Chris Floyd

Photographer — London

01Profile

A Chris Floyd Photo

03Interview

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.

 

04Playlist Notes

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

03Interview

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.

 

04Playlist Notes

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

 

05Videos

Chris Floyd - The Verve