++ The front panel of the Space Ritual tour programme/poster ++
Just as he did for Ian Dury & The Blockheads and Elvis Costello and the Attractions half-a-decade later, Barney Bubbles produced a fold-out programme/poster for Hawkwind’s 1972 Space Ritual tour.
++ Opened out to reveal this portrait of saxophonist Nik Turner and the start of Robert Calvert’s essay ++
As well as Bubbles’ striking illustrations and graphics, the exercise included photography of the group’s main members and an entertaining if rambling sci-fi/semi-fictional account of the group’s activities by poet, lyricist and performer Robert Calvert.
++ Unfolded the poster measures 56 x 39 cm ++
Calvert, Bubbles and other contributors such as writer Michael Moorcock received tips of the hat in the credits.
Barney Bubbles’ representation of dancer/performance artist Stacia Blake adorned the front panel of his hugely ambitious trifold sleeve for Hawkwind’s live album Space Ritual, released 50 years ago last month.
Those familiar with the sleeve will know that once unfolded the front six panels show that the Stacia figure was emitting shockwaves across the artwork, which incorporated photography of the group in performance by Laurie Lewis and Gabi Nasemann.
++ L’Emeraude, Alphonse Mucha, 1902. Colour lithograph from the Precious Stones series. 67 x 30cm ++
The arresting front panel channels the Art Nouveau work of Czech painter, illustrator and graphic artist Alphonse Mucha, who was very much in vogue in post-hippie circles in the early 1970s. British artist John Coulthart has identified elements in the Space Ritual design directly derived from Mucha’s 1900 lithograph L’Emeraude (The Emerald).
++ The Precious Stones series, 1902 ++
The slavering beast’s head appeared in many of Mucha’s drawings and was based on armrests on one of his chairs, whileL’Emeraude was in Mucha’s series Les pierres précieuses (Precious Stones) along with representations of topaz, ruby and amethyst.
This is Barney Bubbles’ copy of one of the books which not only advanced graphic design practice in the 1960s but was also to leave a major mark on him and his future output.
Hundreds of record sleeves and pieces of ephemera designed by Barney Bubbles are currently on display in Sweden’s oldest record store, Burmans Musik in Umeå.
++ Armed Forces front cover from the 2020 box set reissue ++
Sad to note the death last month at the age of 69 of the intriguing artist Tim (sometimes Tom) Pogson, whose work notably included the incredible pastiche of the popular wildlife painter David Shepherd for the front cover of Elvis Costello & The Attractions’ 1979 album Armed Forces.
‘There was a fair amount of detective work which went into it, but once you unlocked the door, it seemed that a lot of people were waiting for this; those that either worked with Bubbles or those that appreciated him were waiting for like-minded souls.’
Paul Gorman to Jon Langmead, popmatters.com
The Wild World of Barney Bubbles is hailed as ‘a lovely and essential work bursting with delight’ by pop culture website popmatters.com.
Writer Jon Langmead, who interviews Wild World author Paul Gorman, has skin in the game as the drummer for The Paranoid Style. As regular readers will know, their new album released this week features lead track Barney Bubbles, a tribute to the late designer.
This is the colour version of the drawing by musician Ed Hamell – of the band Hamell On Trial – which appears on the inner sleeve of The Paranoid Style’s new album For Executive Meeting.
Hamell also contributed to the lyric video for the album’s lead track tribute to Bubbles, including the interpretation of the cover of Elvis Costello & The Attractions’s album Imperial Bedroom – watch out for it at 02.00 in the clip:
Artists’ agent and passionate music lover Norman Maslov has posted a 10 minute journey through The Wild World of Barney Bubbles on his Youtube channel, augmented by examples of original and reissue record sleeve and poster designs from his collection.
Calvert, Bubbles and other contributors such as writer Michael Moorcock received tips of the hat in the credits.
