Best Band Logos
From: http://spinner.com
Whether it's gracing overpriced T-shirts or iconic drumheads, being furtively carved into classroom desktops or intricately inked on the bodies of the most dedicated fans, a band's logo can be just as memorable as its biggest single.
25.
New York artist and band friend Arturo Vega chose the Seal of the President of the United States as the jumping-off point for the punk legends' logo. His intention was to represent the Ramones as an all-American band.24.
No '90s alterna-kid worth his or her Doc Martens was without the industrial band's patch on their backpack. NIN mastermind Trent Reznor co-designed the logo, inspired by the Talking Heads' 'Remain in Light' album sleeve.23.
When this politically charged hip-hop group is mentioned, LL Cool J is likely the furthest thing from anyone's mind. Yet LL's then-sidekick E. Love was Chuck D's inspiration when he drew PE's infamous crosshairs. 22.
Hand-drawn in crayon by the godfather of nu-metal himself, Jonathan Davis' backward capital "R" was furtively carved into classroom desks across the nation after the band broke big with 1996's 'Life Is Peachy.' Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst tattooed the logo on Korn guitarist Brian Welch's back.21.
Original Aerosmith guitarist Ray Tabano didn't stick arond very long, but he left quite a legacy when he designed the band's logo. The first album the winged-A motif appears on is the 1974 LP, 'Get Your Wings.'20.
Bandleader Greg Ginn's brother, artist Raymond Pettibon, designed the punk band's trademark four black bars, as well as suggesting their anarchy-meets-bug-spray moniker.19.
Although some Web conspiracy theorists contend it's really a dog and that if you read it upside down it says "ACID," we're pretty sure it's just a fish that says "PHISH."18.
H.I.M
Frontman Ville Vallo designed the metal band's "heartagram" logo, calling it a "modern yin-yang." 'Jackass' star Bam Margera loves the symbol so much he has it tattooed on himself several times, and Vallo allowed Margera to use it on his line of shoes and skateboards.17.
The logo for the most famous rock band of all time has perhaps the simplest origin story. It was designed in 1963 by Ivor Arbiter -- merely the man who sold Ringo Starr his drums -- and applied on Ringo's bass drumhead by London sign painter Eddie Stokes.16.
When you're an art-rock band named after an architecture movement, you better get with the visuals. These British goth men were more than up to the challenge with this half-face, half-building.15.
The Cramps
14.
Drummer Lars Ulrich dubbed the band, but it was guitar god James Hetfield who designed both of the group's logos. The original version made its first appearance in the early '80s on Metallica's first business card. The design got a face lift (after the band members got haircuts) for 1996's 'Load.'13.
As the band's name is an acronym for the two couples in the group -- Agnetha & Björn, and Benny & Anni-Frid -- Swedish designer Rune Söderqvist wanted the two B's to face each of their respective partner A's.12.
The groundbreaking Staten Island hip-hop collective got its unmistakable trademark from DJ Allah Mathematics. Already well-versed in the art of graffiti when he joined with the Wu, his design found its way onto countless Clan album covers.11.
Lead singer Freddie Mercury, a London art-school graduate, designed the Queen Crest. Surrounding the letter "Q" are the four band members' zodiac signs.10.
As iconic as the California rockers' logo is, they changed its wings from straight to curvy to announce the arrival of Sammy Hagar and the departure of David Lee Roth. They must have been inspired by their singers' hair.9.
As befitting the band's horror-punk sound and image, the skull motif was appropriated from a poster for the movie serial 'The Crimson Ghost,' and the typeface mirrors the logo of the movie magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland.8.
Jerry Garcia and Co. had the legendary "Steal Your Face" symbol painted on all their gear so that, during festival shows, fellow hippies wouldn't accidentally swipe their guitars.7.
These New York rockers scored an indie hit with their version of Pink Floyd's 'Comfortably Numb' ... and darn it if their logo doesn't look like a creature from 'The Wall.'6.
Fans have been saluting this band logo for thirty years. Designed by Atlantic Records VP and creative art director Bob Defrin, it made its debut on the international edition of 'Let There Be Rock.'5.
In 1964, Brian Pike designed this pop-art-inspired logo for a poster advertising the group's gig at London's Marquee club. Though it never appeared on a single Who album, it has been featured on hundreds of badges worn by fans, solidifying the Who's stature as the pre-eminent mod band.4.
Lead guitarist Ace Frehley came up with the logo, which first appeared on the band's second album, 'Hotter Than Hell.' Frehley's masterstroke was rendering the final two letters in Kiss as stylized lightning bolts.3.
English artist Roger Dean has made a name for himself with his fantasy landscapes, many of which adorn Yes album covers along with the "bubble" logo he debuted on the band's 1972 LP 'Close to the Edge.'2.
Though often purported to have been designed by Andy Warhol, actually British graphic artist John Pasche devised the "tongue and lips" motif in 1970. The logo was inspired not just by Mick Jagger's famous mouth but also that of the Hindu goddess Kali.1.
As a form of protest against his record label, Prince felt the need to abandon his moniker. In 1993, he adopted his logo, which he termed the "Love Symbol" and incorporates the glyphs for Mars (male) and Venus (female), as his actual -- and unpronounceable -- name. He even turned it into several custom guitars.
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1:35 PM
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