E Y E W I T N E S S
L O N D O N
“
we took the
Heroes cover shot in Tokyo in 1977.
David was in Japan with Iggy Pop to promote Iggy’s
album The Idiot, which he had just produced. The
session was intended for the album’s promotion –
I never expected him to want the shots for his cover.
“
It lasted two hours, but the time flew by – everyone
was having a good time and the atmosphere was
buzzing. I remember David had requested several
different kinds of leather jackets from the
stylist. He was particular about his
leather jackets.
“
He always seemed to be really
relaxed in front of my camera.
The first time we met was for a
photo shoot in London in 1972. My
staff had brought the wine that he
liked – he sat there drinking while
I shot him.
“
As a classically trained mime, he
is easy to work with. He has his own
way of physically expressing himself.
There are a lot of rumours about his pose in
the image. Some say it references Erich Heckel’s 1917
portrait, Roquairol. The truth remains a mystery.
“
As usual, I submitted about 10 images and also
showed him the contact sheet, but I was so surprised
when he told me that he liked the shot – and that he
had chosen it for Heroes. I couldn’t believe it.”
David Bowie is at the V&A from 23 March to 28 July
2013,
in partnership with Gucci, sound experience by
Sennheiser. vam.ac.uk
Hero worship
As London’s V&A stages a David Bowie
retrospective,
Masayoshi Sukita
talks
about shooting the famous
Heroes
cover
“
There are
a lot of
rumours
about his
pose...
The truth
remains a
mystery”
AS TOLD TO
CHARLOTTE OLIVER
T H E R E G U L A R S
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