If you’ve ever seen the album art for Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here, you’ve probably come to understand why the band is as well known for their album covers as they are for their music. The artwork portrays two men in business suits, one of them on fire, shaking hands. This image is meant to represent the fear of “getting burned”. Simple enough. So what’s so crazy about this album art? Well, that man on the cover you see on fire… he was LITERALLY on fire!
During the photo shoot for the album, two stunt men were dressed in business suits. One of them however, was wearing a fire-retardant suit underneath and a fireproof wig. The first time they tried to set him on fire for the handshake, the wind was blowing in the wrong direction, and his mustache was burned right off of his face. They then switched sides and were able to get the picture. After it was shot, they simply reversed the photo, putting the man on fire back on the right side.
Tuned In, Turned Up 
When I was a kid I thought Pink Floyd must be the heaviest band in the world. Everyone wearing a Pink Floyd shirt looked like such a freak. When I started listening to their music I realised they weren’t some heavy metal band with cool artwork.
I agree, “Wish You Were Here” is a great album and song – and it has a phenomenal artwork. The band and their designer Storm Thorgerson tried a few other things for this cover, but the one they went with is a really lasting image.
“Wish You Were Here” is one of my favorite albums, and yet I did not know that about its cover.