Photographer — London
Name, where are you from?
Chris Floyd, London.
What do you do?
Photographer and Filmmaker.
Describe your style in three words:
Classic, restrained, honest.
How did you come to tour with the Verve?
I met them in 1994 on a story for a magazine. Then I went down to see them again when they were recording 'Urban Hymns'. They played me 'Bittersweet Symphony', it blew me away and I never left! 8 months later they went on tour and I went with them. All in all I spent the best part of a year with them.
It’s been twenty years since Urban Hymns – did it feel like the beginning of something special?
It did back then but, ironically, looking back on it now it was actually more of a winding down. Not just in music but also in the world in general. We had this blissful period from the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, and the 1990s, from the perspective of today, was remarkably peaceful and trouble free. A year later, in 1998, I think the mood turned darker and the world as we know it today began to emerge.
A British icon or band who inspire you?
David Hockney
To celebrate the release of The Verve: Photographs, Chris Floyd has selected some of his favourite images from his time on tour with the band, along with a few words from Chris about each photo.
1997, peak Britpop – what was your soundtrack?
Not very Britpop!
'Dirt' - The Stooges
'Rain' - The Beatles
'It's a New Day' - The Skull Snaps
'Hercules' - Aaron Neville
'Jump Into The Fire' - Harry Nilsson
'If You Want Me To Stay' - Sly & The Family Stone
'Can You Get To That' - Funkadelic
'The Only Living Boy In New York' - Simon & Garfunkel
'Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City' - Bobby 'Blue' Bland
'Trouble Man' - Marvin Gaye
'Winter' - The Rolling Stones
What was the first song you played on repeat?
‘Embarrassment’ - Madness
Which music defines the teenage you?
Early teens/Madness.
Late teens/Pet Shop Boys
A song from your favourite album?
‘I Say A Little’ - Aretha Now (Aretha Franklin)
A song you wish you’d written?
‘All My Friends’ - LCD Soundsystem
What is the last piece of music you bought?
‘Far East Suite’ - Duke Ellington
Most meaningful lyrics to inspire change?
‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ - Sam Cooke
Best song to bring people together?
‘Good Times’ - Chic
What has been your all-time favourite gig?
Oasis - Marquee Club, June 8 1994
Best love song of all time?
‘This Guy's In Love With You’ - Herb Alpert version
Is there a song you like that people wouldn’t expect?
‘No Diggity’ - Blackstreet
What new music/bands are you listening to?
Loyle Carner, Sleaford Mods, Lorde
Name, where are you from?
Chris Floyd, London.
What do you do?
Photographer and Filmmaker.
Describe your style in three words:
Classic, restrained, honest.
How did you come to tour with the Verve?
I met them in 1994 on a story for a magazine. Then I went down to see them again when they were recording 'Urban Hymns'. They played me 'Bittersweet Symphony', it blew me away and I never left! 8 months later they went on tour and I went with them. All in all I spent the best part of a year with them.
It’s been twenty years since Urban Hymns – did it feel like the beginning of something special?
It did back then but, ironically, looking back on it now it was actually more of a winding down. Not just in music but also in the world in general. We had this blissful period from the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, and the 1990s, from the perspective of today, was remarkably peaceful and trouble free. A year later, in 1998, I think the mood turned darker and the world as we know it today began to emerge.
A British icon or band who inspire you?
David Hockney
To celebrate the release of The Verve: Photographs, Chris Floyd has selected some of his favourite images from his time on tour with the band, along with a few words from Chris about each photo.
1997, peak Britpop – what was your soundtrack?
Not very Britpop!
'Dirt' - The Stooges
'Rain' - The Beatles
'It's a New Day' - The Skull Snaps
'Hercules' - Aaron Neville
'Jump Into The Fire' - Harry Nilsson
'If You Want Me To Stay' - Sly & The Family Stone
'Can You Get To That' - Funkadelic
'The Only Living Boy In New York' - Simon & Garfunkel
'Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City' - Bobby 'Blue' Bland
'Trouble Man' - Marvin Gaye
'Winter' - The Rolling Stones
What was the first song you played on repeat?
‘Embarrassment’ - Madness
Which music defines the teenage you?
Early teens/Madness.
Late teens/Pet Shop Boys
A song from your favourite album?
‘I Say A Little’ - Aretha Now (Aretha Franklin)
A song you wish you’d written?
‘All My Friends’ - LCD Soundsystem
What is the last piece of music you bought?
‘Far East Suite’ - Duke Ellington
Most meaningful lyrics to inspire change?
‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ - Sam Cooke
Best song to bring people together?
‘Good Times’ - Chic
What has been your all-time favourite gig?
Oasis - Marquee Club, June 8 1994
Best love song of all time?
‘This Guy's In Love With You’ - Herb Alpert version
Is there a song you like that people wouldn’t expect?
‘No Diggity’ - Blackstreet
What new music/bands are you listening to?
Loyle Carner, Sleaford Mods, Lorde
Chris Floyd - The Verve
