British artist Chris Barker always finds it difficult to assemble his annual homage to the celebrities the world has lost over the past calendar year using the iconic Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover by the Beatles. But this year is particularly more difficult - because the list is sadly longer, and Barker questions whether it is even the right thing to do. But he's pushing through.
In recent years, when December comes around and he feels the pressure to produce this year's model, Barker frets over whether he can do it, who to include/exclude, and whether the entire endeavor is a good idea.
"I've been doing this since 2016. That was the year anyone who was nice or kind or creative or special decided it was time to leave before the bad stuff started," Barker tells Billboard in an exclusive interview.
It can be remembered that 2016 is the year the world has lost Prince and David Bowie, among many others.
#sgtpepper2022 pic.twitter.com/2IyoDEcYY9
— christhebarker (@christhebarker) December 1, 2022
"Or at least that's how it felt at the time. I've become a little bit desensitised to it over the years. I mean, I still try and keep the star's dignity and think of their loved ones and how it would make them feel to see it, but - let's face it - I make notes over the course of the year now rather than just waiting til November. It's a thing," he added.
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This explains the inspiration for his 2022 image, which features 151 faces, including the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who sits front and center next to an image of Queen Elizabeth II, and just below a Grease-era Olivia Newton-John, who is flanked by actors Ray Liotta and Robbie "Hagrid" Coltrane.
Also added at the last minute were Fleetwood Mac singer/songwriter Christine McVie, who passed away this week, and a slew of other music stars, such as "Bat Out of Hell" singer Meat Loaf, Migos' Takeoff, Aaron Carter, Irene Cara, Loretta Lynn, Coolio, the Screaming Trees' Mark Lanegan, rock godfather Jerry Lee Lewis, Low's Mimi Parker, Dr. Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson, and many more.
According to Barker, what made this year different is tht he had to put these late musical greats and all the previous ones side by side for some reason, and it really hit him how many great people we've lost forever.
He described it as seeing a real sea of amazing talents that he knows people have lost forever.
It's true though -- it seems as if weekly, the world is losing a shining star.
Barker, a seasoned expert in such matters, noted early on in 2022 that it was going to be a "extraordinary year" for bold-faced losses, with his list being so extensive that by mid-year he had already eclipsed the final total from year one. He shared that it almost made him question whether or not this is the appropriate course of action.
But people enjoy it and have come to anticipate it, he said.
While he may have moved the characters around quite a bit, he shared that the front four is correct. Nichelle Nichols' (Star Trek) career was innovative, Meat Loaf was famous, Robbie Coltrane was devastating and Olivia Newton-John defined an era, he explained.
There are other more on the list who are also enormous losses and gigantic icons, but he shared that he is already content with his choices.
As usual, the list consists primarily of American and British luminaries of stage, screen, music, comedy, and politics, such as actors Sidney Poitier, Angela Lansbury, James Caan, Paul Sorvino, Julee Cruise, Anne Heche, William Hurt, Yvette Mimieux, Bob Saget, and Leslie Jordan, as well as directors, sports figures, and fashion icons.
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