Revolver artist Klaus Voormann on The Beatles and 'mop tops'

Fifty years ago, The Beatles released Revolver, an album which saw them move into a more experimental musical world. The band's manager Brian Epstein wanted an album cover that would help fans make the journey with their musical heroes. So the band called on an old friend to help - graphic designer and musician Klaus Voormann.

The artist, who has now produced a graphic novel about his time with the band, said he is still surprised he was chosen to create the cover for Revolver. "I was sitting in the bath in my tiny flat in Hampstead when I got the call from Paul," he said. "He said 'Klaus, the new album... got any ideas for the cover?' "I just couldn't believe they were asking me to do it.

"They invited me down to Abbey Road to listen to the tracks - I was just blown away, floored by what I was hearing. "I thought I was dreaming - Tomorrow Never Knows with its backward looped tapes and bird cries. It was something totally new."

Revolver combined the swirling psychedelia of Tomorrow Never Knows with the dark complexities of Eleanor Rigby, and signalled the shift away from the bright and shiny pop of the Fab Four years. The album cover needed to reflect that change.

Three weeks after he got the call from McCartney, Voormann was back at the London studios showing off his designs to the band in the canteen during a tea break.

By: Jim Clarke

Source: BBC News

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