Marc Latilla

"The best thing is surprising people, knowing that tomorrow it will all be forgotten" Regine Zylberberg

Dead Kennedys artwork

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in

While paging through a stack of newspapers and magazines I found in the cellar of a house in Parktown about to be demolished in 2011, I found the source for an image from Dead Kennedys’ iconic album ‘Give me convenience or give me death’.

The publications were all from 1952–1956 and included copies of Sunday Times, Farmers Weekly, Femina, Illustrated, The Star and Outspan. The one featuring the image was American magazine Collier’s from November 8, 1952. The image of a man’s face wrapped in barbed-wire is from an advert for Barbasol shaving cream.

Barbasol print ad from 1952
Barbasol print ad from 1952

The Dead Kennedys album was released in June 1987. The sleeve was designed by Winston Smith — more at his site.

Dead Kennedys album cover
Dead Kennedys album cover

© Marc Latilla 2014. All rights reserved. This content may not be reproduced without permission.


3 responses to “Dead Kennedys artwork”

  1. JoburgSister Avatar

    I never really got into the Dead Kennedys, but that is fantastic artwork. Thanks for this post.

    1. Marc Latilla Avatar
      Marc Latilla

      Thank you! DK is certainly not for everyone. Some of their other LPs came with grand collage fold-out posters. Always very DIY

  2. Mikey Avatar
    Mikey

    Awesome, thank you! Have just been relistening to all my DK albums and was intrigued who this guys was. Never expected it to be from a shaving cream ad tho :)

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