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Robert Whitaker Obituary
Whitaker's friend, photo archivist Dave Brolan, said he died of cancer Sept. 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by decapitated dolls and slabs of raw meat proved too strong for record company Capitol, which ordered the cover withdrawn soon after the album's release.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 Beatl es being ripped to shreds 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 country in 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 that he 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.
After parting company with The Beatles, Whitaker photographed Mick Jagger on the sets of the f ilms "Performance " and "Ned Kelly," helped create the psychedelic cover for Cream's "Disraeli Gears" album and worked on the influential underground magazine Oz.
Increasingly wary of being pigeonholed as a "pop" photographer, Whitaker moved into news, covering the Vietnam War and other conflicts for publications including Time and Life. He also spent time photographing his artistic hero, Salvador Dali.
In the 1970s he moved to the English countryside, where he farmed and raised cattle.
Whitaker compiled several books of his Beatles photographs, including "The Unseen Beatles" and "Eight Days a Week."
He is survived by his wife, Sue, and three children. Funeral details were not immediately available.
Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press
19 Entries
October 7, 2011
To the family of Robert Whitaker, my condolencces for the loss of your beloved one. May the God of all comfort strenthen you at this difficult time. Erma Davis, Park Forest, IL.)
Terri Taylor
October 6, 2011
My deepest sympathy to the entire family for the passing of Robert. May God be with you all during this difficult time. And I would like to say "thank you" for letting the Beatles always be a part of our lives through his wonderful pictures.
October 4, 2011
Bob Whitaker was a joy to work with. He covered assignemnts for me at the BBC and spent one week with the Osmond's when they made five live shows from the Shepherds Bush TV theatre. Charming, confident and just someone that I am so pleased to have known and worked with.
Brian Clifford
Sissinghurst Castle
Kent UK.
How you can show support
Stewart Family
October 4, 2011
May the God of comfort and peace be with the Whitaker family in your time of sorrow.May the love and comfort from family and friends help in the days ahead.
Henryk Zaleski
October 4, 2011
Rest in peace.
Adrian Barnette
October 4, 2011
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Victoria&Andrew
October 3, 2011
BACK TO BACK'
In memory As with
Condolences
To ROBERT WHITAKER
upon Many excellent
Brillant
PHOTOS
of years'
with many others
Never can forget those
Four english rockers
inside stories inspired
GEORGE HARRISON
JOHN LENNON
```````````
RINGO STAR
SIR'PAUL MCARTNEY
thankyou ~ROBERT~
You left Us with
many wonderful-Memories
crb
October 3, 2011
Life was changed for many through your works. Memories last forever. Thank You!!!
October 3, 2011
Life was changed for many through your works. Memories last forever. Thank You!!!
October 3, 2011
thanks for the memories
October 3, 2011
Please accept my sympathy during this time of difficulty.
W. LaPlante
October 3, 2011
Another mark in the passage of an era and the people who defined it.
Rest well and peace to you.
L J Coon
October 3, 2011
Robert Whitaker
Photographer (most famous - and infamous)
The Beatles
Brian Epstein
"Merseybeat"
Cilla Black
Gerry & The Pacemakers
Mick Jagger
Harpenden, southern England
(1939 / September 20, 2011)
Welcome Home
written by L J Coon
Welcome home my friend, from so much suffering
Welcome home my friend, step out of the pain
It’s ok to cry, we've all seen tears before
Its ok my friend welcome home
Talk of love one’s lost, so many years ago
And how you hurt inside, till no more tears would flow
Let the healing start, you can't look back no more
Its ok my friend welcome home
Welcome home, from so much suffering
Welcome home, step out of the pain
It’s ok to cry, we've all seen tears before
Its ok my friend, welcome home
Could I somehow sooth, your pain that lives within
If you just let go, the healing will begin
Holding on so tight, letting go is half the test
Its ok my friend welcome home
Welcome home, from so much suffering
Welcome home, step out of the pain
It’s ok to cry, we've all seen tears before
Its ok my friend, welcome home
It’s ok my friend…the pain won't hurt, no more ...
L J Coon
[email protected]
October 3, 2011
Heartfelt condolences to the family. You remain in my thoughts and prayers this very sad day.
REBA NELSON
October 3, 2011
TO TH FAMILY OF MR. WHITAKER, MAY GOD COMFORT YOU AND KEEP YOU AT THIS TIME. REMEMBER HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU ARE FORSAKE YOU. MAY GOD KEEP THE FAMILY ALWAYS..!!!! THE NELSON FAMILY. REST IN PEACE MR. WHITAKER.
Emma Jean
October 3, 2011
Dear Whitaker Family and Friends,
Take comfort in the promised hope at Daniel 12:2 which reads, "There will be those asleep in the ground of dust who will wake up, these to indefinitely lasting life."
We are keeping you in our prayers.
Marty Wise
October 3, 2011
Genius, shear genius.
Moore
October 3, 2011
My condolences goes out to the family and friends of Mr. Robert Whitaker. I am so sorry to hear about your lost. I have found that relying on God at this time has brought comfort. James 4:8.
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