Rodney Matthews | |
|---|---|
 Matthews in 2016 | |
| Born | Rodney Clive Matthews 6 July 1945 Paulton, England |
| Known for | Painting, drawing, conceptual design |
| Movement | Fantasy art, science fiction, surrealism |
| Website | rodneymatthewsstudios |
Rodney Matthews (born 6 July 1945) is a British illustrator and conceptual designer of fantasy and science-fiction.
Trained at the West of England College of Art, Matthews worked in advertising for Plastic Dog Graphics before turning freelance in 1970, initially under the name Skyline Studios. [1] [2]
Matthews has painted over 140 subjects for record album covers, for many rock and progressive rock bands. [3] More than 90 of his pictures have been published worldwide, selling in poster format, [4] as well as many international editions of calendars, jigsaw puzzles, postcards, notecards, snowboards and T-shirts. His originals have been exhibited throughout the UK and Europe. He has been a regular exhibitor at the Chris Beetles Gallery, [5] in London's West End, where he met English comedian, actor, writer and producer John Cleese, [6] an avid collector of his work.
Matthews has illustrated numerous books, including those by English fantasy and science fiction author Michael Moorcock. [7] [8] Their collaboration in the 1970s resulted in a series of 12 large posters, depicting scenes from Moorcock's Eternal Champion series. These images were also used for a 1978 calendar entitled "Wizardry and Wild Romance". [9]
In 1998, Matthews and the late Gerry Anderson completed Lavender Castle , a 26-episode stop-motion/C.G. television series for children. [10] It was produced at Cosgrove Hall Films in Manchester and purchased by ITV for the UK. [11] Matthews has also contributed concept designs for the 2005 film The Magic Roundabout . [12]
He supplied conceptual designs for computer games such as the Sony/Psygnosis game Shadow Master [13] and Haven: Call of the King , published by Midway. [14] Matthews has produced some publicity and a logo for the green energy company Ecotricity. [15]
He has also written lyrics and played drums on a music album influenced by his images; American guitarist Jeff Scheetz, John Payne (Asia) on bass guitar, Oliver Wakeman (Yes) on keyboards and Pete Coleman (composer and multi-instrumentalist). [16]
 | This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification .(March 2021) |
Album covers (including EPs, LPs and DVDs) [17] :
| This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification .(March 2021) |
Anthologies:
Portfolios:
Illustrated books:
Paperback covers:
Others:
(Rodney Matthews' images have also been used on many international editions, particularly for Moorcock's German publishers.)
Magazine covers:
Vortex: The Science Fiction Fantasy:
Imagine (published by T.S.R. Hobbies (UK) Ltd):
FAB – The Gerry Anderson Fan Magazine:
Others:
| This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification .(March 2021) |
Bands:
Recordings:
Space Ritual is a 1973 live double album recorded in 1972 by UK rock band Hawkwind. It is their fourth album since their debut, Hawkwind, in 1970. It reached number 9 in the UK Albums Chart and briefly dented the Billboard Hot 200, peaking at number 179.
Tales from Topographic Oceans is the sixth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 7 December 1973 by Atlantic Records. It is their first studio album to feature drummer Alan White, who had replaced Bill Bruford the previous year. Frontman Jon Anderson devised its concept during the Close to the Edge Tour, when he read a footnote in Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda that describes four bodies of Hindu texts about a specific field of knowledge, collectively named shastras–śruti, smriti, puranas, and tantras. After pitching the idea to guitarist Steve Howe, the pair spent the rest of the tour developing an outline of the album's musical themes and lyrics.
Nazareth are a Scottish hard rock band formed in Dunfermline in 1968 that had many hit singles and albums in Canada, the United Kingdom, and a number of other European countries beginning in the early 1970s. The breadth of their popularity expanded internationally, including in the United States, with their 1975 album Hair of the Dog, which featured their hits "Hair of the Dog" and a cover of the ballad "Love Hurts". They have continued to record and tour internationally for more than 50 years.
Damian Wilson is an English singer-songwriter and musician. Wilson works in the progressive metal genre and was the lead singer of Headspace and Threshold. He sang and toured with bands and projects for Star One, Ayreon, Landmarq, Praying Mantis and with Rick Wakeman's English Rock Ensemble.
Oliver Wakeman is an English musician, rock keyboardist and composer, best known as a member of Yes from 2008 to 2011, having filled the role of keyboardist previously held by his father, Rick Wakeman.
Sir Karl William Pamp Jenkins,, HonFLSW is a Welsh multi-instrumentalist and composer. His best known works include the song "Adiemus", the Adiemus album series; Palladio; The Armed Man; his Requiem and his Stabat Mater (2008).
Iain Matthews is an English musician and singer-songwriter. He was an original member of the British folk rock band Fairport Convention from 1967 to 1969 before leaving to form his own band, Matthews Southern Comfort, which had a UK number one in 1970 with Joni Mitchell's song "Woodstock". In 1979 his recording of Terence Boylan's "Shake It" reached No. 13 on the US charts.
Magnum are an English progressive rock, melodic hard rock and AOR band. They were formed in Birmingham in 1972 by Tony Clarkin and Bob Catley (vocals) in order to appear as the resident band at the Rum Runner nightclub in the city. Magnum have undergone several changes in personnel over the years; however, the core of Catley and Clarkin remained until Clarkin's death in 2024.
Manuel Charlton was a Scottish musician and record producer, who was known as a founding member of the influential Scottish hard rock band Nazareth and was their lead guitarist from 1968 to 1990. He also produced a string of successful Nazareth albums in the 1970's, including the seminal album "Hair of the Dog" (1975).
Kenneth Stephen Nicol is an English guitar player, vocalist and songwriter. He was a member of The Albion Band for many years, and for eight years (2002–2010) played in British folk rock band Steeleye Span.
Praying Mantis are an English heavy metal band. Although a part of the new wave of British heavy metal scene, they pursued a musical direction more melodic and AOR-sounding than their contemporaries Iron Maiden and Saxon (band).
On a Storyteller's Night is the fifth studio album by the English rock band Magnum, released on 13 May 1985 on FM Records in the UK and on Polydor Records in Germany.
Robert Adrian Catley, best known as Bob Catley, is an English singer. He is the lead singer of the hard rock band Magnum and is also active as a solo artist.
Chase the Dragon is the third studio album by English rock band Magnum. It was released in 1982 on Jet Records. Overseen by the Kansas producer Jeff Glixman, Chase the Dragon was the first recorded appearance by the new keyboard player Mark Stanway, although he had made his live debut at Magnum's appearance at the Reading Festival in 1980. The album was recorded over 13 days at Town House Studios in London, and the following year Tony Clarkin flew to Axis Studios in Atlanta to mix it. However, there was a two-year delay before the album's release in 1982. Many of the tracks have remained in Magnum's live set for many years, including "Soldier of the Line", "The Spirit" and "Sacred Hour".
Esoteric Recordings is a UK independent record label specialising in 1970s progressive rock, folk, psychedelic, and jazz-rock reissues as part of Cherry Red Records. Its releases include both catalogue reissues and new works from artists who share a similar musical heritage.
Jabberwocky is a progressive rock album released in 1999 by British keyboardists Clive Nolan and Oliver Wakeman. It was the first of two albums released by the duo.
Into the Valley of the Moonking is the 15th studio album by the English rock band Magnum, released on 15 June 2009 by SPV.
Rick Wakeman is an English keyboardist, composer and songwriter, most known as the keyboard player for progressive rock group Yes. His solo albums have sold over 50 million copies.
Steve Howe is an English guitarist, active since 1964. He is best known for his tenures with the rock groups Yes and Asia, including his solo albums.
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