Renowned British photographer Brian Griffin has died.

News of the photographer’s passing has been confirmed by multiple sources; he was 75 years old. It is reported that Brian Griffin passed away in his sleep on January 29th.

Born in Birmingham, Brian Griffin grew up in the Black Country, working in a number of industrial jobs. At one point working for the British Steel Corporation, he initially took up photography as a hobby, joining a local camera club.

Graduating from Manchester School of Art in 1972, he moved to London as punk dawned, being drawn into the orbit of Stiff Records. Blending commissioned music portraits with his own artistic leanings, Brian Griffin helped define the visual language of British pop as the 80s dawned.

Shooting iconic portraits of The Jam and Elvis Costello, his work was utilised on the cover of seminal albums by the likes of Joe Jackson, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Echo & The Bunnymen, and more.

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It is perhaps his connection with Depeche Mode that represents Brian Griffin’s closest ties to the music world. His photography was utilised on the band’s first five studio albums, while the shot on ‘A Broken Frame’ would later be named Photograph Of The Decade by Time in 1990.

Largely leaving photography behind in the 90s, he returned to still work around the Millennium, before notably directing a documentary for Paul McCartney.

DJ and cultural commentator Bill Brewster saluted the photographer’s passing on Twitter / x:

Sorry to hear about the death of Brian Griffin. When I interviewed fellow snapper Peter Ashworth, he said he was a source of inspiration: He’s a stunning photographer I learned how to light by seeing Brian’s pictures and thinking, “These excite me”.

DJ Kenny penned a moving tribute on Facebook:

Brian Griffin, the amazing photographer behind the first 5 covers of Depeche albums, as well as albums from Psychedelic Furs, Echo & The Bunnymen, Siouxsie, and many more passed away in his sleep yesterday. RIP Brian.