The enduring imagery of a concrete monolith located in a desolate panorama, juxtaposed with the band members having seemingly simply relieved themselves towards it, instantly identifies the 1971 album artwork for Who’s Subsequent. This hanging visible, photographed by Ethan Russell, shortly turned synonymous with the album and the band’s highly effective, rebellious sound. It cemented itself as a landmark in rock album cowl design, immediately recognizable and extensively imitated.
This particular creative alternative broke away from conventional album cowl designs of the period. It captured a uncooked, virtually primal vitality that resonated with the altering cultural panorama. The picture’s ambiguity invited interpretation, contributing to the album’s mystique and long-lasting influence. It turned an emblem of creative expression, a visible shorthand for a technology, and additional solidified the band’s standing as rock icons.