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What Punk Rock Can Teach Music Brands About Graphic Design

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The stark, in-your-face, graphic vocabulary of Punk Rock can inspire music brands to create marketing that speaks to today’s youth.

Punk Rock was anti-establishment, anti-society and anti-commercial.  A middle finger in the face of mainstream America influencing everything from music to fashion with a biting wit and surly demeanor. The graphic energy of punk can be used to break through slick and stale music marketing.  Here’s how:

punk rock music brands Sex Pistols logo

1) Put away your laptop and pick up a pair of scissors.

The outrageous behavior and unprocessed music of the Sex Pistols is reflected in their graphics. Jamie Reid literally cut and pasted letters from magazines and newspapers to design this aggressive and inspired logo.

Sex Pistols God Save the Queen image

Reid also designed this 1977 “God Save the Queen” promotional poster. He manipulated England’s most sacred icons Queen Elizabeth and the Union Jack to create this irreverent image. It was shocking in the 1970s and four decades later still inspires and offends.

Be spontaneous, but thoughtful. Use non-conventional design techniques to create a fresh approach. And don’t be afraid to tweak and taunt conventional icons.

punk rock music brands buzzcocks collage

2) Be shocking and outrageous.

In 1977, Malcolm Garrett designed this art for the Buzzcocks with a sexually provocative collage by artist Linder Sterling. Using an X-Acto knife and a pile of women’s magazines, Sterling assembled the two-color graphic image a breakthrough moment in album art.

Appropriate the images and materials around you to create art that is relevant to current issues.

punk rock music brands Black Flag logo

3) Keep it simple.

Black Flag, an American punk rock band, was one of the originators of hardcore punk. Artist Raymond Pettibon (brother of the band’s leader, Greg Ginn) designed the band’s trademark four black bars which echoed the brutal simplicity of the music. The logo (a reverse image of the white surrender flag) became a symbol of rebellion and anarchy. As the band gained popularity around Los Angeles, the logo spread as graffiti art.

Dave Grohl attempted to tattoo this logo on his left forearm when he was 12, but gave up after three bars (not the full four) because it was so painful. Sometimes a simple solution can generate a thoughtful response with a passionate following.

punk rock music brands Misfits skull image

4) Keep it raw.

In 1979, the Misfits released their “Horror Business” single and with it a skull-like image that became the face of the band. Their mix of punk rock and horror film themes is projected by this haunting illustration, designed by band members Glenn Danzig and Jerry Only. An image does not have to be polished to be iconic.

punk rock music brands Dead Kennedys album cover Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death

5) Don’t be afraid to be tasteless.

Winston Smith created the artwork for the American punk rock group Dead Kennedys. Even their name is the height of tastelessness. The album title, Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death, is intended as a comment on American consumerism.

Do not be timid. Vanilla ideas and safe art are invisible and forgettable to your audience.

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Filed Under: Advertising, Branding, Marketing, Media, Packaging

About Doug Nestler

Sales Consultant | Author | Player
Doug is the author of Sound Marketing: Helping Music Brands Be Heard, and has been involved in the musical instrument and pro audio business for nearly four decades. His expertise is in sales & marketing strategy, key account management, product roll-outs and overall channel management.

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Welcome to the show.

Sound Marketing sits at the intersection of music, sales & marketing. We explore how insightful strategy, focused tactics, and organizational change will help manufacturers be heard over all the noise in the musical instrument marketplace.

My name is Doug Nestler, and I’ve spent 40 years—still going strong—in sales & marketing. My resume includes roles in all areas of channel management and distribution, and Sound Marketing is a way to share my expertise with you.

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