4 cover stories in our archive
Behind the Covers' archive includes 4 album covers documented under the "glam rock" design theme, all from the 1970s. These covers sit within the rock, pop tradition and feature work by David Bowie, Lou Reed, T. Rex. Each entry below includes the cover artwork, the designers and photographers behind it, and a short story about the visual choices that defined the release.
Brian Duffy's photograph of Bowie with Pierre LaRoche's red and blue lightning bolt painted across his face became the single most recognizable image associated with David Bowie — a visual icon of fractured identity and glam rock.
Shot on a rainy London night outside K. West furriers shop, this iconic image almost never happened - the original concept was completely different. Photographer Brian Ward captured Bowie in his full Ziggy regalia under moody street lighting, creating one of rock's most atmospheric covers.
Mick Rock's androgynous portrait of Lou Reed became one of the most influential LGBTQ+ album covers ever, but the image was actually shot during Reed's glam rock phase when he was exploring gender fluidity through makeup and fashion.
Marc Bolan's iconic top-hatted portrait sparked one of rock's greatest photo credit controversies. The grainy black-and-white image became accidentally legendary when an eager darkroom technician mishandled the developing chemicals.