The logo of a band, after the music, is certainly an element that characterizes the image and imagination of the band itself. A graphic element not to be underestimated because it is able to remain stuck to your memory. Sometimes it recalls a message related to the lyrics of a particular song or the philosophy of the band, sometimes it is a series of coincidences that led to its genesis. In a previous post, I talked about the covers of the rock albums that made history. Also, the logos of some bands have done the same becoming a brand that has nothing to envy to the corporate logos of large multinationals. I'll tell you the story of 3 world-famous bands and how their logos were born and what they mean.
Nirvana
There are many theses regarding the birth of the smiley symbol of the Seattle band. Some credible, others less but very funny. The most reliable hypothesis is that the design of the logo of Nirvana is to be attributed to the banner of a strip club in Seattle, the Lusty Lady. Here, in fact, you can find a very similar version of the smile accompanied by the phrase: Have an erotic day!. It seems that in those days the club was a real pillar of the Seattle rock scene. Art Chantry, in the book Grunge is dead: Oral history of Seattle rock music, says that to support the bands of their boys, in fact, many girls were making some extra money dancing in that very place.
Another thesis on the origins of Nirvana's logo emphasizes its psychedelic character. The smiley with eyes marked with two X's and an uncertain smile would, in fact, represent an altered man, under the effect of drugs or alcohol or perhaps the slightly intoxicated expression of a spectator at a concert of the band. The most amusing hypothesis, though unlikely, is that the Nirvana logo was nothing more than a nice representation of Axl Rose, singer of Guns'N'Roses, with whom apparently did not flow good blood.
The Nirvana logo only appeared a couple of times and never on any of their records. The first appearance of the smile, probably the work of Kurt Cobain, dates back to September 13, 1991. It was used on a flyer to advertise an event organized on the occasion of the release of Nevermind. The second time it is used in the t-shirt Flower Sniffin, Kitty Pettin, Baby Kissin Corporate Rock Whores associated with the font Onyx.
Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones' iconic Lips and Tongue logo appears for the first time on the 1971 Sticky Fingers album, with the famous cover depicting a gatefold zip of a pair of jeans. Although this one was designed by the legendary Andy Warhol, the logo is not to be attributed to him. In 1969, the Stones were in the middle of organizing their European tour that will start the following year. They need new advertising posters with eye-catching and irreverent graphics. Unsatisfied with Decca Records' proposals, they are looking for inspiration elsewhere. They then arrive at the Royal College of Art in London where they meet the young John Pasche, a senior student. His works on display at the graduation are so striking that they insist that he is the one who develops the logo. Without falling into the stereotypes of the period for which Indian culture seems to be the only one that exists, Pasche proposes his idea.
The image is composed of two elements that are inspired by the great mouth of Jagger and the language of the goddess Kali taken from a painting much loved by the same frontman of the Stones. The result cost only £50, but her message is destined to last over the years surviving generational fashions and revolutions. The mockery, the rebellion against the authorities, the sexual transgression, the freedom are expressed so vividly by Pasche's work that the Rolling Stones remain enthusiastic. For this reason they decided to reward him with another 200 pounds and keep his work as the official logo until today. In 2008, the legendary Lips and Tongue became part of the collection of the Albert and Victoria Museum for the incredible sum of over £50,000.
Queen
When Freddy Mercury designed the logo, he received a diploma from Ealing Art College in London. He is determined to find a compromise between a symbol that effectively represents the 4 members of the group and the royalty of the name. The choice falls on a composition created by the union of the zodiac signs of the band members. Two lions for Deacon and Taylor, two fairies for Mercury, the sign of the virgin and finally a crab to symbolize the sign of cancer of Bryan May. The latter is surmounted by a crown of fire and all four cling around the big letter Q while holding the crown of his majesty. The complexity of this logo is further enriched by the flaming phoenix that with its wings protects the allegory of the group.