Renowned British photographer Brian Griffin has died at the age of 75. The news was confirmed by a friend and fellow artist, Vaughn George, who tweeted that Griffin died peacefully in his sleep. George described the artist as a close friend, and said he was “heartbroken” by the news. Griffin was named “photographer of the decade” by The Guardian in 1989 and was well-known for photographs of musicians including the Jam, Billy Idol and Depeche Mode.
Griffin’s portfolio included several preeminent album covers, including the iconic sleeve of Echo & The Bunnymen’s ‘Heaven Up Here’, named the best album cover of 1981 by the NME and one of the best ever by Rolling Stone. The photograph of Depeche Mode’s A Broken Frame that Griffin took was named photograph of the decade by TIME in 1990. Other famous bands and musicians he worked with included R.E.M, Queen, Iggy Pop, Howard Jones and Ringo Starr.
Griffin began his career in the early 1970s, when he began to work as a freelance photographer after studying photography in Manchester. The UK’s Stiff Records gave him his first job and introduced him to the world of music photography. Griffin’s signature style and aesthetic were shaped by his growing up in industrial Midlands.
Tributes were paid to Griffin from figures across the music industry. Bill Brewster took to Twitter to describe Griffin as a “stunning photographer,” saying, “I learned how to light by seeing Brian’s pictures and thinking: ‘These excite me’.” Hackney Museum also paid tribute to Griffin, saying they were grateful to be displaying one of Griffin’s works at an exhibition dedicated to the development of Broadgate during the 80s and that his legacy would continue to inspire
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