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Your support makes all the difference.LAST WEEK'S Independent on Sunday carried a report on the loss to the arts world of many talented people who had died of Aids. Unfortunately, the late Tony Cooper, the designer and writer, was included in our list of Aids victims, when he had not in fact died of the disease, nor had he been HIV-positive. We would like to apologise to Mr Cooper's friends and family for this error. We publish below an appreciation of Mr Cooper's life by his friend, John Cranmer. Mr Cranmer, explaining that Mr Cooper took his own life, pointed out: "Like Aids, the trauma and stigma surrounding suicide is something society has yet to face up to, let alone understand."
"It is just over two years since Tony Cooper took his own life. Armed with a wicked sense of humour, Tony had tremendous presence, deadly charm and a killer smile. As a designer he was outstanding and controversial, creating images within tight budgets as familiar as the Mona Lisa and as anonymous as graffiti. His output included record covers for James Brown, Joey Negro, MC Kinky and Boy George, a redesign for Island Record's Fourth and Broadway logo, and countless club flyers.
His career led him through various studios and eventually to Neville Brody's, working alongside his peers at the forefront of graphic design. After Tony went freelance, a brief stint as co-editor of the club and music section in the Pink Paper gave vent to his anger against the mindless phallocentric side of gay culture and stimulated him to refocus his talents and wit in other media. Tragically his death cut short his plans and we can only speculate on what he might have created. He left behind a large network of friends, colleagues and family who still love and miss him deeply."
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