3 cover stories in our archive
Behind the Covers' archive includes 3 album covers documented under the "medical" design theme, all from the 1990s. These covers sit within the alternative, rock, metal tradition and feature work by Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Tool. 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.
Nirvana's final studio album features anatomical collages by artist Robert Fisher that Walmart and Kmart refused to stock, forcing the band to create sanitized alternate covers for major retailers while the original became a statement of artistic integrity.
Pearl Jam's third album featured pages torn from an actual 1920s medical textbook, creating one of the most unique and disturbing covers in rock history. The band found the vintage "Vitalogy" book in a thrift store and used its bizarre medical illustrations to reflect their frustration with fame.
Tool guitarist Adam Jones created one of metal's most disturbing covers by combining stop-motion animation techniques with medical imagery and occult symbolism. The ribcage-like structure opening to reveal organs was inspired by his background in special effects for Hollywood horror films.