History of the Rolling Stones logo
We review the history of the Rolling Stones logo and Andy Warhol’s involvement in its creation.
The Rolling Stones were founded in April 1962 in London. He held his debut concert that same year in the legendary London Soho hall “Marquee Club”. In this half century it has become one of the best known, praised and musically long-lived groups in history.
But if there is a single icon that represents the Rolling Stones, it is the mouth with the red tongue. The official symbol of their satanic majesties has accompanied us since its creation in 1971. Like any mythical logo, its creation is surrounded by an aura of mystery and fascination. Today we are going to analyze the story behind the creation of the Rolling Stones logo.
John Pasche, the creator of the logo
The name John Pasche doesn’t sound like much to you, does it? However, his work is known to millions of people around the world. He was the designer of the internationally known symbol of The Rolling Stones.
Different versions of how the work was carried out run on the design. One in 1970, when Mick Jagger commissioned the emblem when the group was creating its own record company. Pasche made it while he was still a graphic design student at London’s Royale Colege of Art. According to the artist: “I wanted the style to be soft, seductive and feminine because I think the woman’s mouth is much more attractive. Also, the Stones were extravagant in their early days and Jagger had a very strong feminine side.”
The other version is that Jagger asked the Royale Colege of Art in London to have his students design visual elements to incorporate into his next album. Jagger settled on Pasche’s job, who charged $ 77 for it.
The logo basically represents Mick Jagger’s big, rebellious mouth. The language is inspired by the Hindu goddess Kali, goddess of eternal energy and represents the use of free expression in her music.
The design is recognized as one of the symbols of rock worldwide. It was included for the first time on the Sticky Fingers album that would come out in 1971. Years later the original design was auctioned off the logo was auctioned for 250,000 pounds. In addition to the well-known icon, Pasche worked for the Rollings on six other publications in the 1970s. The first work was inspired by the classic travel posters of the 1920s and 1930s, and served as a poster for “Rolling Stones European Tour 1970”.
Was the Rolling Stones logo made by Andy Warhol?
For a long time the authorship of this logo was attributed to Andy Warhol. The reason for this confusion can be explained: At the beginning of the 70’s The Rolling Stones were working on the preparation of their new album ‘Sticky Fingers’. The logo made by Pasche was on the inner sleeve of the album but for the design of its cover it had the collaboration of one of the most innovative and important artists of that time, the New Yorker Andy Warhol, who designed a cover in which Jeans that can be unzipped, revealing a package that is loaded on the right, stand out.
Hence, people have believed for so long that the design of this language belonged to Warhol.
Censorship in Spain decided not to publish the album with the original Warhol cover. It was replaced by another in which sticky fingers (“Sticky Fingers”) came out of a jam jar.
Cover of “Sticky Fingers” created by Andy Warhol.
Due to censorship, the cover of “Sticky Fingers” in Spain was changed.
In 2008, the National Museum of Art and Design in London bought the original icon for $ 92,500. Half of the millionaire figure went to the Art Fund organization.
