Arts·Oral History

Aubrey Powell shares how he designed one of the most iconic album covers of all time

Pink Floyd's album Dark Side of the Moon turns 50 this week. Aubrey Powell and the late Storm Thorgerson were responsible for that album art, and Aubrey stops by to tell us the story of how they made Dark Side of the Moon.

He and design partner Storm Thorgerson were responsible for Pink Floyd's album cover, Dark Side of the Moon

Album art for Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon
Album art for Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd)

Pink Floyd's album Dark Side of the Moon turns 50 this week. As essential as those songs are to rock and roll history, the album cover is equally iconic.

The image of the white prism, with the rainbow refracting from it, might even be more well-known than the music itself.

Aubrey Powell is one half of the legendary graphic design duo Hipgnosis. He and his late design partner Storm Thorgerson were responsible for that album art.

They were the go-to studio for album design in the 70s and 80s, making art for Led Zeppelin, Peter Gabriel, Black Sabbath, Wings and countless other bands.

Aubrey stopped by Commotion to tell the story of his brotherhood with Storm, and the inception of Dark Side of the Moon.

You can listen to the full discussion from today's show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.