Musicians aim to sell their albums to earn a living, but sometimes they push boundaries and what’s considered acceptable. These artistic album covers may make you uncomfortable, but they can still be regarded as works of art. However, some musicians take this a step further.
For the next four albums we discuss, we won’t display the cover art (regrettably, due to its lack of taste, and you can easily find it online). Instead, let us explain why the album artwork may not be up to par.
Occasionally, certain bands employ explicit or provocative imagery featuring underage girls. One might question whether such actions represent genuine artistic expression or merely an attempt to provoke a response. These two concepts are fundamentally distinct from one another.
Four controversial album covers that should have never been created
Bow Wow Wow – See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang Yeah, City All Over! Go Ape Crazy! (1981)
Was the band featured in the picture, as confirmed? However, controversy arose due to the album artwork being inspired by Édouard Manet’s painting but featuring the lead singer, Annabella Lwin, posing nude. The problem stemmed from the fact that she was just 14 years old when the photograph was taken.
Lwin’s mother initiated an investigation with Scotland Yard, leading to a change on the album cover. However, it resurfaced on the band’s EP titled “The Last of the Mohicans”. It appears that the rest of the band might have been uneasy about participating in the photography sessions for the album artwork.
Guns N’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction (1987)
Initially considered the less preferred choice, the redesigned album artwork, visible upon its release, has since become iconic. Had they opted for the original design, the record may not have sold well, potentially preventing the formation of the band we recognize today.
In a piece by artist Robert Williams, the initial album artwork depicts a woman casually leaning against a timber barrier, her demeanor suggesting she has recently experienced a violent sexual attack. A menacing robot is poised to crush down upon her, presumably as retribution.
The band explained that their initial piece of art carried a symbolic message about society, where the robot stood in for the industrial system that is harming and contaminating our surroundings. In other words, they’ve consistently shown concern for environmental issues.
The Beautiful South – Welcome to the Beautiful South (1989)
There seems to be some questionable decisions with this album cover. While one photograph, showing a man smoking, might not raise concerns, the second image is troubling. It depicts a woman holding a gun to her own mouth.
Woolworths retail chain in the UK declined to sell a particular record due to its controversial cover art. The musicians behind it aimed to convey a message equating smoking with holding a firearm to one’s head, which many found questionable. Nevertheless, their attempt at making a statement appeared to be without merit.
Foreigner – Head Games (1979)
Initially, the design of the album cover seems rather absurd to me. It features a young girl, who appears to be going through puberty, standing in a men’s restroom, with a roll of toilet paper in front of a mirror and an expression of fear on her face. I can’t fathom how the band could find this image appealing or edgy; it may be that they were attempting to seem intriguing but fell short in their attempt.
Her gaze is particularly unappealing, I might add. What is the young woman gazing at? What is that tissue paper for? And why is she found in the men’s restroom? The choice of setting by the band and label leaves much to be desired.
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2025-06-14 17:00