mania as well.  Vega also worked as the Ramone’s lighting director and claimed to have been at all but two of the their 2200+ shows.  In later years, he managed the band’s website.  Arturo Vega was 65 when he passed away on June 8, 2013.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus at Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.

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Died On This Date (April 18, 2013) Storm Thorgerson / Created Several Iconic Album Covers

Storm Thorgerson
February 28, 1944 – April 18, 2013

storm-thorgersonStorm Thorgerson was a renowned graphic artist whose catalog includes some of rock music’s most famous album covers. Born in Middlesex, England, Thorgerson went to high school with Syd Barrett and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame.  He eventually joined a graphic arts collective called Hipgnosis which created many popular album cover designs until closing shop in 1983.  He then went on to form his own design house, Storm Studios.  Arguably, Thorgerson’s most famous cover is the one he designed for Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.  Often surreal in nature, his canon of work includes the covers of most of the Pink Floyd albums; the Cult‘s Electric; Led Zeppelin‘s Presence and In Through the Out Door; Peter Gabriel‘s three self-titled albums; as well as visually stunning covers for Muse, Phish, Megadeth, Catherine Wheel, Black Sabbath, the Cranberries, Genesis, Alan Parsons and many more.  Thorgerson also directed popular videos by the likes of Bruce Dickinson, Nik Kershaw, Paul Young, David Gilmour, and of course, Pink Floyd.  He suffered a stroke in 2003 but recovered and went back to work.  Sometime later, he was diagnosed with cancer and ultimately died from it on April 18, 2013.  Storm Thorgerson was 69 when he passed away.

Thanks to Bruce Kilgour at Slipped Disc Entertainment for the assist.

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Died On This Date (March 28, 2013) Robert Zildjian / Founder Of Sabian Cymbal Company

Robert Zildjian
July 14, 1923 – March 28, 2013

robert-zildjianRobert Zildjian was the founder of Sabian Cymbal Company, one of music’s most popular brands.  Born into the family that began making cymbals in Istanbul in 1633, Zildian went into the family business at a very young age.  At almost 400 years old, the Avedis Zildjian Company is one of the oldest companies in the world.  In 1929, the business moved to America, and in 1981 – after a family dispute – Robert broke away and formed the Sabian Cymbal Company.  The two cymbal makers have coexisted yet remained rivals ever since.  Sabian Cymbals have been used by many of the greatest drummers in rock history.  Robert Zildian died of cancer on March 28, 2013.  He was 89.

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