London:
Photographer Robert Whitaker, who shot some of the most famous, and infamous, images of The Beatles, has died at the age of 71.
Whitaker's friend, photo archivist Dave Brolan, said he died of cancer September 20 in Sussex, southern England. Whitaker took scores of well-known pictures of The Beatles, including the controversial "butcher" cover of the 1966 American album Yesterday and Today.
The image of the Fab Four in white coats surrounded by decapitated dolls and slabs of raw meat proved too strong for record company Capitol, which ordered the cover withdrawn soonafter the album's release.
The record was rereleased with an inoffensive picture of the band sitting on a steamer trunk. Originals are coveted by collectors and can sell for thousands of dollars.
Whitaker, a fan of surrealism, later said the image was a meditation on fame and an attempt to shake up the band's image, inspired by a dream "about The Beatles being ripped toshreds by all these young girls when they came out of a stadium."
Born in Harpenden, southern England in 1939, Whitaker emigrated to Australia in his early 20s and was working as a photographer in Melbourne when The Beatles visited the countryin 1964.
He was assigned to photograph manager Brian Epstein for the Jewish News; Epstein was so impressed with the resulting image of himself adorned with peacock feathers thathe offered Whitaker a job as staff photographer for his company, NEMS.
The job involved photographing "Merseybeat" acts including Cilla Black and Gerry & The Pacemakers, as well as capturing The Beatles, onstage, backstage, in planes and hotel rooms and all manner of locations, over more than two years.
He covered the band's final world tour in 1966 and took the pictures used on the collage-style cover of the Revolver album.
Whitaker's friend, photo archivist Dave Brolan, said he died of cancer September 20 in Sussex, southern England. Whitaker took scores of well-known pictures of The Beatles, including the controversial "butcher" cover of the 1966 American album Yesterday and Today.
The image of the Fab Four in white coats surrounded by decapitated dolls and slabs of raw meat proved too strong for record company Capitol, which ordered the cover withdrawn soonafter the album's release.
The record was rereleased with an inoffensive picture of the band sitting on a steamer trunk. Originals are coveted by collectors and can sell for thousands of dollars.
Whitaker, a fan of surrealism, later said the image was a meditation on fame and an attempt to shake up the band's image, inspired by a dream "about The Beatles being ripped toshreds by all these young girls when they came out of a stadium."
Born in Harpenden, southern England in 1939, Whitaker emigrated to Australia in his early 20s and was working as a photographer in Melbourne when The Beatles visited the countryin 1964.
He was assigned to photograph manager Brian Epstein for the Jewish News; Epstein was so impressed with the resulting image of himself adorned with peacock feathers thathe offered Whitaker a job as staff photographer for his company, NEMS.
The job involved photographing "Merseybeat" acts including Cilla Black and Gerry & The Pacemakers, as well as capturing The Beatles, onstage, backstage, in planes and hotel rooms and all manner of locations, over more than two years.
He covered the band's final world tour in 1966 and took the pictures used on the collage-style cover of the Revolver album.
The Beatles, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Robert Whitaker, Photographer, United Kingdom, Dave Brolan, Sussex, Photo Archivist, Yesterday And Today, Butcher, Capitol, The Jewish News, Brian Epstein, Australia, Harpenden, Melbourne, Cilla Black, NEMS, Manager, Staff Photographer, Revolver, Music, Topstories
