Episode 24 – Richard Smith

A sample of sleeve designs by Richard Smith/Area.

On 19 March 1990, Depeche Mode released what is still considered their finest album – ‘Violator’. Anton Corbijn created its sleeve with assistance from graphic designer Richard Smith of Area. The two would go on to collaborate on dozens of sleeves for a wide range of artists, but to celebrate this seminal album’s 35th birthday, I spoke to Richard about his creative involvement.

This episode supplements an article I wrote for Classic Pop magazine, issue 40, published in May 2018. The article can be read online for free at this link.

Richard has worked with dozens of artists and bands in his career, including Depeche Mode, ABC, OMD, Tears For Fears and many others. We talk about many of these commissions in this episode, and more recently, he’s launched his own podcast – Destroy! about how the punk movement of 1976 spawned a revolution still being felt today. There’s lots of information about this at the end of the podcast.

You can listen wherever you get your podcasts, and there’s lots more info here: www.destroypunkpodcast.com

During our chat, Richard mentioned how in 1984 he appeared in ‘Hope’, a painting by the artists Gilbert and George shown here, he’s in the middle row on the far left.

Sleeve art discussed in this episode:

So – Peter Gabriel (1986)
Boomerang – The Creatures (1989)
Violator – Depeche Mode (1990)
Sugar Tax – OMD (1991)
Abracadabra – ABC (1991)
The Girl With The Loneliest Eyes – The House of Love (1991)
Songs of Faith and Devotion – Depeche Mode (1993)
Liberator – OMD (1993)
Songs of Faith and Devotion Live – Depeche Mode (1993)
Elemental – Tears For Fears (1993)
This I Swear – Kim Wilde (1995)
Universal – OMD (1996)
Barrel of a Gun – Depeche Mode (1997)
Ultra – Depeche Mode (1997)

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to Art on your sleeve at Apple Podcasts HERE or wherever you listen to your favourite shows, and if you’re very nice, you could give us some stars or a positive review. Art on your sleeve is also available on most popular podcast platforms, including Spotify,  Soundcloud, and Google Podcasts.

Art on your sleeve has an active Facebook group where additional content is shared, and you’re welcome to join. See you online…
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442664446671424