Culture Profile

Barney Bubbles

Idiosyncratic But Brilliant Graphic Designer By Stewart Mason

London ad man turns lysergic light-show hippie, then becomes the most idiosyncratically brilliant graphic designer of the new wave.

Colin Fulcher graduated from the prestigious Twickenham College of Art in 1963, landing an equally impressive job with a major London advertising agency. (His logo for Strongbow, the UK's most popular cider, is still in use today.) But in 1967, Colin Fulcher rechristened himself Barney Bubbles, inaugurated London's first lysergic light show, and put out his shingle as a psychedelic graphic designer. However, despite some memorable Hawkwind sleeves, Barney's inimitably playful, geometric aesthetic didn't really blossom until the age of punk. As Stiff Records' in-house designer, Barney created some of the new wave's most arresting images and some amazingly clever album sleeves, such as Ian Dury and the Blockheads' Do It Yourself (packaged in 28 different wallpaper samples) and Damned Damned Damned (the first pressing of which "accidentally" featured a picture of The Damned's rivals Eddie and the Hot Rods on the back cover). Barney's long association with manager Jake Riviera led to his most iconic and memorable work: from My Aim Is True through Imperial Bedroom, Barney's artwork is as integral to Elvis Costello's public persona as his signature Buddy Holly glasses. Unfortunately, Barney Bubbles struggled with bipolar disorder throughout his adult life; he committed suicide in November 1983.

TAGS: Advertising, geometric forms, graphic design, music videos, new wave, post-punk, progressive rock, psychedelia, punk,

FACTS: ; Location: Whitton, Middlesex, United Kingdom; Barney Bubbles

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