Do these posters rock?
December 7, 2007
Check out Billboard’s The 25 Best Rock Posters of All Time for a nice overview of what’s been going down in rock posters in the past 50 years. This Thelonious Monk poster from 1959 is my personal fave. Clean, minimal use of color and old school typography. The posters for James Brown (1962), Elvis Costello (2005), The Decemberists (2005), and Pearl Jam (also 2005, apparently a good design year) spoke to me as well.
But what’s up with this? This poster is…OK. The uninspired typography and “clever” type treatment (Fire! On “Red Hot Chili Peppers”! It’s a genius visual pun!) are kind of first year in art school.
But then I read the article intro again. Billboard promises “the 25 coolest posters in rock history.” Nowhere in there does it say the 25 best designed posters in rock history or the 25 most awe inspiring graphics in rock history. Looking over the choices again, there are selections that have to do with rarity (Stones merchandise without the tongue logo) or historical importance (the first psychedelic poster). Once again I fell into “How does it look? It is cool? Is it beautiful? Does anything else matter?” Of course it does (although I don’t care what the rationale was for the Radiohead poster. It’s overrated.)
What do you think? Fantastic collection or ho-hum grouping?
BONUS: If you’re into poster design, check out posterwhore.com. Inspiring site, embarrassing name.
I like the Monk, Costello and Decembrists ones too, and I have to put in a vote for the old-school Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley ones, too. I’d like the U2 one better if I could read the type. The Jimi Hendrix eyeball thing? Meh.
Comment by elizasmom — December 10, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
Do you think you’d like the U2 poster if you weren’t a (huge) fan of the group? And no Larry Mullen Jr (aka the hot one)?
Comment by Leslie Tane Design — December 10, 2007 @ 1:03 pm
Yes and no. On the one hand I like that Art Nouveau-esque kind of illustration — my grandmother had a bunch of puzzles made from old turn of the last century advertising posters in this style that I always loved to do as a kid. I even like the ornateness of the background. On the other hand, the lettering really bugs me. I can’t read it AT ALL. I don’t think it’s in keeping with the style of the rest of the thing, either.
Comment by elizasmom — December 10, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
Hey, thanks for sharing my site with all the folks. I’ve never had anyone say “Inspiring site, embarrassing name”. Awesome. Cheers.
Comment by Josh — December 11, 2007 @ 1:29 am
Well, you know, the whole “whore” thing…
Can’t wait to see how I’m indexed now!
Thanks for stopping by, Josh. Seriously, I love your site.
Comment by Leslie Tane Design — December 11, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
Hah…I understand. Yeah, it does wonders for your indexing. Thanks a ton for kind words. I’ve enjoyed diggin’ into your site as well. Have a great week.
Comment by Josh — December 12, 2007 @ 7:12 pm