The photo on the cover of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” was taken by Storm Thorgerson who had accompanied the band on their 1974 tour, and had given serious thought to the meaning of the lyrics, eventually deciding that the songs were, in general, concerned with “unfulfilled presence”, rather than Syd Barrett’s illness.
The concept behind the songs “Welcome to the Machine” and “Have a Cigar” suggested the use of a handshake (an often empty gesture). The album’s cover image was inspired by the idea that people tend to conceal their true feelings, for fear of “getting burned”, and thus two businessmen were pictured shaking hands, one man on fire. “Getting burned” was also a common phrase in the music industry, used often by artists denied royalty payments.
Two stuntmen were used Ronnie Rondell (pictured above) and Danny Rogers. Rondell (man on fire) was dressed in a fire-retardant suit covered by a business suit. His head was protected by a hood, underneath a wig. Initially the wind was blowing in the wrong direction, and the flames were forced into Rondell’s face, burning his moustache. The two stuntmen changed positions, and the image was later reversed.
The photograph was taken at the Warner Bros. studios lot in Burbank, California.
George Hardie also designed a sticker containing the album’s logo of two mechanical hands engaged in a handshake, to be placed on the opaque sleeve.
The decision to shroud the cover in black plastic was not popular with the band’s US record company, Columbia Records, who insisted that it be changed (they were over-ruled). EMI were however less concerned. The band were reportedly extremely happy with the end product, and when presented with a pre-production mockup, they accepted it with a spontaneous round of applause. This is what the album looked like when bought at stores.
raul Pink Floyd Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett
