Sunday, February 19, 2017

Alan Aldridge - A Beatles illustrator

Today we learned that Alan Aldridge passed away.   I do not think that Alan was someone that was a friend of the Beatles per say.    I haven't ever read any accounts of him hanging out at Paul's house or having an office at Apple or anything along those lines.   However, Alan was someone the Beatles all knew and he was a small part of the story.

Like many of you, I know of Alan mostly from his books "The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics Volumes 1 & 2."   My Dad someone obtained an original copy of the hardback book for me when I was a new Beatles fan.   At the age of 13 or 14, I was intrigued by the lyrics and fascinated by the illustrations.   They were so bright and colorful and a little naughty.     I loved figure out the Beatles songs in the illustration.



Looking at it now, I see that his work really captured the essence of the 1960's.  And the Beatles liked his work as well.   As a freelance artist, Alan designed many of Apple's logos, including the Apple itself and the Zapple label.   John had one of his art pieces hanging in the sun room of his home, Kenwood.

The "Dracula" type artwork hanging above John is one of Alan Aldridge's artwork

When I was in Cleveland a few years ago, I had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe there and took a photo of this Paul McCartney mask that was designed by Alan.   It is one of the first things Beatles related that he ever did and it is what got the ball really rolling on his work with the Fab 4.




So to hear of the passing of such a talented artist.   Hopefully new fans will discover his illustrated lyrics books and enjoy them as much as those of us have already.




4 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear about of Alan's passing. I have the two hardback books of his myself and the large jigsaw puzzle put out in England in 1970 featuring the first artwork that you posted.(MarkZapp)

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  2. Yes, the Hard School of Life is the Death.

    The Top Motiv is on my last Selfmade T Shirt.

    https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x3nZGG_wxxA/V969i85r28I/AAAAAAAATG8/_lX_XQGkmUkKCVCOy2IogHbqguQBew5cgCLcB/s1600/RSCN6514_zpsshgpomkm.jpg

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  3. What the hell is this guy talking about???

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    Replies
    1. He is trying to say that he made a t-shirt of the Alan Aldridge artwork.

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