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{{Short description|British artist (1938–2017)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Alan Aldridge
| name = Alan Aldridge
| image = Alan Aldridge (1971).jpg
| image = Alan Aldridge (1971).jpg
| caption = Alan Aldridge (1971)
| caption = Aldridge in 1971
| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1938|07|08}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1938|7|8}}
| birth_place = London, England
| birth_place = London, England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|02|17|df=yes|1938|07|08}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|2|17|df=y|1938|7|8}}
⚫
| occupation = Artist, illustrator, graphic designer, creative director, graphic entertainer
| residence = [[Los Angeles]], [[United States|USA]]
| nationality = British
⚫
| occupation = Artist, illustrator, graphic designer, creative director, graphic entertainer
| years_active = 1965–2017
| years_active = 1965–2017
| spouse = {{unbulleted list
|spouse= Rita Farthing <br>[[Laura Lyons]]
| {{marriage|Rita Farthing|||end=divorced}}
⚫
|partner= Andrea Gayler
| {{marriage|[[Laura Lyons]]|||end=divorced}}
| children = 8
}}
}}
⚫
| partner = Andrea Gayler

| children = 8, including [[Miles Aldridge|Miles]], [[Saffron Aldridge|Saffron]], [[Lily Aldridge|Lily]] and [[Ruby Aldridge|Ruby]]
⚫
'''Alan Aldridge''' (8 July 1938<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/feb/22/alan-aldridge-obituary|title=Alan Aldridge obituary|work=The Guardian|date=22 February 2017|accessdate=30 May 2019}}</ref> – 17 February 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bestclassicbands.com/alan-aldridge-obituary-2-18-17/|title=Alan Aldridge, Album Cover Designer for The Who and Elton John, Dies|work=Best Classic Bands|date=18 February 2017|accessdate=19 February 2017}}</ref> was a British artist, graphic designer and illustrator. He is best known for his psychedelic artwork made for books and record covers by [[The Beatles]] and [[The Who]].<ref>https://www.lambiek.net/artists/a/aldridge_alan.htm</ref>
| relatives = [[Caleb Followill]] (son-in-law)
}}
⚫
'''Alan Aldridge''' (8 July 1938<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Sweeting |first=Adam |date=22 February 2017 |title=Alan Aldridge obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/feb/22/alan-aldridge-obituary |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630052024/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/feb/22/alan-aldridge-obituary |archive-date=30 June 2022 |accessdate=30 May 2019 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> – 17 February 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bestclassicbands.com/alan-aldridge-obituary-2-18-17/|title=Alan Aldridge, Album Cover Designer for The Who and Elton John, Dies|work=Best Classic Bands|date=18 February 2017|accessdate=19 February 2017}}</ref> was a British artist, graphic designer and illustrator. He is best known for his psychedelic artwork made for books and record covers by [[The Beatles]] and [[The Who]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/a/aldridge_alan.htm|title=Alan Aldridge}}</ref> His bold, surreal, and colorful style was unique and different compared to the more restrained 'Swiss style' during his time.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=2017-02-24 |title=Remembering Alan Aldridge: the graphic designer of the “swinging sixties” |url=https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/20-26-february-2017/remembering-alan-aldridge-revolutionary-graphic-designer-swinging-sixties/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Design Week |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Alan Aldridge Biography |url=https://www.artnet.com/artists/alan-aldridge/biography |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=www.artnet.com}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==


Aldridge was born in North London but moved and lived in Los Angeles, California <u>i</u>n the 1980s, searching for opportunities in film and design.<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |date=2017-02-24 |title=Remembering Alan Aldridge: the graphic designer of the “swinging sixties” |url=https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/20-26-february-2017/remembering-alan-aldridge-revolutionary-graphic-designer-swinging-sixties/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Design Week |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |date=2008-10-15 |title=Drawing on experience - Alan Aldridge interview |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/drawing-on-experience-alan-aldridge-interview-2456893 |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=The Scotsman |language=en}}</ref> On 17 February 2017, his death was announced via Instagram.<ref>{{Cite Instagram |postid=BQn6ZuYjH3b |user=lilyaldridge |title=I love you Daddy 💔🙏🏼❤ I feel so blessed to have been given a father who I love admire & respect as much as you. I'm so proud to be your daughter. Thank you for the years of magic ✨❤🙏🏼 #MyIdol 🕷👁💧 |author=Lily Aldridge |date=2017-02-17 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/lilyaldridge/1452386259338821083 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Aldridge was born in North London and lived in Los Angeles, California. Aldridge was twice divorced. He was survived by eight children: Miles, Saffron, Pim, Marc, Toby, James, Lily and Ruby.


When he died, he left behind 8 children: fashion photographer [[Miles Aldridge]], model and social activist [[Saffron Aldridge]] and Marc from his first marriage to Rita Farthing; two sons, Pim and Toby, from a relationship with Andrea Gayler; and two daughters, models [[Lily Aldridge]] and [[Ruby Aldridge]], and a son, James, from his second marriage to [[Laura Lyons]], which also ended in divorce.<ref name=":0" /> He was given 11 grandchildren.
Four of his children are fashion photographer [[Miles Aldridge]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.palazzoeditions.com/index.php?item=213 |title=Artist profile on the Palazzo website |access-date=2 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318205120/http://www.palazzoeditions.com/index.php?item=213 |archive-date=18 March 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and models [[Saffron Aldridge]],<ref name="Bio of Saffron Aldridge">[http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/models/Saffron_Aldridge/ Bio of Saffron Aldridge]</ref> [[Lily Aldridge]] and [[Ruby Aldridge]]. On 17 February 2017, his daughter Lily announced his death via Instagram.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/BQn6ZuYjH3b/]</ref>

One of his important but unfinished projects was ''The Gnole'', a fantasy novel he wrote which was later picked up for a potential film adaptation. Although the movie was never produced, it remains as one of his notable creative works.<ref name=":12" />


==Career==
==Career==


[[File:Make Room! Make Room!.jpg|thumb|right|Aldridge's illustration for ''[[Make Room! Make Room!]]'' by [[Harry Harrison (writer)|Harry Harrison]] typifies his early style.]]<!-- FAIR USE of Image:Make Room! Make Room!.jpg: see image description page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Image:Make Room! Make Room!.jpg for rationale -->Aldridge first worked as an illustrator at ''"The Sunday Times Magazine.'''' After doing some freelance book covers for [[Penguin Books]], he was hired in March 1965 by Penguin's chief editor [[Tony Godwin]] to become the art director of Penguin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.penguinsciencefiction.org/08.html#Aldridge |title=The Art of Penguin Science Fiction}}</ref> Over the next two years as art director, he especially focused on science fiction book covers and introduced his style which resonated with the mood of the time. In 1968 he moved to his own graphic-design firm, INK, which became closely involved with graphic images for [[the Beatles]] and [[Apple Corps]].<ref name=Palazzo>{{cite web|url=http://www.palazzoeditions.com/index.php?item=213 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318205120/http://www.palazzoeditions.com/index.php?item=213 |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 March 2008 |title=Palazzo : Artist & Author Profiles : Latest Profiles : Alan Aldridge |date=17 September 2006 |work=[[The New York Times]] |accessdate=2 December 2008 }}</ref>
[[File:Make Room! Make Room!.jpg|thumb|right|Aldridge's illustration for ''[[Make Room! Make Room!]]'' by [[Harry Harrison (writer)|Harry Harrison]] typifies his early style.]]<!-- FAIR USE of Image:Make Room! Make Room!.jpg: see image description page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Image:Make Room! Make Room!.jpg for rationale -->Aldridge first worked as an illustrator at ''The Sunday Times Magazine''. After doing some freelance book covers for [[Penguin Books]], he was hired in March 1965 by Penguin's chief editor [[Tony Godwin]] to become the art director of Penguin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.penguinsciencefiction.org/08.html#Aldridge |title=The Art of Penguin Science Fiction}}</ref> Over the next two years as art director, he especially focused on science fiction book covers and introduced his style which resonated with the mood of the time. In 1968 he moved to his own graphic-design firm, INK, which became closely involved with graphic images for [[the Beatles]] and [[Apple Corps]].<ref name=Palazzo>{{cite web|url=http://www.palazzoeditions.com/index.php?item=213 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318205120/http://www.palazzoeditions.com/index.php?item=213 |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 March 2008 |title=Palazzo : Artist & Author Profiles : Latest Profiles : Alan Aldridge |date=17 September 2006 |work=[[The New York Times]] |accessdate=2 December 2008 }}</ref>


During the 1960s and 1970s, he was responsible for a great many [[album cover]]s, and helped create the graphic style of that era. He designed a series of science fiction book covers for Penguin Books. He made a big impression with his illustrations for [[The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics]] book. He also provided illustrations for ''The Penguin Book of Comics'', a history of British and American comic art.<ref>https://www.lambiek.net/artists/a/aldridge_alan.htm</ref> His work was characterised by a flowing, cartoony style and soft airbrushing – very much in step with the psychedelic styles of the times. His work includes the 1971 anti-war poster entitled ''A great place for hamburgers but who'd want to live there!''<ref name="Aulich">{{cite book|last1=Aulich|first1=James|title=War Posters: Weapons of Mass Communication|date=2007|publisher=[[Thames & Hudson]]|location=New York|isbn=9780500251416|page=237}}</ref><ref>https://www.lambiek.net/artists/a/aldridge_alan.htm</ref>
During the 1960s and 1970s, he was responsible for a great many [[album cover]]s, and helped create the graphic style of that era. He designed a series of science fiction book covers for Penguin Books. He made a big impression with his illustrations for the book ''[[The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics]]''. He also provided illustrations for ''The Penguin Book of Comics'', a history of British and American comic art.<ref name=":1" /> His work was characterised by a flowing, cartoony style and soft airbrushing – very much in step with the psychedelic styles of the times. His work includes the 1971 anti-war poster entitled ''A great place for hamburgers but who'd want to live there!''<ref name="Aulich">{{cite book|last1=Aulich|first1=James|title=War Posters: Weapons of Mass Communication|url=https://archive.org/details/warpostersweapon0000auli|url-access=registration|date=2007|publisher=[[Thames & Hudson]]|location=New York|isbn=9780500251416|page=[https://archive.org/details/warpostersweapon0000auli/page/237 237]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Knudde |first=Kjell |title=Alan Aldridge |url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/a/aldridge_alan.htm |website=Lambiek Comiclopedia}}</ref>


In the theatre, in February 1969 he designed the graphics for controversial [[Jane Arden (director)|Jane Arden]] play ''[[Vagina Rex and the Gas Oven]]'' at the [[Arts Lab#Drury Lane Arts Lab|London Arts Laboratory]], [[Drury Lane]].<ref>https://www.lambiek.net/artists/a/aldridge_alan.htm</ref>
In February 1969, Aldridge designed the graphics for the controversial [[Jane Arden (director)|Jane Arden]] play ''[[Vagina Rex and the Gas Oven]]'' at the [[Arts Lab#Drury Lane Arts Lab|London Arts Laboratory]], [[Drury Lane]].<ref name=":1" />


He is possibly best known, however, for the picture book ''[[The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper Feast]]'' (1973), a series of illustrations of [[anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] insects and other creatures, which he created in collaboration with Harry Willock, [[William Plomer]] wrote the accompanying verses. This was based on [[William Roscoe]]'s poem of the same name, but was inspired when Aldridge read that [[John Tenniel]] had told [[Lewis Carroll]] it was impossible to draw a [[Through the Looking-Glass#The Wasp in a wig|wasp in a wig]].
Aldridge is possibly best known for the picture book ''[[The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper Feast]]'' (1973), a series of illustrations of [[anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] insects and other creatures, which he created in collaboration with Harry Willock. [[William Plomer]] wrote the accompanying verses. This was based on [[William Roscoe]]'s poem of the same name, but was inspired when Aldridge read that [[John Tenniel]] had told [[Lewis Carroll]] it was impossible to draw a [[Through the Looking-Glass#The Wasp in a wig|wasp in a wig]].


Aldridge also created the artwork for ''[[Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy]]'' by [[Elton John]] in 1975.<ref>https://www.lambiek.net/artists/a/aldridge_alan.htm</ref> In 1977 he created an advertisement illustration for the Dutch beer brand [[Heineken]].<ref>https://www.lambiek.net/artists/a/aldridge_alan.htm</ref>
Aldridge created the artwork for [[Elton John]]'s 1975 album ''[[Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy]]''.<ref name=":1" /> In 1977, he created an advertisement illustration for the Dutch beer brand [[Heineken]].<ref name=":1" /> He was the creator of the ''[[Hard Rock Café]]'' logo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hardrock.com/news/passing-of-artist-alan-aldridge/|title = Home|date = 12 May 2017}}</ref>


==Honours and awards==
==Honours and awards==
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A retrospective ''Alan Aldridge – the Man with the Kaleidoscope Eyes'' featured at the [[Design Museum]] in London from 10 October 2008 to 25 January 2009, and was reviewed as "The trip of a lifetime".<ref name=designmuseum>{{cite web |url=http://www.designmuseum.org/exhibitions/2008/alanaldridge |title=Alan Aldridge |year=2006 |publisher= Design Museum |accessdate=2 December 2008| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081205113507/http://www.designmuseum.org/exhibitions/2008/alanaldridge| archivedate= 5 December 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>
A retrospective ''Alan Aldridge – the Man with the Kaleidoscope Eyes'' featured at the [[Design Museum]] in London from 10 October 2008 to 25 January 2009, and was reviewed as "The trip of a lifetime".<ref name=designmuseum>{{cite web |url=http://www.designmuseum.org/exhibitions/2008/alanaldridge |title=Alan Aldridge |year=2006 |publisher= Design Museum |accessdate=2 December 2008| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081205113507/http://www.designmuseum.org/exhibitions/2008/alanaldridge| archivedate= 5 December 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>


⚫
Over the years Aldridge won many awards for his work, among them [[Costa Book Awards|Whitbread Children's Book Award]] (1973).<ref>[http://facstaff.unca.edu/moseley/whitbread.html Costa Book Awards.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507023548/http://facstaff.unca.edu/moseley/whitbread.html |date=7 May 2010 }}</ref>
''"Aldridge was the 'Guv'nor'....no one comes close to matching his influence on illustration in the 20th Century!..."'' – [[Sir John Betjeman]], ''The Times Literary Review'', 1975.

"His Royal Master of Images to Their Majesties The Beatles." [[John Lennon]] in 1968.<ref>[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/article4907331.ece Alan Aldridge in ''The Times'', October 12, 2008.]</ref>

Nicknamed himself "The Man with the Kaleidoscope Eyes" after a line in the Beatles' song "[[Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds]]".

Was known in the 1960s and '70s as "the Graphic entertainer".<ref>[http://art.bradley.edu/bug/?p=664 "Alan Aldridge"]. Archive edition of audio-video lecture by Aldridge(?) with brief preface. 17 September 2009. Bradley University Galleries, [[Bradley University]].</ref>

⚫
Over the years Aldridge has won many awards for his work, among them [[Costa Book Awards|Whitbread Children's Book Award]] (1973).<ref>[http://facstaff.unca.edu/moseley/whitbread.html Costa Book Awards.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507023548/http://facstaff.unca.edu/moseley/whitbread.html |date=7 May 2010 }}</ref>


==Selected works==
==Selected works==
<!-- formerly "Other works" and (two eds. of one book) "Further reading" -- what is the criterion? important works covered in prose listing here too -->
<!-- formerly "Other works" and (two eds. of one book) "Further reading" -- what is the criterion? important works covered in prose listing here too -->
*Cover for ''Boswell's London Journal 1762–1763'', ed. Frederick Pottle, Penguin (1966).
* Cover for ''Boswell's London Journal 1762–1763'', ed. Frederick Pottle, Penguin (1966).
*Cover design for ''[[A Quick One]]'' by [[The Who]] (1966).
* Cover design for ''[[A Quick One]]'' by [[The Who]] (1966).
*Poster for [[Andy Warhol]] and [[Paul Morrissey]]'s film ''[[Chelsea Girls]]'' (1966).
* Poster for [[Andy Warhol]] and [[Paul Morrissey]]'s film ''[[Chelsea Girls]]'' (1966).
*Covers for [http://www.penguinsciencefiction.org/10.html Penguin Science Fiction books] (1967).
* Covers for [http://www.penguinsciencefiction.org/10.html Penguin Science Fiction books] (1967).
* Cover design for ''[[Under the Jasmin Tree]]'' by the [[Modern Jazz Quartet]] (1968).
*''[[The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics]]'' (US, [[Houghton Mifflin]]; UK, MacDonald Unit 75, 1969) editor, select illustrations.
* ''[[The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics]]'' (US, [[Houghton Mifflin]]; UK, MacDonald Unit 75, 1969) editor, select illustrations.
*''Ann in the Moon'' (1970), with story by [[Frances D. Francis]].
*''The Penguin Book of Comics'' (1971), with George Perry, published by Penguin Books.
* ''Ann in the Moon'' (1970), with story by [[Frances D. Francis]].
*''[[The Ship's Cat (children's book)|The Ship's Cat]]'' (1977), illustrated in collaboration with Harry Willock, with verses by [[Richard Adams]].
* ''The Penguin Book of Comics'' (1971), with George Perry, published by Penguin Books.
* ''[[The Ship's Cat (children's book)|The Ship's Cat]]'' (1977), illustrated in collaboration with Harry Willock, with verses by [[Richard Adams]].
*''The Peacock Party'' (1979) and ''The Lion's Cavalcade'' (1980), sequels to ''The Butterfly Ball'', based on anonymous sequels to Roscoe's version with verses by [[George E. Ryder]] and [[Ted Walker]] respectively. Illustrated in collaboration with Harry Willock.
* ''The Peacock Party'' (1979) and ''The Lion's Cavalcade'' (1980), sequels to ''The Butterfly Ball'', based on anonymous sequels to Roscoe's version with verses by [[George E. Ryder]] and [[Ted Walker]] respectively. Illustrated in collaboration with Harry Willock.
*''Phantasia: Of Docklands, Rocklands and Dodos'' (1981)
* ''Phantasia: Of Docklands, Rocklands and Dodos'' (1981)
*''[[The Gnole]]'' (1999), with [[Steve Boyett]] (writer) and [[Maxine Miller]] (colorist).
* ''[[The Gnole]]'' (1999), with [[Steve Boyett]] (writer) and [[Maxine Miller]] (colorist).
* Illustrations and logo design for ''[[Everybody Loves a Happy Ending]]'', the sixth studio album by British pop rock/new wave band [[Tears for Fears]], 2004.
* Illustrations and logo design for ''[[Everybody Loves a Happy Ending]]'', the sixth studio album by British pop rock/new wave band [[Tears for Fears]], 2004.
* Aldridge is also credited for Art Direction and Illustration on ''[[Light Grenades]]'' (2006), the sixth studio album for [[Incubus (band)|Incubus]].
* Aldridge is also credited for Art Direction and Illustration on ''[[Light Grenades]]'' (2006), the sixth studio album for [[Incubus (band)|Incubus]].
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==References==
==References==
{{reflist|25em}}
{{Reflist|25em}}


*{{cite book|last1=Aulich|first1=James|title=War Posters: Weapons of Mass Communication|date=2007|publisher=Thames & Hudson|location=New York|isbn=9780500251416}}
* {{cite book|last1=Aulich|first1=James|title=War Posters: Weapons of Mass Communication|url=https://archive.org/details/warpostersweapon0000auli|url-access=registration|date=2007|publisher=Thames & Hudson|location=New York|isbn=9780500251416}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Portal |Speculative fiction |Visual arts}}
{{Portal |Speculative fiction |Visual arts}}
⚫
* [http://bartolomy.com/galleries/designers/ Picture of Alan Aldridge @ The Design Museum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401072906/http://bartolomy.com/galleries/designers/ |date=1 April 2012 }}
* {{Official website }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.dexigner.com/news/16087 |title=Alan Aldridge – The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes |work=Dexigner |accessdate=2 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903072433/http://www.dexigner.com/news/16087 |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=dead }}
⚫
*[http://bartolomy.com/galleries/designers/ Picture of Alan Aldridge @ The Design Museum]
*{{cite web |url=https://www.dexigner.com/news/16087 |title=Alan Aldridge – The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes |work=Dexigner |accessdate=2 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903072433/http://www.dexigner.com/news/16087 |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.timeout.com/london/museums-attractions/event/64824/alan-aldridge-the-man-with-kaleidoscope-eyes.html |title=Alan Aldridge – The Man With Kaleidoscope Eyes at Design Museum – Museums & Attractions – Time Out London |accessdate=2 December 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028152209/http://www.timeout.com/london/museums-attractions/event/64824/alan-aldridge-the-man-with-kaleidoscope-eyes.html |archivedate=28 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}
⚫
* [http://www.penguinsciencefiction.org/10.html Alan Aldridge's science fiction covers for Penguin Books.]
*{{cite web |url=http://www.timeout.com/london/museums-attractions/event/64824/alan-aldridge-the-man-with-kaleidoscope-eyes.html |title=Alan Aldridge – The Man With Kaleidoscope Eyes at Design Museum – Museums & Attractions – Time Out London |accessdate=2 December 2008| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081028152209/http://www.timeout.com/london/museums-attractions/event/64824/alan-aldridge-the-man-with-kaleidoscope-eyes.html| archivedate= 28 October 2008 | url-status= live}}
⚫
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110923195047/http://www.debutart.com/illustration/alan-aldridge Alan Aldridge agent website]
⚫
*[http://www.penguinsciencefiction.org/10.html Alan Aldridge's science fiction covers for Penguin Books.]
⚫
* {{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/working/0811.shtml?all=1&id=0811 |title=Man Alive: Top Class People |date=10 May 1967 |work=Working Class Britain Collection |publisher=[[BBC]] |accessdate=31 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116081140/http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/working/0811.shtml?all=1&id=0811 |archivedate=16 January 2009 |df=dmy }}. Alan Aldridge is one of six people interviewed during the 29-minute BBC2 program.
⚫
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110923195047/http://www.debutart.com/illustration/alan-aldridge Alan Aldridge agent website]
⚫
* {{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/working/0811.shtml?all=1&id=0811 |title=Man Alive: Top Class People |date=10 May 1967 |work=Working Class Britain Collection |publisher=[[BBC]] |accessdate=31 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116081140/http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/working/0811.shtml?all=1&id=0811 |archivedate=16 January 2009 |df=dmy }}. Alan Aldridge is one of six people interviewed during the 29-minute BBC2 program.
* {{isfdb name|2285 }}
* {{isfdb name|2285 }}
* {{LCAuth|n50037324|Alan Aldridge|19|ue}}
* {{LCAuth|n50037324|Alan Aldridge|19|ue}}
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[[Category:English illustrators]]
[[Category:English illustrators]]
[[Category:English graphic designers]]
[[Category:English graphic designers]]
[[Category:Aldridge family|Alan]]
[[Category:Artists from London]]
[[Category:Artists from London]]
[[Category:Album-cover and concert-poster artists]]
[[Category:British album-cover and concert-poster artists]]
[[Category:Advertising artists and illustrators]]
[[Category:Advertising artists and illustrators]]
[[Category:English expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:English expatriates in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 03:15, 19 December 2024

Alan Aldridge
Aldridge in 1971
Born(1938-07-08)8 July 1938
London, England
Died17 February 2017(2017-02-17) (aged 78)
Occupation(s)Artist, illustrator, graphic designer, creative director, graphic entertainer
Years active1965–2017
Spouses
  • Rita Farthing
    ​
    (divorced)​
  • ​
    (divorced)​
PartnerAndrea Gayler
Children8, including Miles, Saffron, Lily and Ruby
RelativesCaleb Followill (son-in-law)

Alan Aldridge (8 July 1938[1] – 17 February 2017)[2] was a British artist, graphic designer and illustrator. He is best known for his psychedelic artwork made for books and record covers by The Beatles and The Who.[3] His bold, surreal, and colorful style was unique and different compared to the more restrained 'Swiss style' during his time.[4][5]

Personal life

[edit]

Aldridge was born in North London but moved and lived in Los Angeles, California in the 1980s, searching for opportunities in film and design.[6][7] On 17 February 2017, his death was announced via Instagram.[8]

When he died, he left behind 8 children: fashion photographer Miles Aldridge, model and social activist Saffron Aldridge and Marc from his first marriage to Rita Farthing; two sons, Pim and Toby, from a relationship with Andrea Gayler; and two daughters, models Lily Aldridge and Ruby Aldridge, and a son, James, from his second marriage to Laura Lyons, which also ended in divorce.[1] He was given 11 grandchildren.

One of his important but unfinished projects was The Gnole, a fantasy novel he wrote which was later picked up for a potential film adaptation. Although the movie was never produced, it remains as one of his notable creative works.[7]

Career

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Aldridge's illustration for Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison typifies his early style.

Aldridge first worked as an illustrator at The Sunday Times Magazine. After doing some freelance book covers for Penguin Books, he was hired in March 1965 by Penguin's chief editor Tony Godwin to become the art director of Penguin.[9] Over the next two years as art director, he especially focused on science fiction book covers and introduced his style which resonated with the mood of the time. In 1968 he moved to his own graphic-design firm, INK, which became closely involved with graphic images for the Beatles and Apple Corps.[10]

During the 1960s and 1970s, he was responsible for a great many album covers, and helped create the graphic style of that era. He designed a series of science fiction book covers for Penguin Books. He made a big impression with his illustrations for the book The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics. He also provided illustrations for The Penguin Book of Comics, a history of British and American comic art.[11] His work was characterised by a flowing, cartoony style and soft airbrushing – very much in step with the psychedelic styles of the times. His work includes the 1971 anti-war poster entitled A great place for hamburgers but who'd want to live there![12][11]

In February 1969, Aldridge designed the graphics for the controversial Jane Arden play Vagina Rex and the Gas Oven at the London Arts Laboratory, Drury Lane.[11]

Aldridge is possibly best known for the picture book The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper Feast (1973), a series of illustrations of anthropomorphic insects and other creatures, which he created in collaboration with Harry Willock. William Plomer wrote the accompanying verses. This was based on William Roscoe's poem of the same name, but was inspired when Aldridge read that John Tenniel had told Lewis Carroll it was impossible to draw a wasp in a wig.

Aldridge created the artwork for Elton John's 1975 album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.[11] In 1977, he created an advertisement illustration for the Dutch beer brand Heineken.[11] He was the creator of the Hard Rock Café logo.[13]

Honours and awards

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A retrospective Alan Aldridge – the Man with the Kaleidoscope Eyes featured at the Design Museum in London from 10 October 2008 to 25 January 2009, and was reviewed as "The trip of a lifetime".[14]

Over the years Aldridge won many awards for his work, among them Whitbread Children's Book Award (1973).[15]

Selected works

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  • The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes (Thames & Hudson, 2008), 240 pp, ISBN 978-0-500-09342-9; also published as The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes: The Art of Alan Aldridge (Abrams Books, 2009), 240 pp, ISBN 978-0-8109-0596-2

References

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  1. ^ a b Sweeting, Adam (22 February 2017). "Alan Aldridge obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Alan Aldridge, Album Cover Designer for The Who and Elton John, Dies". Best Classic Bands. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  3. ^ "Alan Aldridge".
  4. ^ "Remembering Alan Aldridge: the graphic designer of the "swinging sixties"". Design Week. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Alan Aldridge Biography". www.artnet.com. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Remembering Alan Aldridge: the graphic designer of the "swinging sixties"". Design Week. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Drawing on experience - Alan Aldridge interview". The Scotsman. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  8. ^ Lily Aldridge [@lilyaldridge] (17 February 2017). "I love you Daddy 💔🙏🏼❤ I feel so blessed to have been given a father who I love admire & respect as much as you. I'm so proud to be your daughter. Thank you for the years of magic ✨❤🙏🏼 #MyIdol 🕷👁💧". Archived from the original on 25 December 2021 – via Instagram.
  9. ^ "The Art of Penguin Science Fiction".
  10. ^ "Palazzo : Artist & Author Profiles : Latest Profiles : Alan Aldridge". The New York Times. 17 September 2006. Archived from the original on 18 March 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  11. ^ a b c d e Knudde, Kjell. "Alan Aldridge". Lambiek Comiclopedia.
  12. ^ Aulich, James (2007). War Posters: Weapons of Mass Communication. New York: Thames & Hudson. p. 237. ISBN 9780500251416.
  13. ^ "Home". 12 May 2017.
  14. ^ "Alan Aldridge". Design Museum. 2006. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  15. ^ Costa Book Awards. Archived 7 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
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