Album Art Exploration – Page 2 – Green and Black Music

Meet Buffalo Springfield

April 11, 2017April 12, 2017 Green and Black Musicbruce palmer, dewey martin, neil young buffalo springfield, richie furay, stephen stills0 comment

1966 was an exciting year for rock music. New acts like Cream and The Mothers of Invention issued debut albums. The Beatles released Revolver while Bob Dylan unleashed the double-LP, Blonde on Blonde. Into this sea of creativity emerged an unknown band by the name of Buffalo Springfield. Exactly who was this new group that had taken over the airwaves with the hit song, “For What’s It’s Worth?” Curious record buyers needed only to peruse the rear sleeve. A short bio of each musician is printed beneath a group photo. Listeners…

Album Art Exploration Articles Observations and Musings

Iron Maiden: The Legend of the Black Cat

January 14, 2017January 18, 2017 Green and Black Musicblack cat, derek riggs, iron maiden killers, iron maiden live after death, iron maiden somewhere in time0 comment

Eddie has been the face of Iron Maiden since day one. From seedy underworlds of urban decay to Egyptian pyramids and hostile ice planets, creator Derek Riggs has famously buried jokes and messages in the landscapes that Eddie called home. One particularly murky legend is that a black cat is hidden in each Iron Maiden album. The black cat legend is rarely discussed. I wondered if the concept was some half-invented figment of my imagination. A Google search yielded no conclusive evidence. If not for fruitless inquires posed by random…

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Murray: A Short History of the Dio Mascot

October 12, 2016August 6, 2019 Green and Black Music0 comment

If Ronnie James Dio had simply been the singer of Rainbow and Black Sabbath, his name would have been firmly etched in the annals of rock and roll. With Holy Diver, Dio escaped the shadow of his past and forged an identity that was truly his own. A carefully assembled band helped create the music. The image, however, can be attributed to a monstrous mascot named Murray. An evil creature with blood red eyes, our first glimpse of Murray shows this beast choking a drowning priest with iron chains. The…

Album Art Exploration Articles Movies and Television

LEGACY OF BRUTALITY: THE MISFITS AND THE CRIMSON GHOST

August 20, 2016July 17, 2019 Green and Black MusicCrimson Ghost, Fiend Skull0 comment

The Crimson Ghost or the Fiend Skull. Call him what you will, the fiendish ghoul has been the face of The Misfits for decades. With the “original” Misfits reunion upon us, the time is right to revisit the legacy of this iconic mascot. The Crimson Ghost first found life in the 1940’s. Starring in a serialized film, the masked villain went to murderous lengths in his attempts to steal an invention dubbed Cyclotrode X. Capable of deflecting atomic rays, the machine would be invaluable in preventing an atomic attack during…

Album Art Exploration Articles Observations and Musings

NOT OF THIS WORLD: THE DANZIG SKULL AND THE SAGA OF CRYSTAR

August 17, 2016July 18, 2019 Green and Black MusicCrystar, Danzig Skull, Michael Golden, Samhain Skull6 Comments

The artwork of the first Danzig record was perfect. A white skull occupied both panels of black gatefold. All was secondary to the skull. No track list was present. Even the actual logo was pushed to the bottom corner. Visually stimulating, the skull boldly ushered in the next chapter of Glenn Danzig’s storied career. Of course Glenn was using the skull long before his eponymous debut. It was unveiled with the birthing of Samhain. Unlike the Crimson Ghost, this new creation was not taken from Hollywood. It had no immediately…

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SARGENT D AND THE S.O.D. – STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH

July 21, 2016August 19, 2016 Green and Black MusicBigger Than the Devil, Billy Milano, Charlie Benante, Dan Lilker, Live at Budokan, s.o.d., Sargent D, Scott Ian, Speak English or Die, Stormtroopers of Death0 comment

The year was 1985. Anthrax was in the midst of recording Spreading the Disease and Scott Ian sat bored in the studio. With guitar tracking complete, Ian began drawing cartoons. From these doodles, the world’s most wretched pile of hate-mongering filth was born. Dubbed Sargent D, this fascist villain began his ascent to world domination. A living skull in an army helmet, Sargent D puffed on a cigar as he spewed words of hatred. Phrases like, “I’m not prejudice, I hate everyone equally” and “Don’t smoke, I’ll rip your lungs…

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The Mascots of Metal

May 26, 2016September 18, 2017 Green and Black Musicchaly, eddie, not man, rush starman, snaggletooth0 comment

When bands adopt an official mascot, the concept takes on a life of it’s own. The consistent presence of metal’s assorted creatures keeps the genre fun. The following list celebrates ten of the most beloved mascots in metal. VIC RATTLEHEAD Vic Rattlehead was the skeletal representative of Megadeth right from the start. Not only does Vic appear on the cover of Megadeth’s debut, but he was also immortalized with song. “Skull Beneath the Skin” recounts the creation of this metal icon. Prepare the patient’s scalp to peel away Metal…

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ROCKET TO RUSSIA: THE PUNK ROCK ART OF THE RAMONES

May 1, 2016November 2, 2018 Green and Black Music0 comment

The Ramones had high expectations for Rocket To Russia. Songs like “Rockaway Beach,” “Locket Love” and “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” were pure pop. When the album peaked at 49 on the billboard charts the band was bitterly disappointed. Many blamed the stalled momentum on a rival band from the U.K. The Sex Pistols had dirtied up the punk aesthetic with their nihilistic self-destruction. For better or worse, the genre was now viewed as confrontational and dangerous. Radio shunned all things punk. Any chance of Rocket to Russia yielding…

Album Art Exploration Articles Observations and Musings Top Ten Lists

THE BEST/WORST ALBUM COVERS IN HEAVY METAL & HARD ROCK

April 24, 2016May 3, 2019 Green and Black Musichelloween future world, judas priest rocka rolla0 comment

HELLOWEEN – FUTURE WORLD Based on Judge Dredd, to me, this was just a badass pumpkin with a Mohawk strumming an electric guitar. After all, it’s HELLOWEEN. Of course there’s gonna be some chill pumpkin dude killing it on guitar. He’s kind of spacey and futuristic too. Well, that’s cause it’s the “Future World” single. The music is upbeat and happy. Seriously. It makes me want to dance a happy jig and hug people. OF COURSE the album cover is gonna have a lighthearted take on the band’s ongoing connection…

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TARKUS: VISIONS OF DOOM FROM EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER

March 16, 2016August 30, 2016 Green and Black MusicEmerson Lake & Palmer, Progressive rock, Tarkus2 Comments

It’s hard to be afraid of an armadillo. Yet, this is no ordinary creature. Rather, it is a mysterious, mechanical hybrid of doom. An armored tank of destruction, this unholy entity is designed to spread terror. It even has a name. Behold TARKUS! Behind Tarkus is an infinite trail of death. The carnage extends well beyond the line of vision. No sign of exhaustion is visible in his glaring red eyes. Tarkus pushes onward in his murderous rampage. Strange worlds come alive within the gatefold of this classic ELP record.…