Nothing wrong with being a little suggestive and naughty from time to time! Rock&Roll has always been fun and sexy, after all! Many rock tunes are regarded as too provocative, getting out of hand and even a little bit sexist, but we have to understand that making love has always been and will always be an inseparable part of music.
I’ve always been somehow drawn to this direct, quite voluptuous side of rock&roll because let’s face it – it’s what makes things so much more interesting. I have created this playlist of 20 classic rock songs that are pretty spicy but definitely worth listening to. Whether its rhythm, lyrics or the overall atmosphere, each of these songs is about to make you sweat, I guarantee it! Also, if you and your significant other are in a good mood, this playlist can be a suitable companion for your special night.
I would also like to thank my Twitter friends who also participated in the creation of this playlist! You guys are awesome (you know who you are)!
Feel like making love?
The Doors – Light My Fire (1966)
Rolling Stones – Brown Sugar (1971)
Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta Love (1969)
AC/DC – The Jack (1976)
Bad Company – Feel Like Making Love (1975)
Montrose – Rock Candy (1973)
Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar on Me (1987)
Scorpions – Rock You Like a Hurricane (1984)
Thunder – Dirty Love (1990)
Danger Danger – Naughty Naughty (1989)
Guns ‘N’ Roses – Rocket Queen (1987)
Winger – Seventeen (1988)
Kix – Midnight Dynamite (1985)
Great White – Baby’s on Fire (1989)
Firehouse – Hold Your Fire (1992)
38 Special – Rockin’ Into the Night (1980)
Aerosmith – Love in an Elevator (1994)
Def Leppard – All Night (1999)
Kiss – Uh! All Night (1985)
Van Halen – Hot For Teacher (1984)
Lynch Mob – Tangled in the Web (1992)
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers.
The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment.
This is going to be obviously VERY subjective, however I felt like it’s high time I did this. I’ve always been drawn to the “underdogs” when it comes to music, artists, albums and even songs. Somehow, in an album, I always seem to enjoy the less popular tracks, rather than go for the released singles and ultimate hits. Same goes with albums. When it comes to rock music from the 70s and 80s, there are these extraordinary blockbuster albums that we can’t but love – for instance AC/DC’s “Back in Black”, Led Zeppelin’s fourth album, Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon”, Def Leppard’s “Hysteria”, Van Halen’s 1984, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I adore those albums with all my heart and soul but when it comes to the individual bands, I always seem to go for the less popular ones, as I said. I love seeing the beauty in the less appreciated work of musicians and believe me there are SO many underrated and underappreciated albums when it comes to classic rock music. From not so well-received comebacks to the so-called “transitional” albums (albums on which bands haven’t fully developed their distinctive sound), there’s a list of albums which I think should’ve gotten more attention and love from the public, as well as from the critics. Let me know what do you think and which other album would you put there?
Survivor – Too Hot to Sleep
Before “Too Hot to Sleep”, Survivor had major success with “Vital Signs” and “When Seconds Count” with Jimi Jamison as vocalist. And of course, before him coming to the band and before Survivor became the ultimate staple of AOR in the 80s, Dave Bickler was the voice of the smashing hit album”Eye of the Tiger” which made Survivor quite famous! But then, in 1988, after they released “Too Hot to Sleep” things changed drastically. The album was an absolute disappointment in terms of sales and chart positions and I really don’t understand why. On top of it all, after the album, the tension between Frankie and Jim – founding members of Survivor became too big to bear. “Too Hot to Sleep” offers an excellent collection of rockers! Songs such as “Desperate Dreams”, “She’s a Star”, “Burning Bridges”, “Across the Miles”, “Here Comes Desire” ARE SO BEAUTIFUL! I wish people would appreciate the record as much as I do…
Judas Priest – Turbo
If we exclude the title track – “Turbo”, this album always remains in the shadows when we talk about Judas Priest. People were not happy when they went on and filled up their tunes with synthesizers, synthesizer guitars and electric drums. Judas were even called “sellouts” after the release of “Turbo” in 1986. I have always been defending this record because it’s so much more than just the regular “going mainstream” album. Judas Priest did a very decent job here – the songs sound good, well-polished, rhythmic and enjoyable. “Out in the Cold”, “Private Property” – all awesome rockers! “Turbo” sold relatively well, but people still didn’t receive it that well and a huge chunk of their fans were disappointed. I don’t get it but hey – we all have our differences.
Toto – Fahrenheit
The first album of Toto to feature Joseph Williams on lead vocals and somewhat always forgotten, “Fahrenheit” remains one of my favourite 80s albums of all time. It didn’t sell that well initially – it took the album almost 10 years to get to the “gold” stage. Really makes you wonder why, doesn’t it? With awesome tracks such as “Till the End”, “Can’t Stand it Any Longer” and “Without Your Love”, this album should’ve seen higher skies but it didn’t. It’s difficult to swallow up a new vocalist – I get and realize it, however if you give it a chance, you will see what I’m saying…
Van Halen – Fair Warning
“Fair Warning” remains Van Halen’s slowest-selling album from the David Lee Roth era. Commercial disappointment aside – people seem to be happy with it and enjoy the album, however it’s still somehow forgotten when we think about Van Halen. Released in 1981, Rolling Stone Magazine says that the record has “the most significant musical development is the synthesizer introduced at the end of Fair Warning, which would be exploited to greater effect on later albums.” But still, when I talk about Van Halen with other people, we never really mention Fair Warning, which is such a shame because “So This is Love?” and “Unchained” are awesome singles. The album is raw, nasty and I should listen to it more often…
Eric Clapton – August
“August” might be Eric Clapton’s best-selling LPs up to date, however, critics don’t really like it and I just cannot understand why… The album definitely failed to generate a hit single or a track as memorable or essential as “Layla” or “Cocaine”, HOWEVER, to me tunes such as “Miss You”, “It’s In The Way That You Use It”, “Run” and of course the brilliant duet with Tina Turner, “Tearing Us Apart”, will forever remain in my heart.
Whitesnake – Restless Heart
Very unpopular opinion right here, however that’s just me. This record was supposed to be a David Coverdale solo album but it ended up being released under the “David Coverdale & Whitesnake” moniker. Facts aside, it’s an awesome album and I truly enjoy it. Critics say that David failed (just like many 80s glam/pop/hard rock bands) to do the “modern-day makeover” and showcased boring and monotonous tunes with no development whatsoever. I completely disagree and will always defend the beauty of this record. Doesn’t matter if it was the end of the 90s and people were still under that grunge influence – the album was and still is precious! “Don’t Fade Away” is actually my favorite David Coverdale/Whitesnake track and will always be. I also adore “You’re So Fine” and the bluesy “Stay With Me”.
Pink Floyd – Obscured by Clouds
“Obscured by Clouds” has to be the most overlooked album from the classic days of Pink Floyd. A year after its release “The Dark Side of The Moon” kicked in and people just forgot about it, I guess. The album was transitional, signalling the future directions and ambitions of the band. Many fans don’t really consider it as a genuine Pink Floyd album because it actually is a compilation of songs for the French movie La Vallée (The Valley) by Barbet Schroeder. Soundtrack or not, the music on this album is brilliant (or at least to me). No actual standout songs from the album, but the flow is good and “Obscured by Clouds” is one of their strongest instrumentals so far!
Genesis – Duke
I’m putting Genesis’ “Duke” on the list because it was heavily and UNJUSTLY criticized for being too “commercial” and “radio-friendly”. It was the second album of Genesis as a trio and even though it was their first album to reach the number 1 position, many people were disappointed with their “descent”. Personally, I think it’s very melodic, enjoyable and the lyrics (the thing that always gets me) are brilliant. Another “transitional” album that’s worthy of your time!
Aerosmith – Done With Mirrors
This album is such a cool mess! Understandably underrated, if I may say, mostly due to some holes in the production. However, still I believe it has some quite pleasant rockers. Fans have contradicting points of view when it comes to this record – some say it’s too “lame”, others love it – It’s up to you, at the end of the day but still, if you like raw, unpolished sound, this is the album for you. The album couldn’t bring them back to the spotlight, as it took a couple of more years till they released “Permanent Vacation” but remained as an example how a bad production and guidance can cost you a lot.
Asia – Alpha
The self-titled debut album of ASIA was phenomenal – no second opinion about it. So, naturally, people had very high expectations about the follow-up album, “Alpha”. It did sell well, however according to fans and critics, it couldn’t match the influence and force of the previous album. Very familiar story that happened with many bands and artists, actually. Nevertheless, I must say “Alpha” has a lot to offer too. “Don’t Cry” is a beautiful rocker that got them a top10 spot. “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” is a touching ballad, marking another high point of the album. Check it out!
And many many more….
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers. Cheers~ The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment.
Released:July 15, 2016 Genre:Country Duration: 54:29 Label:Dot Singles:“Love is Your Name”, “Red, White & You”, “We’re All Somebody from Somewhere”
OVERVIEW:
Steven Tyler is here with his first solo album and the project is definitely not sounding like anything you ever thought would come out from Aerosmith’s frontman. “We’re All Somebody from Somewhere” is a pleasantly surprising country album, recorded with local musicians from Nashville. His usual rock and blues music style is once again at present, but the beautiful country flavours, side guitars, slower paced tunes and the dreamy lyrics are definitely adding a lot of colour! From the first second you hear him sing, you could easily feel how confident and passionate he is about this record. Aerosmith’s legacy aside, this is Steven Tyler making a stand and being a true opportunist. On top of that, his vocal capabilities can absolutely fulfil each and every little desire or project he decides to go for. Such is the case with “We’re All Somebody from Somewhere”. If you are looking for some old-school Steven Tyler, rocking and rolling all the way, you cannot find him on this album. However, what you can find is almost one hour of extreme enjoyment, perfect for your afternoon relaxation time.
One of the finest moments of the album is definitely the cheery “I Make My Own Sunshine” – a track capable of instantly bringing a smile on your face. The title song – “We’re All Somebody from Somewhere” is a beautiful mess, combining elements of country music and typical Aerosmith rockstar vibes. It also reminds us a little bit of Cage the Elephant’s “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” but with a little something more there. “Red, White & You”, “The Good, The Bad, The Ugly And Me” and “Somebody New” also fall under the same “half country, half rock ’n’ roll” category. It seems like Steven was not 100% sure what he wanted to say with this album or which particular direction to take, but he never actually followed any kinds of rules, so there’s that. A lot of songs on this record don’t really stand out or leave any deep or lasting impression but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a charm.
Overall, the record is cheery, carefree and very “sunny”. Leave your reservations aside and let yourself enjoy the pleasing tunes. Don’t worry, our rock ‘n’ roll hero is still here – he has just turned into a cowboy for the time-being!
Cheers
Tracklist:
“My Own Worst Enemy” “We’re All Somebody from Somewhere” “Hold On (Won’t Let Go)” “It Ain’t Easy” “Love is Your Name” “I Make My Own Sunshine” “Gypsy Girl” “Somebody New” “Only Heaven” “The Good, The Bad, The Ugly And Me” “Red, White & You” “Sweet Louisiana” “What am I Doin’ Right?” “Janie’s Got a Gun” “Piece of my Heart” (with The Loving Mary Band”)
Red, White & You
Love Is Your Name
References:
“We’re All Somebody from Somewhere” official Wikipedia webpage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We%27re_All_Somebody_from_Somewhere P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers. Cheers~
Throughout the years, many of our favourite rockstars have collaborated and created some of the most memorable tunes of all time. It has always been quite fascinating to observe and listen how two distinctive artists team up and come up with something magical that simply shapes history. It’s even more interesting to see how two musicians from different genres and with different styles or visions somehow find that perfect balance and harmony and achieve the ultimate result.
We all know and love those endless classics. Here are 10 of my favourite collaborations in rock music that I have always pointed out as the perfect examples of great duet songs. I hope you enjoy!
Playlist:
Bryan Adams & Tina Turner – It’s Only Love Eric Clapton & Tina Turner – Tearing Us Apart The Jacksons (Feat. Michael Jackson & Mick Jagger) – State of Shock David Bowie & Queen – Under Pressure Run-DMC & Aerosmith – Walk This Way Lita Ford & Ozzy Osbourne – Close My Eyes Forever Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty – Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around INXS & Jimmy Barnes – Good Times B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Rock Me Baby Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash – Girl From The North Country
Listen here:
Bryan Adams & Tina Turner – It’s Only Love (LIVE)
What makes “It’s Only Love” such a great song is definitely the strong presence of the queen of rock ‘n’ roll – Tina Turner. Bryan Adams definitely made quite the choice as he spiced things up in his “Reckless” album. His 80s comeback wouldn’t have been the same without this passionate and sexy duet!
Eric Clapton & Tina Turner – Tearing Us Apart
For his 1886 album titled “August”, Eric Clapton teamed up with the ultimate rock diva – Tina Turner and made magic. “Tearing Us Apart” is an upbeat and very dynamic rock tune that can’t but lift your spirits up. It’s definitely one of my favorite duets of all time.
The Jacksons (Feat. Michael Jackson & Mick Jagger) – State of Shock
“State of Shock” has to be one of the most legendary duets of the 80s. I mean, how often do we get to witness such a huge collaboration – the king of pop and the greatest entertainer on Earth, Michael Jackson teaming up with over-the-top personality of none-other than the fabulous Mick Jagger? An absolute hit!
David Bowie & Queen – Under Pressure
Before Vanilla Ice decided to make a career out of this song, it was Queen and David Bowie who made history with this song. “Under Pressure” can easily be pointed out as one of the finest duets of all time as it combines two musicians for whose talents the world is simply not big enough. Sadly, both Freddie and David are no longer with us.
Run-DMC & Aerosmith – Walk This Way
“Walk This Way” is often pointed out as the song that saved Aerosmith’s career and brought them back on the music horizon. The unconventional idea of a new version of one of their older songs, including the hip hop stars Run-DMC was the ultimate recipe for success.
Lita Ford & Ozzy Osbourne – Close My Eyes Forever
In 1988, the prince of darkness – Ozzy Osbourne, along with Lita Ford created something truly beautiful. “Close My Eyes Forever” is the brainchild of Sharon, as she was managing both of them at that time. The results were immediate and could still be felt. The song is one of the most memorable power-ballads of the era.
Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty – Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around
Stevie Nicks – one of the queens of rock ‘n’ roll and often referred to as one of the most powerful female rockstars of all time, teamed up with her favorite singer Tom Petty and recorded “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”. Originally, Tom wrote the song for himself, but it ended up on Stevie’s debut solo album. What a story!
INXS & Jimmy Barnes – Good Times
This right here is one of Australia’s most favorite classics of all time. Originally released by The Easybeats in 1968, “Good Times” once again reemerged in 1987 when INXS and Jimmy Barnes recorded it for the soundtrack of “Lost Boys”. The MV is also quite iconic.
B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Rock Me Baby
“Rock Me Baby” is an absolute classic and one of the most recorded blues songs of all time. B.B. King released the track in 1964 and it quickly became one of his first and greatest hits. Years later, in 1997, he once again re-recorded the song with his long-time friend Eric Clapton for his duet album “Deuces Wild”. Eric was indeed the right person for this song as he brought something quite intriguing to the song. Just listen…
Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash – Girl From The North Country
This is quite the oldie, but you can’t but respect and admire such great collaboration. When two artists of such magnitude meet, you sit back and just listen, as your heart embraces the music. No ego-racing, no heavy-breathing – just two beautiful voices singing a simple but quite pleasant song. It’s Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, after all…
Hello, everyone! Happy new week! I do hope it’s a good one for all of us!
Once again, it’s Monday, which means it’s time for my weekly “mixtape”. As usual, I’ve collected 10 rock classics to help you kick off the new week with a blast! I’ve picked up rock tunes from various artists and eras (even from back in the 60s) and came up with this lovely rock playlist for your Monday mood! Just wanted to remind you that there’s no particular order or category – It’s a personal selection, based on my favorite classic rock songs from my music library. It’s basically a bunch of cool rock songs, performed by various awesome artists I love with all my heart! I hope you guys enjoy it and get reminded of some cool songs from the past! Rock on!
Animals – House of the Rising Sun ( 1964 )
Led Zeppelin – Since I’ve Been Loving You ( 1970 )
Hello, everyone and happy weekend! I hope everyone is enjoying their last working day and is ready for some fun, excitement and relaxation. (I sure as hell am ready to get some rest this weekend).
When we talk about the weekend, we think of doing something cool, letting loose, meeting some friends, etc. For me personally, weekends can’t be fun if there’s no rock ‘n’ roll in them! I’m pretty sure my readers think exactly the same. In the spirit of the upcoming two days of freedom, I decided to prepare a little mixtape, a.k.a a playlist, featuring some serious classic rock tunes, which I think would be perfect for your weekend mood! I told you before – making playlists is my specialty and I love doing it. I even remember, when I was a little kid, I had an audiocassette with “weekend” songs (there were a lot of disco tunes in that cassette, as far as I remember…). The goal of this publication is to simply give you guys a playlist to listen to over the weekend. Or, you can just play a few songs and remind yourself of those classics. One thing is for sure – all the songs I collected are here to create a perfect atmosphere and a lovely good mood! I hope you are ready for some no-more-work-for-two-days music!
One more thing – It’s a personal selection and I tried to include various classic rock tunes from the 70s, 80s and 90s, exploring different topics and themes, such as love, having fun, relaxing, partying, etc. Some of those songs are perfect for having a drink, while some of them are great for a dance party! Even if for some reason you can’t party or you can’t loosen up this weekend, you can still put on your headphones, turn the volume to the max and enjoy the music – the greatest thing in life!
Happy Friday and Happy Weekend!
Genesis – I Can’t Dance (1991)
Loverboy – Working for the Weekend (1981)
Duran Duran – Skin Trade (1987)
Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (1983)
Wang Chung – Everybody Have Fun Tonight (1986)
AC / DC – Have a Drink On Me (1980)
Foreigner – She’s too Tough (1979)
Judas Priest – Living after Midnight (1980)
KISS – Rock and Roll All Nite (1975)
Autograph – Turn up the Radio (1984)
Kenny Loggins – Footloose (1984)
Kenny Loggins fr. Steve Perry – Don’t Fight It (1982)
Missing someone can be the worst feeling in the world – life becomes so difficult when there’s someone out there who cannot be with you right now for one reason or another. Missing someone is basically your heart telling you that you truly love this person and wish you could be together at this moment and forever… It is just so painful to have someone in your heart but not have them in your arms! Being is such state can trigger overwhelming feelings of sadness and emotional stress and can affect pretty much every aspect of your life. Needless to say, not being able to physically and emotionally connect with the person you feel you should be with can be mentally agonizing. However, sometimes out of suffering and unimaginable pain, the most beautiful and touching works of art have emerged. A lot of people choose to overcome their agony by writing a poem, drawing a picture or…making a song.
These days, I’ve been thinking a lot about a certain someone who, sadly, I cannot see or be with at this moment. I’m not going to tell you my life story, but the point is that my heart is reaching for someone who is just not here to reach back…and it hurts like hell…But what can we do in such situation? We smile and act like nothing’s wrong – but only we, ourselves know what our hearts truly long and cry for…
Loneliness, broken heart, physical or any kind of distance between two people has been a popular song theme for as long as we can remember. Sometimes, those songs that explore the matter of missing someone can be a very good way to overcome the pain, obtain some strength or just realize your true feelings towards another person… Since this is a blog dedicated to classic rock music, I thought about preparing a little playlist that deals with the topic of how missing someone special has been portrayed in some of the most beautiful rock songs from a few decades ago. I think that the majority of people may be familiar with the awful feeling of wanting to be with someone who is so far away. I apologize if the following songs bring some sadness or other painful emotions or memories to you, however I thought that something positive might come out of it…After all, life goes on and things change. Songs are a good way to remind ourselves of the long and scary road we once walked… Regardless, I hope you guys enjoy the songs…It’s a personal selection and deep feelings aside – they are awesome classics!
How I wish, how I wish you were here. We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, Running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears. Wish you were here.
John Waite – Missing You (1984)
You don’t know How desperate I’ve become And it looks like I’m losing this fight In your world I have no meaning Though I’m trying hard to understand And it’s my heart that’s breaking Down this long distance line tonight
Scorpions – Still Loving You (1984)
The things that killed our love Your pride has built a wall, so strong That I can’t get through Is there really no chance To start once again I’m loving you
Journey – Faithfully (1983)
And being apart Ain’t easy on this love affair Two strangers learn to fall in love again I get the joy of rediscovering you Oh, girl, you stand by me I’m forever yours Faithfully
Electric Light Orchestra – Turn to Stone (1977)
The dancing shadows on the wall THE TWO-STEP IN THE HALL are all I see since you’ve been gone TURNING TURNING TURNING Through all I sit here and I wait I TURN TO STONE I TURN TO STONE You will return again some day TO MY BLUE WORLD
The Rolling Stones – Miss You (1978)
Well, I’ve been haunted in my sleep You’ve been staring in my dreams Lord I miss you. I’ve been waiting in the hall Been waiting on your cal…
Aerosmith – I don’t Wanna Miss a Thing (1998)
‘Cause even when I dream of you The sweetest dream would never do I’d still miss you, baby And I don’t wanna miss a thing…
Kiss – Beth (1976)
You say you feel so empty That our house just ain’t a home And I’m always somewhere else And you’re always there alone
Def Leppard – Miss You in a Heartbeat (1992)
I believe, that there’s something deep inside That shouldn’t be from time to time. I sure found out, thought love was such a crime The more you care, the more you fall No need to worry, no need to turn away ‘Cause it don’t matter, anyway …
Steve Perry – Missing You (1994)
Still I remember Things I never meant Memories surround me Won’t let me forget I was so wrong The secret’s not worth keeping I had no faith That you would still believe
+BONUS track ~
Eric Clapton – Miss You (1986)
You know I’ve come this far without you; It won’t be too hard to be alone. I’ve got choices all around me, So I won’t be spending too much time at home. Girl, I’m gonna miss you. I’m gonna miss you, baby. I can’t forgive you, Still I’m gonna miss you, baby.
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers. The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment. Cheers~
Greetings! For today’s publication I decided to take a different approach and go to another direction, rather than talking about music or songs like I usually do. As a person who specializes in media industry and PR, I would like to emphasize on the extreme importance of the logotype – or logo (which is the abbreviation) when it comes to promotion, establishing individuality and gaining recognition and respect from the public. Every major organization or commercial enterprise has a unique and distinctive logodesign, which people can almost instantly identify. In addition, individuals can also use a logo to boost their image and embody their character and individuality. Coming up with a logo design can be a very challenging task since this little graphic or word mark image is supposed to be special, easy to remember and at the same time represent an identity and differentiate the brand. Moreover, the logo of an organization or a person usually appears or numerous platforms – it turns into a signature and a face. As I already said designing a logo or even coming with an idea of a cool and rather unique logo can be a very difficult task. However, numerous rock bands managed to create a distinctive logo which carries their spirit and tells something about them to the fans. I am sure that many of you guys are already thinking or have a rock band logo in mind – they are that memorable! Band logos are used in numerous ways – mostly on T-Shirts, albums, mugs and all kinds of merchandise. It is rare to see a picture of the band or the musician on a T-Shirt for example – usually we see the logo of the band. Thus, when we, the fans, wear it we experience the satisfaction of identifying with the band and being part of them. To me personally, the 70s and the 80s was the golden age of band logos – I believe back then, musicians (especially hard rock/glam rock/heavy metal bands) were putting much more effort into creating beautiful and memorable logos for their band, compared to today. Bottom line is, every band is different and has an image. Thus, the way this distinctive image is crafted, packaged and delivered is beyond important! I came up with the idea of this publication a few days ago when I was looking at Led Zeppelin’s logo design and wondered if people really know what those symbols mean. I believe people have seen and are aware of such iconic rock band logos but may not be so familiar with the meaning behind them. That’s why I decided to make this post – it is going to be rather informative but I still will analyze and give my opinions. I hope you’ll enjoy and learn something new! So here there are – some of the most famous rock band logos!
The Rolling Stones
I just had to start with Rolling Stones – the big red mouth is probably the most memorable and widely recognizable band logos ever! The “Tongue and Lips” logo, which some have shortened to just “Hot Lips”, was created in 1970 by British graphic designer John Pasche. Interesting fact – the 24 year old (back then) John accepted only £50 (about $77) to come up with a design for the band. Originally, Mick Jagger wanted a logo resembling Kali – the Hindu goddess of energy. The goddess is usually portrayed with a large mouth and her tongue sticking out, however Pasche found a much bigger inspiration in Jagger himself. “I went into this sort of wood-paneled boardroom and there he was,” Pasche said. “Face-to-face with him, the first thing you were aware of was the size of his lips and mouth.” So at the end, it was purposefully created to resemble Mick Jagger’s mouth! So cool, right?
Led Zeppelin
“After all this crap that we’d had with the critics, I put it to everybody else that it’d be a good idea to put out something totally anonymous. At first I wanted just one symbol on it, but then it was decided that since it was our fourth album and there were four of us, we could each choose our own symbol. I designed mine and everyone else had their own reasons for using the symbols that they used,” – Jimmy Paige. I specifically chose the logo with the symbols from the epic Led Zeppelin IV album, because many people don’t really know what they stand for or at least why where they placed there. Drummer John Bonham’s symbol consists of three interlocking rings, which represent the mother, the father and the child. The symbol was chosen from Rudolf Koch’s Book of Signs. Bassist John Paul Jones’ symbol was also chosen from the same book. It resembles a circle intersecting 3 vesica pisces (a triquetra) and it symbolizes a person who has confidence and competence. Singer Robert Plant’s symbol is a feather inside a circle and was designed by him. The feather is an emblem of a writer (ie song lyrics) and also it is based on the lost civilizations and continent of Mu.
Jimmy Paige designed his own symbol and it is often referred as “ZoSo”. He never publically explained or stated what the true meaning behind the symbol is, however it was discovered that it dates back to at least 1557 and it represents Saturn. There is also a fifth and smaller symbol, chose by vocalist Sandy Denny for her contribution to the “The Battle of Evermore“ song. It is an old Christian symbol for the Godhead.
Guns n Roses
One of the most recognizable logos in history! To me, personally, this is also one of the most beautiful rock band logos ever! That is why I will just focus on this one for now and won’t talk about the skull logo (which is also very famous by the way). It has poetic, sensitive and romantic side, as well as a violent and a bad one. The logo itself consists of two revolvers and roses with thorns wrapped around the guns. Many people also miss the fact that the back view – the brass ring with the silver primer in the middle, behind the guns and the roses is actually a bullet casing. Pretty interesting, right? Also, for those of you who don’t know why exactly guns and roses – the name of the band is a combination of the last names of Tracii Guns and Axl Rose. It is also a reference to their previous bands – Hollywood Rose and LA Guns.
The Ramones
Ah, the Ramones! This is probably one of my most favourite band logos (and bands as a matter of fact) of all time! It was designed by Arturo Vega and many people say that he basically “put the seal on their success”. Interesting fact – he was not only their “creative director” and archivist but also their very good friend – he is sometimes considered as the “fifth ramone”. Instead of trying to explain it with my own words, I would rather quote the designer himself talking about his ideas and motive behind the infamous seal logo. “I saw them as the ultimate all-American band. To me, they reflected the American character in general. I thought the great seal of the president of the United States would be perfect for the Ramones, with the eagle holding arrows – to symbolise strength and the aggression that would be used against whoever dares to attack us – and an olive branch, offered to those who want to be friendly. But we decided to change it a little bit. Instead of the olive branch, we had an apple tree branch, since the Ramones were American as apple pie. And since Johnny was such a baseball fanatic, we had the eagle hold a baseball bat instead of the arrows,” said Arturo Vega.
Queen
Queen! The infamous band logo was designed by Freddie Mercury shortly before the official release of their debut album. The logo illustrates the zodiac signs of all four members of the band – two lions for Leo (Deacon and Taylor), a crab for Cancer (May), and two fairies for Virgo (Mercury). The two lions are embracing the letter Q which also has a crown inside of it. The logo itself has a very strong resemblance to the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom. It is very pictorial and colourful – that’s the beauty of it! Honestly to me it is a bit too much for a logo – but then again – it’s Freddie and Queen we are talking about! The logo has to be as majestic and pompous as possible!
Van Halen
It is because I love Van Halen so much that I decided to show the two distinctive logos of the band – from the David and Sammy period. Interesting fact, before the first logo they had a few not so good ones and definitely not worth mentioning. These logos – and especially the second one, are topping my list for most favourite band logos. I like simple but powerful and memorable designs and I feel like this one delivered it in the best way possible. The logos consist of the initials of the band name – V and H. The first logo was introduced in 1978 and the second one in 1986 when Sammy Hagar became the new lead vocalist of the band. With the new frontman, the logo changed just a little – it became more 3D-ish and the wings on both sides of the initials were transformed into rings to show the notable change in Van Halen’s lineup. The iconic winged Van Halen logo was designed by Dave Bhang in 1978. He also drew up a new cover for their first album (since the initial proposal from Warner Brothers was declined by the members).
AC/DC
In my opinion this is also one of the greatest examples of how a logo can become such an important part of a band’s identity! I am sure there’s not a single rock fan in the world who doesn’t know or haven’t seen this logo at least once in their lives. This is not a publication dedicated to the meaning behind band’s names, however in this case I need to mention the relationship between the logo and the name of the band. AC/DC is an abbreviation meaning “alternating current/direct current” electricity. Malcolm and Angus Young came up with the idea after their sister (Margaret Young) saw the initials on a sewing machine. It somehow suited perfectly to their raw energy and powerful live performances –that is also the reason why there’s a lightning bolt between AC and DC. The logo was designed in 1977 by Gerard Huerta and it first appeared on the international version of their album Let There Be Rock.
Bon Jovi
Just like Guns n Roses’ logo – I think this is also one of the most beautiful rock band logos of all time. Once again, we see a combination of two distinctive elements – a heart and a dagger. It is also a famous design for tattoos. There is no specific information about what exactly is the true meaning behind the logo, however once thing is for sure – when people are in love, they feel pain. It focuses on sensitivity, heartbreak and romance and has some gothic elements which make it even more remarkable and loved by many rock fans. The logo was first introduced for the band’s “New Jersey” tour merchandise and after that it just stuck and became one of the most memorable logos ever.
Aerosmith
It is a very beautiful logo perfectly suited for rockstars such as Aerosmith. It was designed by Ray Tabano, who was a member of the original Aerosmith lineup before being replaced by Brad Whitford. The logo first appeared in 1974 on the album “Get your wings”. It is very stylish, black and white logo with a large letter “A” that spreads its wings on the background. There are also other important elements such as a little star and the wings – which symbolize freedom and movement. Also, there’s a circle around the letter “A”, which sort of reminds us about the famous anarchy symbol.
The Doors
This logo just screams “60s”! It is very simple and it includes only the name of the band. I think it is one of the perfect logos to use on T-shirts or other kinds of merchandise – it stands out and it is very easy to read. Firstly, there is a tiny but very essential “the” on top of the name which uses the typical psychedelic typeface of the 60s. Also, the two “O”s are split in the middle and resemble pills – hmm…I wonder why…? The logo itself was designed by an Elektra Records assistant and it first appeared on their 1967 debut album. This is a perfect example of how sometimes the simple logos are the best.
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers. The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment. Cheers~
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Hello, everyone and happy weekend!
MY ROCK MIXTAPES 