2 cover stories in our archive
Behind the Covers' archive includes 2 album covers documented under the "motorcycle" design theme, spanning the 1970s, 1980s. These covers sit within the rock, metal, pop, funk tradition and feature work by Meat Loaf, Prince. 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.
Fantasy comic artist Richard Corben painted this hellish motorcycle scene after record executives rejected dozens of concepts. The underground comics legend created one of rock's most theatrical covers for an album that sat unreleased for two years.
Prince on a custom purple motorcycle, bathed in purple light and smoke, wearing a sequined jacket — the image that cemented purple as his personal brand. After his death in 2016, Pantone created a custom shade called 'Love Symbol #2' in his honor.