The Manuscript
Taken By Storm
The author signed book contains thoughtful insight and commentary from Storm on the development of now iconic album covers such as Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and Led Zeppelin's Presence.
Gasoline 'Memory is a devilish thing, a slippery thing, you think you got it down and then it eludes you, like trying to catch a fish with bare hands. This image of eyes on trees is an exterior installation - hundreds of photos of eyes attached temporarily to silver birch trees, but its derivation I am not too sure about. Being an image of romance (romantic obsession) and paranoia. Alternatively I dimly recall a lateral association with the phrase 'the walls have ears' (more paranoia) so the trees have eyes but why trees? I don't know, I remember that they had to be silver birches, not some other tree, which may have have been a simple visual preference. Either way Rupert and Sam made a sterling effort to adorn every tree in sight making, I think, an effective and eye catching (oh my) image.'
Storm ThorgersonThe Dark Side of the Moon 30th 'The stained glass window was made in the same proportions as the original design but substituting a deep purple hue for the black background since black glass does not admit any light and might defeat the whole purpose. The stained glass window was photographed outside against a winter sun (actually in the back garden of a house belonging to one of Pink Floyd) highlighting the texture and imperfections of the glass itself. All very radiant we thought, especially in the flesh.'
Storm ThorgersonPresence 'I was greatly impressed that Led Zeppelin, the mighty Led Zeppelin, could take this low key, off the wall, domestic semi-kitsch, partially retro design... so obscure really. Impressed and delighted because I always felt that the understatement adds to the power of the image.
A standard, bourgeois family - mum, dad and two kids - sit around a table in some strange marina (actually an indoor boat show) not to eat or commune but to examine an oddly shaped black object that seems to enthral them. Seems they don't need much else - the table is bare. Does the black object represent Led Zeppelin? All the family needs is to bask in their musical emanations.'
Storm ThorgersonWish You Were Here 'It was very difficult to design this cover following the phenomenal success of
The Dark Side Of The Moon. After prolonged conversations with all of the band, especially with Roger, it seemed that 'absence' was a recurring theme, especially absence of commitment - either to relationships or to work. There in the flesh but not in the spirit. At this moment in time, the band was beginning to drift apart and Roger was getting divorced. I racked my brains for good ideas as to how to represent 'absence' whilst being present. I went through the motions, until perchance we stumbled upon the notion of traces ie: shadows, footsteps, things that indicate presence but are in themselves insubstantial or not very present. These ideas became intermingled with empty gestures, maybe a handshake where people grip your hand warmly but don't mean too much. From there to absent emotions and thence to people who were absent for fear of being hurt, or burnt, and from that to a person on fire.'
Storm Thorgerson
