Joe Petagno is a true global traveler who has made an indelible mark on album cover artwork, primarily through his work for Motorhead. He created the iconic “bastard,” the hybrid dog-gorilla-boar skull whose presence spanned almost three decades of Motorhead covers in various forms. This mini-doc/interview with Joe Petagno lets us into the world of the artist behind some of the most awesomely hateful album covers out there. Petagno shows the originals behind the covers, talks about his vision vs. the band’s or the record company’s, and explains the strong anti-war inspiration behind his violent illustrations. The way he explains his artwork is as a warning to society:
“People think I’m anti-religious, and I am.; people think I’m anti-state, and I am; people think I’m anti-war, and I am; I’m anti- anything that’s going to get in the way of stopping an individual from becoming whole…I’m trying to scare people back on to the road…of justice, equality, human rights, freedom…”
After the jump, watch this short interview with Joe Petagno, and get a behind the scenes look at the art that defines Motorhead…
PART 1
PART 2
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