This summer’s Be the Artist series asks the question… “Who Made That?”
One of the most famous rock bands on the planet is the Rolling Stones, who are still touring today in their 80s. It might be safe to say their iconic lips logo is also one of the most recognizable images in rock ‘n’ roll history.
Believe it or not, a good place to get a brief history of this iconic logo is through the LEGO site because you can now buy a big LEGO version of this logo. That’s how iconic it is—it is a LEGO!
Designer John Pasche created the world-famous lips and tongue in 1970. He thought he was simply creating something for the band’s letterhead or maybe their next 45. The logo debuted on the back and the insert of their 1971 Sticky Fingers album and has been inseparable from the Rolling Stones ever since.
Pasche was an art student at the Royal College of Art when the Stones showed him a picture of the Hindu goddess Kali with her tongue sticking out. They wanted something inspired by her attitude. Pasche also said he was inspired by the pop art exhibits he visited at the time including works of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.
The result? A simple and in-your-face representation of defiance, confidence, empowerment, and, of course, rock ‘n’ roll.
Pasche said the logo was, in a way, a protest to all conventions of the time, like a kid sticking his tongue out at adults.
Pasche was paid about £50 for his logo. Thirty years later his original logo sold for $92,500 at an auction.
The Rolling Stones may continue to be one of the main representatives of the sound of their generation and generations to follow, but Pasche’s logo definitely represents the band.
“It represents the lead singer,” he said in the LEGO article, “it represents the whole band… It’s historic and traditional but it looks brand new at the same time.”
Almost every well-known musical acting act today has some kind of “visual mascot” of who they are.
It’s hard to picture Iron Maiden without Eddie or BTS without that simple purple logo. When you have something that is almost as recognizable as the group itself, it implants a little subconscious reminder in the brain that triggers their music. Or their faces. Or their videos. Pick any logo and you’ll immediately do the same.
For this project, you’re going to create a logo for a new band* that no one has ever heard of… but first that band needs a name.
There are many ways to come up with a band name. Some groups pick something very personal to themselves. Some want something that sounds catchy. Some want to make a social or political statement. I heard about one band who just stuck their finger on a random word in a dictionary and found their name.
If you want to go a quick route and really want a random challenge, the site Indiesound.com has a band name generator. Don’t like the sound of one name? Hit it again until you’ve found something that catches your creative interest.
For example, here are a few that came up for me:
I’m going with Concerto Doves.
Now, I get to pick a genre. I’ll go with a group of melodic indie folk rockers. There’s the name and the genre, and now think of the logo.
Look at the noun in the name first, and give it a style that goes with the music and word. I think of peace and grace when I think of a dove, for example. If there is an adjective or more descriptive word, incorporate it into the image as well.
Now, just start sketching. Just a pencil and a plain piece of paper are all you need for this one to start.
Draw about three different ideas, because you want the band to have a choice in picks. Just draw what comes to mind, and don’t worry about polish yet.
Once you have decided on which design you (or the “band” like best), begin cleaning it up a little. Sharpen up the lines, and add some color. Maybe add the band initials to the image. Keep it simple so it can go on everything from album covers to merch.
Mostly, just make it stand out. You want people to immediately know what band it is when they see this image. Is it ready for its debut? How much will the band pay you? Above all, do you like it? Would you wear this on a shirt or paste the sticker on a notebook? If so, you have a band logo of which to be proud.
Now you’re ready to become an immediately recognized superstar. Hang this up and see if any friends and family ask you about it. If they do, the buzz has begun. They are talking about the band. Sure, they might not actually have any gigs yet… or songs… or actual band members. But you have a logo. And it is awesome.
Who knows? It may be as famous as the band. In the case of Pasche, those blatantly anti-establishment lips were a perfect fit for a band that was the bad boys of rock ‘n’ roll.
He says that the simplicity and directness “is probably why it stood the test of time” for more than 50 years.
*Geekmom Lisa has helped design a logo for a local Christian death metal band, Corefire. How many people get to put that on their creative resume?
This post was last modified on June 15, 2024 5:16 pm
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