I think the Stones are trying to make some kind of message with the cover of A Bigger Bang, that being that they and their music are more powerful than terrorism, war, etc.
If you look at the album cover, the "diabolical" Stones are above the light image, which actually looks like an upside down peace symbol.
If you turn the album upside down, the "friendlier" picture of the band is above the "normal" peace symbol.


Too much beer last night.

I think your reading too much into it

It looks like they all farted at the same time and someone lit a match.

This must clarify that Paul McCartney is really dead.

Nico

__________________________

I may be in the minority here but I kind of like it. Not a lot, just a bit.

I think it continues the long line of bad, pointless album covers starting with EMOTIONAL RESCUE.

I like the album cover, I thought the photo and the title were very clever. Best album cover since Tattoo You in my opinion.

Mick and Keith are not "deep" enough to concoct any subliminal message on their album covers or anywhere else for that matter. Mick usually selects an art director/cover designer who talks them into the cover concept and they go along with it. Keith has a few drinks and the whole photo shoot is over in about an hour or so. At that point it's just a matter of the Stones signing off on the final version and Poof! there it is. Typically they and the art director either put too much thought into it or very little thought into it (rarely the Proper amount of thought). I like about half of them (at most) and the rest are embarrassingly horrid.

Too much like McCartney & Wings "Back to the Egg" vibe.

rbarnes may not be completely off track, tho I agree the cover concept is the Stones' (Mick's) chosen art director's, who has a concept for a Stones album and cover. They've had some classic album artwork since the debut. VL & B2B (w/ the slipcase) were fine by me too (tho not SW or Flashpoint or Live Licks).
The cover resonates much more on the 2 record vinyl edition, much is lost on the CD package. It just seems richer.

I am just thrilled that the cover has sparked conversation and polemic again. It is almost like the Satanic cover, where no one agrees but all have an opinion.
What I just find ludicrous is the whole statement re. the bigger bang. "It refelcts Mick's and Keith's fascination with the genesis of the universe."
Give me a break.LOL You tell me that in today's Stones every once in a while, while the crowd ius stomping impatiently outside, Jagger and Keith are still holed yup in the dressing room locked in fierce debate about questions of matter, Stephen Hawkins, lava and Mars?

"...no longer shall you trudge 'cross my peaceful mind."

they should return to the toilet-theme next, something Keith said in Q providing the title: "They still have urinals?!"

Yes, very diabolik!
But In this light image i see a Skull
Onlystones

It's one of their best covers ever IMO. I see it as Mick Jagger is holding Keef's guitar into the light and thus the bigger bang is created.

JumpingKentFlash

the biggest mistake

They should showcase Ronnie slipping on a banana peel or something for the next album cover, just for the hell of it. Portray him as the happy-go-lucky band member that he seems to be. Hey, if Charlie was given the "spotlight" on the Ya-Ya's cover then why not Ronnie?

monkey_man Wrote:
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> the biggest mistake


Who? You? Yeah.....


JumpingKentFlash

I like the BTB cover, not the music though.

I might be in the minority as well, but I think it's one of their greatest album covers.

"You look like a leper dressed as Sergeant Pepper"

I hate it. Don't care for any of the covers after Undercover. Some of the singles have been ok. Saint of Me...

ABB cover SUCKS !!

My sentiments exactly out of my head. The worst Stones cover ever IMO.

I ain't stupid, I'm just guitarded.

I love it. Better than anything since Some Girls (Except Stripped). Better than B&B. Also TSMR, the first cover of Beggars (The white one), England's Newest Hitmakers, Exile. Like I said: One of the all time greats.

JumpingKentFlash

It's terrible. Boring. Undercover has that Stones feel to it. Steel Wheels is shite. Voodo is not very good either. Bridges is vulgar but suits them.

I'll take the cover of ABB over Bridges to Babylon, Voodoo Lounge and Steel Wheels anyday.

Weak cover...

a good album cover is really a lost artform IMHO....

and I wish it would make a comeback....

It really is a lost art since CD covers are so small. Also, can't get seeds out of herb on a CD cover.

Elmo....get better weed, dude.

Not whether or not you like it....but what it means

To me..."it" means that Album Cover Design is a lost art...and ABB reflects that....no real time, effort, or thought put into it at all..

at least that's what I think....which means nothing anyway...