Sgt. Pepper turns 50! A Pop Art Homage

In 2017 was the 50th anniversary of the release of the Beatles’ album Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. My painting of British Rock Music celebrates its kaleidoscopic originality, with a respectful nod to genius British artist Peter Blake.  It was Blake who designed the cover to that groundbreaking album. It’s a visual soundtrack of my life in a Pop Art homage.

British Rock Music painting

The history of British Rock Music is as fascinating and entirely as worthy of study as any other cultural medium. It charts the shifts in society from the 1950s onwards. In my painting, I’ve illustrated significant factors in its history, such as the import of blues albums from the US and the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. And I’ve shown some of the means of listening to music – the radio, Dansette record players, and cassette tapes.

Rock music is one of Britain’s most dynamic industries. It’s a sonic economic success story of global proportions. So as well as my favourite bands and artists as well as other influential acts, you’ll find references to various other parts of the British music industry, From record labels to Marshall amplifiers and all manner of stuff to interest guitar-freaks. You’ll find references to lyrics, album covers, history, some universal icons, publications, and people. Some you’ll know – The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple. And some perhaps you won’t – Julian Cope, Nick Drake, Ozric Tentacles, The Cult. Of course, I couldn’t include everyone and everything, so I’ve tried to show things that cover the spirit of most genres and styles of rock, inevitably with an emphasis on my favourites.

Pop Art

In the spirit of Pop Art, I’ve used a mixture of painting in watercolours and inks, homemade transfers and even the odd bit of stuck on paper to make an eclectic collage.

“Plenty to see, here – even for the hardcore. You will see tiny, obscure references that you think only you’ve noticed. And you’ll be right.” @RockWalkLondon on Twitter