What if Album Covers Were Updated After Group Members Passed Away?

An odd notion, wouldn't you say? One that is explored in sublime and chilling fashion on the ironically named "Live!" tumblr. In one of the best examples of the Photoshopping artistry of this tumblr's curators, Roberta Bayley's legendary cover photograph of the Ramones debut album is reduced to a lone Tommy Ramone, standing against the iconic New York brick wall; his late band mates having shuffled off this mortal coil. The "Live!" tumblr features 21 album covers done in similar fashion, with results ranging from ordinary to hauntingly effective. There are however a number of covers which could join this macabre gallery.

Once you get over the initial repulsion of the idea, the edited covers further drive home their intended point: illustrating the impact of and remembering those who have joined the great gig in the sky. This is where these examples of extreme Photoshopping skill are most effective. You may at first think it's disrespectful, but look again and wait one revolution of an LP and you will find yourself admiring them.

"Vacancy" (Picture: "Live!" tumblr, caption: mine)

Unfortunately, it seems "Live!" was a one-time blast of creativity by the duo running it, with all 21 covers having been posted last August. Altered album covers from The Beatles, The Clash, The Beach Boys, Nirvana and the aforementioned Ramones are among the best examples of the de-compositional artwork on display. There are, however, additional album covers that could be considered for future installations. Use your imaginations here and you may just find you agree.

Rainbow Long Live Rock 'n' Roll

The drawn artwork of this Rainbow album would potentially make it more challenging to do, but painting out the late Cozy Powell (center) and Ronnie James Dio (lower right) would render this cover exceedingly vacant, more so given the album title.

Thin Lizzy Live and Dangerous

We lost the irreplaceable Phil Lynott 26 years ago this week. Removing him from this cover would make for a bold statement, possibly revealing drummer Brian Downey, or leaving him awash in a blaze of stage lighting meant for the late frontman. Another morbidly curious album title given the subject matter.

Led Zeppelin II

The only album cover from Led Zeppelin's core discography to feature the band is the monumental Led Zeppelin II. If given the "Live!" treatment, there would be a large gap of negative space left where drummer John Bonham once stood at the far right of the assemblage.

Pink Floyd The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

I am currently reading Mark Blake's "Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd" (and highly recommend you do as well!) so their fascinatingly psychedelic debut album cover seems like an obvious, if challenging one for "Live!" to take on, with its multiple prism images of Syd Barrett (upper right) and Richard Wright (lower right).

Lynyrd Skynyrd Street Survivors

The cover of Skynyrd's last album before a plane crash took the lives of Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines was changed to remove the flames following that tragic accident (it was changed back in subsequent releases). In the years since, all but two of the seven members pictured have since passed on, which would leave guitarist Gary Rossington (second from left) and drummer Artimus Pyle (second from right) standing alone among the album's conflagration in an updated "Live!" version.

Despite the initial rubber necking/train wreck-sensation of it, and the questionable legality, what the people behind "Live!" have created is a true example of how Internet Remix Culture can produce real and striking art.

Thank you to everyone who retweeted my initial tweet about this and a special thanks to Twitter follower @Kouban for the suggestion of Rainbow's "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll"! \m/

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