Logo #171: Maeror Tri

Stefan Knappe of metaphysically ecstatic band Maeror Tri: "It was an idea of Helge Siehl (now in the band Tausendschoen), probably back in 1987. He said he dreamt the "wheel" and just reproduced it from his dreams. The original idea was that it moves & blinks in different colours, and in different speeds, symbolizing the mind, like a paddle-wheel that moves through water (the water being the unconscious), swirling around consciousness material. As it had three sides, we thought it was perfect (as Maeror Tri had three members)." Knappe and third Tri member Martin Gitschel went on to form Troum, another group contemplating similar territory. Knappe's label Drone Records is one of the greatest independent record labels of all time; they release beautiful 7" records in more colors than there are in Heaven.

The Song of the Moment is "We Want Your Soul" by Adam Freeland.

Logo #170: Daniel Johnston

Jeremiah the Innocent was drawn by Daniel Johnston sometime in 1983 for the cover of "Hi, How Are You" (subtitled "The Unfinished Album"). Dick Johnston, Daniel's brother: "Daniel drew the image in various forms on cassettes from 1983 to about 1986 when Stress Cassettes started reproducing them using an image very close to this. This exact image - the one used on t-shirts today - is probably from a drawing done specifically for the album on 12" vinyl." Quirt Cobain was a big fan, big fan. The documentary "The Devil and Daniel Johnston" was an affecting, rather thorough glimpse into the man's life. Although when it comes to outsider artists, some perspective is helpful - quoting here the esteemed Artie Philie in the November 2007 issue of VICE, in a review of an album by Ed Askew: "While I totally respect and appreciate the current trend toward rescuing outsider musicians from the murky past, we need to establish that just because some dude pressed the record button 30 years ago does not mean that he should have bothered. Every sad crazy person in history was not a Tootsie Pop with a bubble-gum genius treat hidden in the center. Some people just picked up a banjo instead of a tinfoil hat, and in either case the result was usually 10 percent amusing and 90 percent depressing. Sorry." You can buy a semi-plush toy version of Jeremiah here.

Logo #169: Alice in Chains

Layne Thomas Staley (August 22, 1967 - April 5?, 2002) designed the Alice in Chains sun logo for inlay of the "Dirt" LP in 1992. Drugs drugs drugs blah heroin blah blah. "Would" is an absolutely brilliant track and that's all there is to say about that. 'Bye, Layne.

Logo #168: Impaled Northern Moonforest

Impaled Northern Moonforest's grim icon was scrawled by founder Seth Putnam in 1997 for the cover of their eponymous 7". Putnam, of Anal C*nt, slipped into a coma in October 2004 after overdosing on multiple drugs. His family considered taking him off life support due to the medical prognosis of a persistent vegetative state (which is the name of my solo project). He woke up two months later. A Christmas miracle that actually worked. Everything you could possibly want to know about INM is here. Song titles from the 7" that should make your week that much less frostbitten: "Grim And Frostbitten Moongoats Of The North," "Gazing At The Blasphemous Moon While Perched Atop A Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Forsaken Crest Of The Northern Mountain," "Transfixing The Forbidden Blasphemous Incantation of the Conjuring Wintergoat," "Masturbating On The Unholy Inverted Tracks Of The Grim & Frostbitten Necrobobsledders," and "Grim And Frostbitten Gay Bar." The video for their song "Return of the Necrowizard" is possibly one of the most blasphemous things you will ever see.

This Day in Death:

Dino Dines (born Peter Dines, of T. Rex; December 17, 1944 - January 28, 2004). He played the keyboards.
Henry McGee (The Benny Hill Show; May 14, 1929 – January 28, 2006). He played the straight man.

Logo #167: Mortiis

Drawn by Swedish painter John Bauer between 1907 and 1915 and appropriated by Haavard "Mortiis" Elefsen in 1995 for the cover of his "Keiser Av En Dimensjon Ukjent" LP. Mortiis: "I think it's one of several paintings made for a book, or series of books, called "Bland Tomtar Och Troll (Among Gnomes and Trolls)"." Mortiis is just Mortiis - although one might guess he embraces a certain amount of hubris by choosing a sleeve design that shows the plucky Viking breaking the eternal self-devouring cycle of Ouroboros with something as simple as a broadsword. Puny humans. You'd think Mortiis would do the Cookie Monster metal thing, judging by the pointed ears and trollish nose, but most of his records are fairly straightforward electro-pop with intelligible vocals. Book, cover, etc. Personally, I'd rename myself Adolf Stalin Amin before I'd go through this existence with a look like his - but Mortiis played an nerd for seven years, lives in a country where every girl is at least a 9, and drives a Lamborghini Murciélago. You play a nerd 24/7 and drive a Kia. Deal. John Bauer - not so lucky to do either. Terminally depressed in a world at war, he and his family were headed to their new Stockholm home in 1918 on the Per Brahe ferry - and died in its shipwreck, along with his wife Esther and their two-year-old son Bengt.

The Song of the Moment is "In Our Angelhood" by Cocteau Twins.

Logo #166: The Monkees

Screen Gems publicity man Ed Justin came up with the idea for the Monkees' guitar logo and paid Nick LoBianco, lunchbox designer extraordinaire, $75 to illustrate it in 1966. Another Holist masterpiece, with the sweet touch of making the tuning pegs out of hearts. Just like life! The Monkees' comeback during the '80s was really bizarre in its intensity - but it happened during a time in which there was seemingly room for practically everyone on MTV, including The Monkees. They were the top concert draw of 1986. Take that, Bruce Springsteen! But, of course, like the Wacky Wallwalkers craze a few years earlier, over-saturation leads to stagnation and decline. Randi Massingill's biography of the band, "Total Control," is well worth a read. Monkee Mike Nesmith produced "Repo Man" and had no need to take part in reunions as such - his mom invented Liquid Paper!

Logo #165: Negativland

Can you copyright the copyright symbol? This modern moneylender-table (which really would make a lovely end-table) was appropriated by Negativland in 1992. Mark Hosler of Negativland: "We first used it as a huge banner that we unfurled at the end of our live shows in 1992 or '93, and then we began using it on all our CDs. We use N©. and N©! on our work, and sometimes in a "logo-ish" fashion - though we stole that idea from a guy in England who stole our "Copyright Infringement Is Your Best Entertainment Value" idea to make shirts and buttons." Remember when the other cultural scandal of the '90s was U2 and Casey Kasem suing Negativland for that "U2" record they put out? Way to back up the artists on your roster, Greg Ginn - guess you were too busy working on solo albums like "Ginnspiracy" and "Out of Ginntrol" to care. By the way, speaking as someone who worked (vaguely) in radio many moons ago, it actually is kinda difficult to come out of an up-tempo song and go right into a death dedication. "These guys are from England and who gives a shit?!" does pretty much sum it up lately, though.