You’ve probably seen your share of album artwork—all the good and bad that rock ‘n’ roll has to offer. But what about the artwork that shamed, offended and disgusted? Well we’ve got our list of most controversial album cover art. Warning: Some artwork NSFW.
The Rolling Stones—Sticky Fingers
The Art: A close-up of a crotch in a pair of jeans
The Rating: X
The Verdict: Yes, there’s bulging going on, but c’mon, guys. It’s the Stones. Are you really surprised? Plus, the cover featured an actual working zipper. You really can’t get much better than that.
Jane’s Addiction—Nothing’s Shocking
The Art: Naked Siamese twins with their heads on fire sit on a rocking chair
The Rating: XXX
The Verdict: This title is a lie. There are a lot of shocking things in the world, and this is one of them.
NSFW: See it here
The Art: A topless dancer poses against a wall with a torn poster and crucifix
The Rating: X
The Verdict: Despite the bare chest, this cover still looks pretty tasteful. Seductive? Yes. Scandalous? Not so much.
Roxy Music—Country Life
The Art: Two women posing in barely-there lingerie
The Rating: XX
The Verdict: Yes, some parts were bared, but this is not the most offensive or controversial cover by far. If you’re in doubt, just keep on scrolling down the list …
NSFW: See it here
Roger Waters—The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking
The Art: The back of a naked female hitchhiker
The Rating: XX
The Verdict: We’re not sure if this is the most effective way to hitchhike …
The Art: A red, tiger-striped demon with crazy eyes, a scary manicure and a long tongue that would make even Gene Simmons stop and stare.
The Rating: X
The Verdict: It may give you nightmares, but so might Gene Simmons. It’s not the worst thing we’ve seen.
The Art: David Bowie as an incredibly creepy half-dog, half-man hybrid
The Rating: XXX
The Verdict: The controversy with this one involved the visible canine genitals of the Bowie-dog. We mostly gave this one an extra “X” because this is straight-up creepy.
The Art: The infamous naked baby swimming toward a dollar bill; an anatomical depiction of a woman with angel wings
The Rating: X; X
The Verdict: Maybe the effect of these album covers have been diluted by the fact that they have become so popular and accepted over the years. Yes, there’s baby genitalia and an image of a woman that looks like it may have been taken out of your high school biology class, but that’s not even close to some of the other stuff we’ve seen.
Guns N’ Roses—Appetite for Destruction
The Art: Based on Robert Williams’ painting, the cover depicts a giant, menacing alien-thing on the attack while a robot approaches a partially dressed woman who looks like she’s been raped
The Rating: XXX
The Verdict: It’s not so much the giant alien creature or the robot as it is the depiction of the woman with the torn dress and her panties around her knees.
The Art: A naked butt with a gloved hand resting on it
The Rating: X
The Verdict: Can we just stop and point out the number of bare butts on this list?
The Art: A view of a very patriotic crotch … and pubic hair
The Rating: XXX
The Verdict: We gave another “X” just for the skeeviness factor. Wax, anyone?
The Beatles—Yesterday and Today
The Art: Called the “butcher” cover, it depicts the Fab Four holding broken baby dolls and slabs of meat
The Rating: X
The Verdict: There’s just something unnerving about seeing the cheery faces of the Fab Four juxtaposed with the meat and decapitated doll heads.
Marilyn Manson—Holy Wood, Mechanical Animals
The Art: A rotting, wounded torso with a missing bottom jaw splayed out crucifix-style; a naked, full-body, airbrushed view of a sexually ambiguous-looking Manson
The Rating: XXX; XXX
The Verdict: Manson consistently takes the prize for creepiest, most disconcerting artist to have ever haunted your nightmares.
Blind Faith—Blind Faith
The Art: A young, naked girl (a minor) holds a phallic airplane
The Rating: XXX
The Verdict: A minor. A naked minor. She wasn’t even old enough to vote. Really, guys?
NSFW: See it here
Chumbawamba—Anarchy
The Art: A baby coming out of a woman’s vagina
The Rating: XXXX
The Verdict: Thanks, guys, for the dreaded flashbacks to middle school health class. It’s The Miracle of Life all over again!
NSFW: See it here
John Lennon and Yoko Ono—Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins
The Art: Lennon and Ono totally in the buff
The Rating: XXX
The Verdict: We’re not surprised, but we really didn’t need to see that much of the couple
NSFW: See it here
Led Zeppelin—Houses of the Holy
The Art: Naked little blond children climb up a bunch of rocks into the distance
The Rating: XX
The Verdict: This is just feels creepy and cult-ish. Also, rockers, what’s with the naked children?
Dead Kennedys—Frankenchrist
The Art: A close-up of a bunch of penises mid-coitus
The Rating: XXXXX
The Verdict: Um … yeah.
NSFW: See it here
The Art: A naked Prince sits among a background of flowers—with one awkward stamen sticking out in the background
The Rating: XX
The Verdict: We get it, Prince. Now, how about you throw some clothes on? Thanks.
Red Hot Chili Peppers—Mother’s Milk
The Art: Miniature versions of the band sit and stand in front of the naked torso of a woman
The Rating: XX
The Verdict: Mother’s Milk. Anthony Kiedis standing in front of a woman’s breast. You can add those up.
The Residents—The Third Reich N’ Roll
The Art: Smiling, dancing Nazis
The Rating: XX
The Verdict: We don’t remember the Nazis being such a jolly bunch …
I’m starting a 100 best album covers blog, with Mother’s Milk as #100 (and adding several more of these covers as I go). Check it out:
https://100bestalbumcovers.blogspot.com/2019/01/mothers-milk-red-hot-chili-peppers-1989.html