Bruce Gowers: Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody music video director dies at 82

Bruce Gowers, who directed the music video for Queen's classic hit Bohemian Rhapsody, has died at the age of 82.

The Emmy and Grammy award-winning British director and producer also worked on videos and live specials for Michael Jackson and the Rolling Stones.

The Bohemian Rhapsody video famously featured the four band members with their faces in a diamond formation.

The epic song is the third best-selling single of all-time in the UK, having topped the UK charts for nine weeks in 1975 and gone back to number one in 1991 following the death of singer Freddie Mercury.

According to the band's drummer Roger Taylor, Gowers' visuals helped to create "the first video to be used as a really successful promotional tool".

The defining video of its age took only three hours to shoot and cost just £3,500 to make. It was the first music video to be aired on Top of the Pops and led to many more being filmed, setting the standard for artists who followed.

Gowers, who once revealed he had received $590 for the job, told the Daily Mail in 2018: "It changed the way music was perceived; everyone was doing videos and bands were seeing their sales and chart positions rise if their videos were good."

Other music videos directed by Bruce Gowers:

Gowers won the Grammy for best director on a long form music video for Huey Lewis and the News' The Heart of Rock 'n' Roll in 1985.

He also directed nine series of US TV show American Idol.

His family said he died on Sunday in Santa Monica, California, following complications from an acute respiratory infection.

"He loved and was loved by the crews that he worked with and was known far and wide for his generosity as a colleague, constantly encouraging and promoting the talented people on his team," they added.

"Funny, irreverent and wonderfully candid, he will be remembered in countless legendary stories that will keep his charming spirit alive for many years to come.

"He was always happiest in the control room, on a boat in the Bahamas, and of course, at home with the dogs, friends and family."

Gowers was born in New Kilbride, Scotland, but grew up in Enfield, north London.

He started his career at the BBC as a cable puller, cameraman and production manager, before landing producing and directing roles.

After relocating to the US in the 1970s, he met his future wife, Carol Rosenstein, on the set of the video for Rod Stewart's Tonight's the Night. The couple would go on to create the long-running Warner Bros sing-along series Kidsongs.

Also known as a live events specialist, Gowers directed and produced awards ceremonies like the Emmys, the Billboard Music Awards and MTV's Music Video and Movie Awards.

He anchored music specials for the likes of Britney Spears, Ray Charles and Paul McCartney; as well as comedy specials for Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams and Eddie Murphy.

His other career highlights included directing Live Earth, Live 8 and President Bill Clinton's Inaugural Concert at the Lincoln Memorial.