Preview: Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis)
A lively new film explores the history, cultural impact and enduring appeal of one of the great art and design groups. Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis) is a 2023 documentary by Anton Corbijn; it’s the story of the team that led the visual side of the rock era.
Beginning in the late 1960s, the creative design team known as Hipgnosis created dozens of the most iconic, distinctive and memorable album covers in the history of popular music. Led by Aubrey “Po” Powell and Storm Thorgerson, Hipgnosis creative commissioned artwork for album covers by Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Peter Gabriel, ELO, Alan Parsons Project, 10cc, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Paul McCartney and Wings, Brand X, Bad Company, Al Stewart and literally hundreds of others. It’s safe to say that if you have a rock album collection, Hipgnosis’ stunning album cover art is all over it.
From their first album cover (Pink Floyd’s A Saucerful of Secrets in 1968) through one of their final projects (fitting enough, Led Zeppelin’s career-capping Coda in 1982) Hipgnosis was for many the visual component of the music. In those pre-music video days, album art and packaging was most listeners’ only visual representation of the music within. And Hipgnosis’ work has stood the test of time; their images are inextricably liked with the music of the rock era.
This new documentary features on-screen commentary and spirited reminiscences from David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Noel Gallagher and many others.
Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis) is scheduled for a one-night-only showing at Grail Moviehouse on Monday, August 14. Hosted by author, speaker and music journalist Bill Kopp, the evening will feature a screening of the film followed by an interactive discussion. Squaring the Circle is the latest in Grail Moviehouse’s extremely popular ongoing series, Music Movie Mondays.
Music Movie Mondays is sponsored by AshevilleFM. Hosted by Asheville-based author and music journalist Bill Kopp, Grail Moviehouse presents a special screening of Squaring the Cicle (The Story of Hipgnosis) on Monday, August 14 @ 7 pm and Sponsored by AshevilleFM, the evening will feature a brief introduction by your host. We’ll watch the film together and then engage in a moderated discussion.
The one-night-only screening of Squaring the Circle is the ninth and latest in the series of Music Movie Mondays at Grail Moviehouse. Every month, we’ll watch and discuss new releases, classics and cult favorites.
WHAT: Music Movie Mondays Series: Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis)
Special screening + moderated discussion hosted by Bill Kopp
WHERE Grail Moviehouse, 17 Foundy Street, Asheville
WHEN: Monday, August 14 @ 7 p.m. / Tickets are $15 and likely to sell out!
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.