10 Album Covers That Were Banned

Some of the best-selling albums from big names in music have had album art be controversial. This video looks at 10 album covers that were banned.
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Kill 'Em All is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on July 25, 1983, through independent label Megaforce Records.
Yesterday and Today (also rendered as "Yesterday" ... and Today in part of the original packaging) is a studio album by the English rock band the Beatles.
Appetite for Destruction is the debut studio album by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses. It was released on July 21, 1987, by Geffen Records.
Nothing's Shocking is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Jane's Addiction, released on August 23, 1988 through Warner Bros. Records.
Far Beyond Driven is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Pantera, released on March 22, 1994 by East West Records. Pantera's fastest-selling album, it peaked at number 1 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Platinum by the RIAA.
Lovedrive is the sixth studio album by German band Scorpions, released in 1979.
Diamond Dogs is the eighth studio album by English musician David Bowie, released on 24 May 1974 by RCA Records.
Open Up and Say... Ahh! is the second studio album by American glam metal band Poison, released in 1988 through Enigma Records.
Achtung Baby (/ˈæktʊŋ/) is the seventh studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, and was released on 18 November 1991 on Island Records.
Mother's Milk is the fourth studio and video album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released August 16, 1989, by EMI Records.
#Metallica #RedHotChiliPeppers #TheBeatles #U2 #Pantera #Rocked #Top10
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DISCLAIMER - Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purpose such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statue that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
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0:00 - Intro
0:32 - Guns N’ Roses - Appetite For Destruction
1:36 - Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking
2:25 - Pantera - Far Beyond Driven
3:22 - Scorpions - Lovedrive
4:12 - David Bowie - Diamond Dogs
5:16 - Poison - Open Up And Say...Ahh!
6:12 - U2 - Achtung Baby
7:17 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Mother's Milk
8:19 - The Beatles - Yesterday And Today
9:11 - Metallica - Kill ‘Em All
10:16 - Thank you, Patrons!
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10 Album Covers That Were Banned, banned Album Covers, Controversial Album Covers, 10 Banned Album Covers, Banned Albums, Metallica Kill Em All, Guns N Roses Appetite For Destruction, Jane’s Addiction, Pantera Far Beyond Driven, Scorpions Lovedrive, David Bowie Diamond Dogs, Poison Open Up And Say Ahh, U2 Achtung Baby, Red Hot Chili Peppers Mother’s Milk, The Beatles Yesterday And Today, Rocked, Rocked Top 10

[@RockedNet]

Know of another banned album cover? Leave a comment and let everyone know! Click below to watch more videos from our channel: 10 Intense Live Concert Injuries = kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKqnfnugj82sjaM 10 Albums Critics Hated (At First) = kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIaoZ615lM2jZtE Trashcore: When Metalcore Gets Desperate = kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5KmaYF6ls6JitE

[@letravaildegodard7537]

I’m not exactly sure about that, but I think Eels’s 2001 record Souljacker album cover was banned in the US, because E’s look on the cover looked like an Islamist to some people, and It didn’t pass well because the album was released after the 9/11 incident.

[@natehtf5760]

“Is This It” by The Strokes is another example.

[@IAmMisterTterevel]

• NOFX- Heavy Petting Zoo/Eating Lamb. • Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland [UK Pressing] • Tad - 8-Way Santa • The Black Crowes - Amorica • Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet • Slayer - Christ Illusion • Blind Faith - Blind Faith • The Mamas and the Papas - If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears • The Offspring - The Offspring [1989 Pressing] • Tool - Undertow • Jane's Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual • Roxy Music - Country Life • The Beautiful South - Welcome to the Beautiful South + Miaow • Scorpions - Virgin Killer

[@BunnyGathering]

Slayer - Christ Illusion

[@KattMurr]

All Cannibal Corpse albums....lol....

[@TimmyTickle]

Imagine going to a record store in 1983, going up to the counter and asking “Hey, have you got Metal Up Your Ass?”

[@ScooterBond1970]

Cashier: [feels seat of pants uncomfortably]

[@murlough23]

"Yes. Got it in 'Nam. They gave me a Purple Heart."

[@ScooterBond1970]

@@murlough23 Nixon: "I'd like to see that." Forrest: [bends over and drops trou] Metallica: 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@twistedviewlabs]

I would've replied with "Yeah, I was in 'Nam"

[@kellyweingart3692]

😂😂😂😂

[@Awells89]

Does Cannibal Corpse's entire existence count?

[@metal_guitarist]

lol

[@kingnothing3523]

Not on the list because it's low-hanging fruit. Germany banned Cannibal's first three albums for the art alone. From what I understand, music being banned in Germany is very rare for anything that's not skinhead music. Even the releases with the censored album art couldn't be distributed in Germany, nor could any of the songs be played live.

[@jons.4918]

The way this dude was trash talking Guns n Roses. His vagina would definitely be showing talking about " Butchered at Birth" or "Tomb of the Mutilated".

[@olecranonrebellion9976]

Lol. Dudes never heard of them.Hed be afraid he'd get cancelled.

[@jons.4918]

@@olecranonrebellion9976 he would probably curl up in a corner and cry.

[@soulfly1212]

These albums came to my mind: Type O Negative - Origin of the Feces; Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland, Slayer - God Hates Us All and Christ Illusion

[@DenverStarkey]

oh yeah on "God hates us all" the OG cover was a bible sitting in a pool of blood , the store i bought my copy from had a white sleve over it that had teh better known four crosses design.

[@extremelycreativeusername3190]

im Christian and think the god hates us all artwork was honestly super sick lol shame it had to be changed :/

[@DenverStarkey]

@@extremelycreativeusername3190 well i removed the white sleve from my version and it has the regular cover. not sure how the album art is on modern releases but i got mine back in the day when the album first came out.

[@extremelycreativeusername3190]

@@DenverStarkey oh that's sick

[@DenverStarkey]

@@extremelycreativeusername3190 sick in a good or bad way? just asking out of curiosity. cause one way will get you high fives and the other way will get you a hospital visit if you tell it to any slayer babies. (FYI i like slayer , but i'm not a slayer baby my favorite band is Iron Maiden so no worries about me.)

[@crazydud3380]

Metallica having to change that cover art and title was probably for the best. It was immature and they may not have been taken as seriously. Kinda hilarious what has to be censored when you consider most Cannibal Corpse album covers.

[@Kdog4660]

I still laugh at a list somewhere about bands being banned from playing at disney, and one of them was cannibal corpse of course, it just simply said well it's cannibal corpse.

[@crazydud3380]

@@Kdog4660 LOL. I think I saw that list. If they were banned, that seems to imply they played there before at least once. That is hilarious, if true!

[@punkisinthedetails1470]

@@Kdog4660 Carnival Corp

[@jonlockett9732]

Yeah ,especially Butchered at Birth and Tomb of the Mutilated.How do they get away with it?Well,how does Vincent Locke g.a.w.i.?I think he was the dude responsible.

[@markreyes7454]

@@jacksonteller3973 Your mom is immature.

[@chevand8]

Not technically the cover, but Dead Kennedys' Frankenchrist at least deserves a mention. Originally that one included a poster of a graphic H.R. Giger painting. Jello Biafra ended up in court for distributing inappropriate material to minors, and the record label that produced the album almost got driven out of business.

[@DaleHusband]

That was one of the worst examples of a prosecutor abusing his position. I heard later that the prosecutor's own son later became a Dead Kennedys fan, called out his father on what he did and made him change his mind about it!

[@hungryfilms3707]

I’m a huge fan of Gigers artwork and honestly the original cover is way cooler than the one it was changed to.

[@JohnJacksonJohnson]

Plus, I don't see how people have a problem with H.R. Giger: he LITERALLY had a hand in creating the special effects for the Xenomorph from the "Alien" films, he created the album art for Emerson, Lake, & Palmer's "Brain Salad Surgery", the album art for Debbie Harry's "Kookoo", and Danzig's "Danzig III: How The Gods Kill", among others.

[@ALL_OUT_OF_BUBBLEGUM]

Excellent point. Didn't Biafra have his door kicked in and police aiming guns at him for the original album?

[@theeyeofra805]

Record stores in 1966: "The Mamas and the Papas' album cover is so offensive. There's a TOILET on it!" Metallica in 1983: "Hold my knife..."

[@vapordreams983]

Scorpions in 1976: Hold my kid.

[@redvince5627]

Probably just a coincidence, but I love how we got a little bit of Cliff Burton trivia on the anniversary of his death.

[@pabloaguirre7472]

I love the Scorpions, they introduced me to rock music, but "Virgin Killer" original album cover its... I don't have enough words to describe how awful and terrible was. I don't blame Luke for not mentioning that one, because even Wikipedia was in trouble years ago.

[@jaustill237]

Yeah better keep that one off of youtube. But In Trance and Taken by Force both have censored covers as well. The latter is probably ideal for this list since the picture was of a cemetery. No way that would be censored in any decade after the 70s.

[@ideitbawxproductions1880]

as soon as he mentioned Scorpions, I thought he was going to bring up Virgin Killer... maybe it's a good thing he didn't

[@LRBerry]

How about the covers for Animal Magnetism and Tokyo Tapes?

[@wangdangle73]

Virgin killer was disturbing,but family and girl were happy with it all done professionally but imo creeepy yes

[@jeffjackson9679]

Love At First Sting also got censored by some retailers and they had to do an alternate album cover for that one. Guess the Scorpions are kings of the censorship albums for whatever that's worth!

[@briangonigal3974]

"(Scorpions have had several album covers) be quite upsetting to the general public over the years. The one I want to talk about is Lovedrive..." -In other words, you very specifically DON'T want to talk about Virgin Killers, and I don't blame you one goddamm bit.

[@alkiviadisfelemegkas7075]

Why not?

[@AskDrannik]

The original Virgin Killer artwork could be considered child pornography today. I don't think they even released in the U.S. back then, instead using a more generic group shot.

[@alkiviadisfelemegkas7075]

@@AskDrannik i have read that this girl is completely fine with her being shown naked on this cover

[@joekingsbury9595]

I thought of this.... was that the one with a young girl on the cover who looks freshly banged /possibly raped?

[@Greybush46322]

In Trance was another cover of theirs that was censored. Can't have a bare booby!

[@sgtleppard]

"David Bowie was apparently the first Animorph." This had me wheezing since I've been getting back into Animorphs lately

[@WREDog]

The Black Crows' Amorica comes to mind. If I remember correctly even the drummer hated it saying something to the effect of "It's something a twelve year old would think is cool"

[@Norm604]

I'm surprised it wasn't the thumbnail for this video (pubes = views). If I remember correctly, I don't think the folks at Walmart were too happy about the cover. When I had it in my car, I put it in a clear case so my kids wouldn't see it.

[@1mlb704]

I remember Tool's "Undertow" had a controversial album cover. I was browsing through my mom's CD collection when I was a kid a found "Undertow" with a big barcode as the artwork and a letter inside basically saying "we weren't allowed to sell our original cover in stores" lol

[@wangdangle73]

Cd where guys blows himself is funny and weird

[@twistedviewlabs]

I remember seeing that at K-Mart when I worked there in late 1992 (I was 17 and it was my first job). Bought my copy at The Wherehouse with the ribcage cover. Also, fun fact....there was more censorship with that album. If you removed the standard black (or kinda off-brown color) CD tray, it revealed a cow tossing its own salad. Since they sold replacement jewel cases with clear trays...I definitely replaced my CD tray with a clear one because that's probably what Reverend Maynard would do and it would stop the cries of the carrots (yes, I'm definitely referencing the final and my favorite track on that album. Would've LOVED to hear that live when I saw them last year for the first time ever).

[@ysinvangulik1004]

I have the Undertow CD. Can't exactly remember what is in it, but it had some weird stuff. I know I showed it to someone and the person asked me what kind of fkd up music I was listening.

[@alizeneely6380]

Type o Negative's "Origin of the Feces" original cover? I don't know if at the time if it got "banned" or the band said just put that out there....🤷‍♀️

[@freeparking301]

After getting away with the “Slow Deep and Hard” album cover I guess they figured they could get away with anything.

[@girhen]

Banned by the label, at least. They were not amused by Peter Steele's antics. But I am!

[@mentok3027]

@@girhen I guess dong a fake live album just wasn't assholish enough

[@tyrefire2978]

Pete steel just like making people sick

[@dillonmacpherson3350]

"Tiger face demon tongue women" is one hell of a combination of words

[@RickP2012]

That is the album cover of Appetite for Destruction that I have on the record. The tape and the CD in the UK had the cross, but the record had the robot rapist. My mum wasn't happy when I brought it home when I was 13.

[@ysinvangulik1004]

My brother had the original LP too, but he gave it away!?

[@DeathMachineJoe]

As much as I like the phrase Metal Up Your Ass, the album cover they went with for Kill 'Em All is iconic.

[@bustyrandit]

It was used on t shirts

[@laurisaarinen1126]

Yeah, Jane's Addiction is one of those bands that had more than one controversy with their art (album covers, music videos, live shows) Now to think of it, Perry was one big walking controversy... Crazy how he's so tame nowadays he almost seems like a different person.

[@jovanreid6782]

Money and fame and the good life put Perry's pilot light out.

[@HarryBuddhaPalm]

Heroin is a hell of a drug.

[@rumerstain12]

That maybe so about them but I think there music is absolutely wonderful. They are a true inspiration in my everyday life.

[@laurisaarinen1126]

@@rumerstain12 I feel the same man, absolutely! They’re my all time favorite.

[@andreabradley5837]

@@jovanreid6782 maybe his light is shining in a different direction.

[@murlough23]

I love how all the controversy and outcry just winds up making people want the forbidden album covers even more. I remember finding out about The Beatles' "Butcher Cover" from a co-worker who very proudly owned a copy. It's a collector's item, so I imagine she spent a pretty penny on it.

[@colerieger7300]

Penn Jillette said during an interview, I'm guessing in the 80's? He would reveal the secret to every trick in the act if he could get a copy of the Butcher cover. One day, it arrived in the mail with a note, "Shut the fuck up. From Teller"

[@paulshayter1113]

A buddy of mine worked as a delivery driver for an album distributor owned by his dad. The album was recalled after they had already been shipped to the distributors but he managed to keep an unopened one for himself. He sold it in the late around 1990 for $20,000.

[@Mick_Ts_Chick]

My best friend owned the Beatles "butcher cover" album. I thought it was hilarious back then, and didn't realize it stirred up so much controversy. Unfortunately her records got ruined by rain where she had them stored. That album is worth a damn fortune now.🙄

[@CivilianSatellite]

"Smell the Glove" better be on this list!

[@freeparking301]

What’s wrong with being sexy?

[@ecurewitz]

I think only real albums apply

[@EricDodsonLectures]

Perhaps in a more perfect universe.

[@ryankieth1675]

None more black.

[@MuttleyVonErich00]

Glad somebody mentioned this.

[@michaelnorris2522]

I remember an album called Mom's Apple Pie (by a blues/rock group of the same name) from the early '70s. It featured a drawing of a woman holding a pie with a missing slice, within which was drawn a part of the female body, with juice dripping out.

[@ShOscar]

Not just any juice... _white_ juices. They were not subtle at all LOL The alternate cover shows the slice covered in concrete wall and barbed wire while the police look from the window.

[@grim1683]

How about a Cannibal Corpse album cover. “The Wretched Spawn”, “Tomb Of The Mutilated”, “Violence Unimagined”, “Suicide Gallery.” There’s a whole library of controversial Cannibal Corpse album covers to pick from

[@ericswires8534]

CC isn’t mainstream enough to make the list.

[@grim1683]

@@ericswires8534 I disagree.

[@KattMurr]

Basically all of them...lol...

[@KattMurr]

@@grim1683 I agree with you. Ace Ventura helped the mainstream become slightly familiar with Cannibal Corpse....

[@grim1683]

@@KattMurr yep

[@awookieandagerman]

Queen's Jazz was famously promoted by the band staging an all female, all nude bicycle race, then taking a picture of it and slipping the poster inside the album.

[@jonlockett9732]

Here in Switzerland we had a street bilboard ad with a nude woman on a pedal bike and a nude man on one behind,I mean totally nude,but with hair and arms and legs and camera angles positioned to cover up the naughtiest parts.It said something like "all you Need is a helmet" in German of coiurse.But I guess some chick still needed to Strip off nude in front of thephotographer on the set.

[@christophermerlot3366]

I still have my copy of that album poster and all.

[@awookieandagerman]

@@christophermerlot3366 I found a used copy at a record store. But being both an ultra Queen fan and a goody two shoes I knew about the poster beforehand, told my dad to check if it was in there, and let him take it and rip it up and throw it away. C'est la vie. I'm more a fan of music than naked bicycle races anyway.

[@jongoldey3842]

Dude. My dad framed the bikerace poster. On the wall in his home office for years.. dad passed away and mom has it now. . She has it in her home office. Dad bought the album for th poster. He was an avid cyclist too

[@fredhurst2528]

I was told that they had to buy all the bicycle seats as the bikes were borrowed from Shwinn, and they obviously did not want the seats back. (cannot positively confirm the details)

[@wstine79]

The Nirvana Nevermind and In Utero albums has had those albums covered with stickers at Wal-Mart. But, it's OK to sell fire arms.

[@billrobertjoe]

so?

[@crazydud3380]

What Wal Mart you going to that still sells firearms in 2021?

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

@@crazydud3380 The ones here in Arkansas still do, I think. #colddeadhands

[@ghostcat8244]

The weird thing is I seen the Nirvana never mind cover without a sticker at Walmart.. maybe it’s different to state to state I guess.

[@crazydud3380]

@@ghostcat8244 Probably. I'm guessing the redder the state, the bigger the sticker! LOL

[@unconditionalprong]

Not quite rock, but Prince's Lovesexy is another one. The cover says it all.

[@briangonigal3974]

Actually, what really hurt that album IMO was the the CD originally had the whole Goddammed album sequenced as one long track (this was the height of the CD; vinyl was dead and streaming/downloadable digital media didn't really exist yet. CD's were at the time the only way to way to easily and instantly access any track on the album you wanted, or at least they were SUPPOSED to be).

[@MdlAgedHeadbanger]

I'll never forget when that came out. There was a story on Entertainment tonight about Prince's "racy new cover." They showed it and my dad started howling with laughter. Between the laughs he said something like "that is the dumbest thing I've ever seen. Some guy holding his boob!"

[@LegendoftheDragonSword]

@@MdlAgedHeadbanger My Mom and I used to laugh at it every time we went into the Record Store at the mall when I was a kid. It was always there, because who would have the nerve to buy that LP?

[@MdlAgedHeadbanger]

@@LegendoftheDragonSword ​ I worked in a record store 89-91 when that album was still Prince's most recent. LIttle kids would come in pointing and laughing at it. I'll never forget one girl who looked like she was around 15 buying a copy. After ringing her up I was putting it in a bag and she said she didn't want one, then put in a bag with some clothes she had bought. She said most of the bags in the mall were to see through and her parents would be furious if they saw it.

[@crescentfreshbret]

The funny thing is, that was the album Prince released in place of another album (The Black Album), which Prince thought was too smutty (well, there’s more to it than that, with Prince going so far as to think that The Black Album was “evil,” like it was cursed or something. Prince was an odd fellow).

[@rkchang77]

The first album that came to mind was Blind Faith's (70s supergroup that included Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Steve Winwood) debut and only studio recording, which depicted a prepubescent girl holding a rocket ship. I also have a copy of the initial pressing of Aerosmith's Nine Lives, which was later repackaged without the image that had religious overtones. Then of course, there's Black Crowes' America; I initially had the censored version, but later got the re-release with bonus tracks and restored artwork.

[@davidjennings1771]

As I recall the nude girl on the Blind Faith album cover held up an airplane in her hand. The plane only partially covered the girl. The young girl & the airplane represented the Album covers title. They were pure examples of "Blind Faith". The musical content was wonderful on the album as was Steve Winwood's voice! The young girl's image became an issue in the eighties.

[@stevefredson3301]

I have this album, got a 30day ban on fb for posting a picture of it.

[@bobmarley8270]

The object the girl is holding is an old Chevrolet hood ornament.

[@jacksonsjukebox]

I'm so glad Metallica never got to do the 'Metal Up Your Ass' thing. In this case it's probably likely that the label refused to go with it because it was dumb and cringey rather than it being 'edgy and dangerous'.

[@alykat_23]

Mayhem Dawn of the Black Hearts. (DONT GOOGLE IT) It’s a picture taken of the lead singer after he shot himself with a shotgun. The whole story of that band is really messed up.

[@laszlopapp5323]

Mayhem’s “The Dawn of The Black Hearts” could have easily fitted in there

[@eeyorehaferbock7870]

As graphic and disturbing as that one is, I’m not sure if it was ever able to be banned per se, given that it was an underground bootleg that most stores probably wouldn’t have cared about anyway.

[@laszlopapp5323]

Ohh, I didn’t know that! Thanks for the info ^^

[@GamerErman2001]

Black metal isn't very mainstream and that was a bootleg.

[@grugonk]

There are more album covers out there that feature actual corpses. They're obviously from obscure bands with little mainstream appeal, but that doesn't make them any less disturbing.

[@TheOpethOfMastodon]

Marduk's "F*ck me Jesus" comes to mind as well.

[@hellonurd8957]

I can't wait to see Crash tear these covers to shreds!

[@nkenzdotjpg]

thats probably not gonna happen for a while

[@a.champagne6238]

Chumbawamba's 1994 album "Anarchy" comes to mind.

[@MrDeemann8]

STRYPER had a banned album cover, despite being Christian metal band.

[@crazyjoeshorts5256]

You never can do anything right, can you? Growing up I was so irritated at the church for its anti-rock stance. But instead of quitting, I fought back, started a band and now we lead worship. As a rock band. Stryper is still amazing, btw. New recordings are some good metal.

[@georgemartin5980]

@@crazyjoeshorts5256 Even though I'm not a Christian, I enjoy Stryper and Tourniquet. Thanks for doing what you can to counter the myth that purposefully Christian music needs to be unlistenable.

[@andygluehere8266]

WASP F like a beast . The saw blade for a Weiner, always caused a second look, record stores would cover it.

[@kenboughton9252]

"Blind Faith", By Blind Faith: Rumor is that's Ginger Baker's 13 year old daughter on the cover.

[@michaellrakes5521]

Her name is actually Mariora Goschen. She was 11 years old at the time (now 63) and was a replacement for the original model who was deemed "too old" at the age of 14 for the planned photoshoot ( Moira's older sister actually, who was approached by "artist", Bob Seidemann while riding on the London Underground). Moira was promised a new, young horse but instead was paid £40. She is NOT related to any of the band or personnel.

[@kenboughton9252]

@@michaellrakes5521 Thanks for the correction. My source wasn't right on the button. Side note, child porn wasn't declared illegal in the U.S. until 1977. That explains why the cover made it to the U.S. Also, partly explains why Color Climax, Netherlands, was able shoot CP for so long as it did.

[@Gdisele]

I was expecting this to be on the list. It makes everything else on the list pale in comparison.

[@flowersnyams]

@@Gdisele This is one album cover that definitely wouldn't be allowed even now. I remember taking my copy to the blues society at school shortly after its release. Created more than a little interest. Superb album by the way,

[@pastorofmuppets1968]

I remember seeing the Lovedrive album with the original album cover in the local Target store when I was a kid. Those were the days.

[@OfficialEmilioVision]

You think that's bad, Spinal Tap's "Smell The Glove" original cover hasn't seen the light of day. 😅

[@michaelminervini1908]

I swear they were pointing right at the Scorpions with that.

[@louiesbatcave5581]

"that's sexist" "well what's wrong with being sexy?"

[@bradfarrahgerwing154]

Chubby myopic cricket bat manager.....I can tell you this it wasn't a glove she was smelling in the original......LMAO.....

[@simonesalvatore9345]

I was surprised Is This It wasn’t mentioned. I remember getting suspended from school for a week when I brought the CD into school as an 11 year old.

[@ericswires8534]

The GnR artwork may have inspired the line in Anything Goes “panties round your Knees with your ass in debris “. 😳😳

[@williammurray1341]

Blindfaith's "rocket plane" . Others proffered Scorpions 'Virgin'.

[@rjshally]

Somehow in this, universe Exodus Bonded by Blood gets banned (Which is not that bad honestly), but 1,000 brutal death metal bands can release albums with gore covers, and no one gives a crap.

[@kevinfeeney5309]

I've seen some bands have alternate artwork. Cannibal Corpse's most recent release is an example. Except now the default is a censored version while they offer the more graphic and uncensored version as an option....at least with this album. We will have to see if the censored default will become their norm on their next album.

[@ecurewitz]

You left out NOFX's "Heavy Petting Zoo". It got banned in France, probably some other places too. The cover is exactly what you think it would be

[@wangdangle73]

Funny album cover

[@briandonnelly3968]

Great album cover ! Both of them

[@mattshaw5179]

I remember reading somewhere that the cd cover was banned in Germany, I think, but the vinyl cover (with the man in a 69 with a sheep) wasn't!!

[@GamerErman2001]

@@mattshaw5179 OK that is hilarious if true!

[@markus_the_npc]

Ah, right. It really got banned in germany for depicting sodomy.

[@hyporelaxa3612]

Any Dwarves album cover. Especially BG&P.

[@onlylettersand0to9]

I don't think the Dwarves got that many albums into record shops. I know of them, but only because of they had a song on Short Music for Short People and one of the Punk-o-Rama compilation records.

[@CarboneCat]

Well, knowing that Jimi Hendrix Electric Ladyland had been censored because of nudity. Although the censored cover is iconic. And we can pretty much put almost every Cannibal Corpse album covers in there.

[@kevinfeeney5309]

Uhm, I'd add just about every single album by a death, blackened death or black metal band. Lol

[@CarboneCat]

@@kevinfeeney5309 Especially the cover of a certain bootleg album from Mayhem… I won’t add anything else.

[@hollymccormack4081]

The original cover for Guns N Roses Appetite for Destruction was in stores for awhile - it wasn't censored until the band started to take off, which was a few months after the release. I have a copy of the original artwork because I bought it early. Also, Metallica ended up using the Metal Up Your Ass artwork on t-shirts - it was pretty common to see it back in the day.

[@fillgraff]

Same here. I still have the original Appetite cover in my LP collection.

[@twistedviewlabs]

They took the censorship a bit further for Appetite For Destruction actually. So for the CD longbox it was originally sold in, the longbox had the well known (much much loved) cross logo cover. However, on the CD icover itself...it was a collage of band photos both live and in the studio and nothing else on the front of the CD booklet and the cross logo cover on the back cover. I had the more well known cover displaying from the jewel case of course. In later years, the band's original cover (that Robert Williams painting is where the album gets its title btw) was restored in some countries for a later vinyl release (obviously NOT in the US). As for Achtung Baby, not only did initial vinyl copies have a nude Adam Clayton but also initial digipak CD versions did as well. People in the US mostly though did take issue and it was reissued in a standard jewel case with the four leaf clover covering Adam's junk. I had both versions since I bought the CD when it came out and I was a member of BMG and they sent it to me as the CD of the month. I sold my jewel case cover to The Wherehouse for a buck since I didn't need 2 copies of the album and I liked the general presentation of the artwork and how it tied in with the physical CD. I'm surprised you didn't mention Body Count's debut CD. When initially released, it generally looked how it does now but instead of "BODY COUNT" being tatted across the dude's chest on the cover...it said "COP KILLER". This was how which copy of the album had the infamous track removed from the album. Lastly, my CD copy of Mother's Milk and original pressing vinyl copy of Diamond Dogs both had the original art intact. I do remember seeing the censored artwork for both at one point but in later remasters on every current popular format, everything has been restored as nature intended. Personal side note, even if the artwork for Mother's Milk had been altered, at least they didn't block out her face, she was gorgeous. OH, almost forgot...not to be deterred the release of their 3rd album, Jane's Addiction released two versions of Ritual De Lo Habitual. The OG art which was sold at most popular retailers like Tower Records had a drawing of a naked man flanked by two nude women. The 2nd version is a plain white cover with the the band's name and the 1st amendment stamped on the cover. I only had the latter since I got it from (you guessed it) BMG but later replaced it due to a moving mishap with the OG art. My Nothing's Shocking CD was sold in its longbox and not in a paper bag btw. Ultra conservative big box stores like Target & Wal-Mart just didn't sell it. If that album dropped now...they wouldn't care one bit. Amazon definitely doesn't care either since you CAN find a vinyl copy of AFD with the Robert Williams painting on the cover. Then again, you can buy sex toys freely on Amazon so there's that. Touching on my last point on Amazon, they even sell used ones...I kid you not. I'd go into how I know but thinking about it makes me nauseaous and I've gone on long enough as it is.

[@mibeatleman6767]

If you have a original cover ofThe Beatles' butcher cover in mint condition, it's worth thousands of dollars.

[@tinkntrix9834]

Even if you have a copy with a sticker on it, the record company panicked and slap stickers over a bunch of The Originals but people are curious cats and try to remove them so even a sticker copy that is not destroyed by some curious person it's worth at least several hundred. The company decided it would cost too much to pull and repackage so the sticker was the answer. There are ways to check if you have a covered up butcher cover. Sometimes the sticker covers can be worth more than an original cover that happens to be in trash condition. The sticker covers are coveted because people rip them apart trying to see the original picture. My nerdiness is showing LOL.

[@Silverlining1111]

Is your blue guitar at the back inspired by In A Silent Way? Beautiful👍

[@RussellHudgins]

The Dawn of the Black Hearts (subtitled Live in Sarpsborg, Norway 28/2, 1990) is a bootleg live album by the Norwegian black metal band Mayhem. The title originates from a line of lyrics Fenriz of Darkthrone wrote for the band. Despite being a bootleg, the album is sometimes listed as one of the band's main albums, mainly due to the notoriety regarding the cover art, which is an image of the late Mayhem vocalist Per "Dead" Ohlin shortly after he died from suicide. The image of his death was photographed by guitarist Euronymous.

[@LRBerry]

When I saw Scorpions, my first thought was the original cover for their 1976 album Virgin Killer.

[@spencerwelchii573]

Duuude, U 4got 2 mention Y The Fab 4 wanted the 'Butcher' cvr. It was a 'protest' about how the U.S. 'butchered' their U.K. LPs for release by omitting trax, rearranging the LP, and adding non-LP singles to them...this was also done to The Stones. But starting in 1966 with Rubber Soul, the U.K. & U.S. releases were identical.

[@Chaz4543]

I had the Poison album on cassette with the uncensored cover. If youre wondering why I had it I was really young and glam metal was the first music I got into and I didnt know any better. I dont hate it, I just grew out of it.

[@headbangermetal5929]

poison is a good band but everyone criticizes it for its look, flesh and blood is a great album

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

This list is incomplete without Humanure.

[@Cosmotype]

Great list, haven't seen some of those. A couple of honorable mentions: Big Black "Headache" - view at your own risk. Roxy Music "Country Life" - too risque for the US in 1974. The Presidents Of The USA first album - not really shocking but the original Bill Clinton cover is super rare.

[@ErikSamys]

The Rods "Let Them Eat Metal." I had my concert pin taken away from me in highschool.

[@beyond990]

I've got that original Apitite for Destruct cover, managed to get it before it was pulled from stores.

[@Dangeresque300]

I'm surprised you didn't mention "Is This It" by the Strokes, which originally had a side shot of a woman's butt being cupped by a leather glove. One critic straight up compared it to the original "Smell the Glove" album cover from Spinal Tap.

[@konan7002]

Butts don't belong on album covers...neither do boobs or really any form of nudity

[@ericsills6484]

I'm surprised Wilson Phillips' self titled debut album artwork isn't banned. It includes a picture of the girls naked when they were little.

[@AlecBridges]

I got the Pantera - Far Beyond Driven banned album cover t-shirt when I was 14 not really knowing what it was because the magazine picture I ordered it from was blurry. When the package arrived, I opened it in front of my parents. It was pretty awkward.

[@lw3764]

I remember that Poison album cover very well and it was out for quite awhile before they changed it.

[@ErikStone1]

Another Poison album that was changed is "Flesh and Blood". The original showed the same tattoo that you see today, but it had fresh blood dripping from the tattoo as it was freshly inked. They removed the blood for the new cover.

[@RaccoonRevolution]

Imagine being offended by anything about Open Up And Say Ahh except for how it sounds

[@onlylettersand0to9]

That was the 1980s--right in the middle of the Satanic Panic. There were a lot of parents then that were scared by anything with devils or magic. Stupid-but-true fact: Tom Hank's first role was for the 1982 made-for-TV movie Mazes and Monsters, where he played a college student that was driven permanently insane by a Dungeons and Dragons style game.

[@jamesgruesome9780]

Mazes and Monsters was great. I have a book Satanic Panic. And lived thru a lot of it. D&D and ninjas were evil. Church’s pitched Stryper to the youts.

[@jliller]

I see to recall an early Iron Maiden single having controversial artwork involving Eddie and Margaret Thatcher. I don't recall whether the art was actually changed though.

[@doctordogtoffee3832]

That was the cover for the Sanctuary single, I've got the censored one where Thatchers eyes are covered up.

[@DenverStarkey]

@@doctordogtoffee3832 in the US they didn't censor her eyes. at least not in the later re- releases: fun story Derek Riggs, the artist, originaly designed that single cover to be the debut album cover, but even maiden knew that shit would not fly as a main album cover so paid him to make a few more art works , and that's when he made the album cover and the women in uniform cover that had margret thatcher waiting around a corner for eddie with an assault rifle in hand.

[@SimbianMinistry]

I have 'Appetite for Destruction' with the original 'robot assault' cover - In UK it went on sale in some places on the first morning, but was pulled from the shelves in the early afternoon. I was there on the morning and got a copy with the original cover - At the time had no idea it was gonna get pulled, so just lucky to be right-place-right-time. Apparently they're worth significantly more than the Celtic cross version due to rarity

[@snapperjessen]

how many of then have been in stores before the cover change?

[@projectno5]

not a rock album but i always remember buying the death grips album no love deep web. the shop i bought it in had to display it in a featureless black vinyl wrapping.

[@charleslipscomb9097]

The Scorpions' Lovedrive cover always looked to me like a 1970's National Lampoon issue!

[@pureenergy5136]

I didn't think I'd ever see a video discussing Album Covers. But while we're at it...The most beautiful, and stunning album cover that I ever saw is Rolling Stones' Tattoo You.

[@debonaire_nerd]

Fun fact; there was a cardboard cut out of Adolf Hitler for Sergeant Peppers but he was left off in the wings. He is "in" the photo but off to the side and well out of frame. Yeah, there is a cardboard cut out of Hitler within inches of the cut-outs that were on the front cover that you look at.

[@UdoShan]

Not so much as "banned" as it was simply "Changed out of respect to the deceased", but Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Street Survivor" artwork was changed after a portion of the band died in a fiery plane crash. After that, showing the band surrounded by a Blazing, Fiery City seemed insensitive, so they made the background purely black, instead. (The original artwork came back for the reissue.)

[@samellis4563]

Similar story to Dream Theaters Live album Scenes from New York, which in place of their old "burning heart" logo instead used a "burning big apple" with the New York skyline in silhouette.....honestly it's a cool album cover, if only it hadn't been released literally on 9/11/2001, it got pulled pretty quick. I still have one wrapped in it's original cellophane.

[@l.salisbury1253]

A similar story involved the Who's last album with the original line-up. The cover of "Who Are You" features Kieth Moon sitting on a folding chair marked "not to be taken away". As every Who fan knows Moonie died only three weeks after that LP was released! (The cover was never changed- original copies aren't that rare...)

[@johnbagley9818]

Bought an original "street survivor" when released only to lose it to a house fire a few years later. Bad karma?

[@UdoShan]

@@johnbagley9818 More like "Extreme Coincidence"!

[@kevinfeeney5309]

....all while Mayhem (mainly Euronymous) said eff it and had Dead's corpse (Dead was their vocalist who killed himself) as their album cover to Dawn of the Black Hearts

[@billiejoeeyelash]

I think it should also be mentioned that the original idea for the album cover for AFD was not even the robot image. It was supposed to be a photograph of the Challenger exploding. Yikes, I can't tell which one's worse...

[@namewithheldbyrequest1218]

The Mamas and the Papas, ‘If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears’ (1966) The original cover for the Mamas and the Papas' debut album: all four band members crammed into a bathtub (with Michelle Phillips stretched out over the other three). But because it was taken in an actual bathroom, the photo also included a toilet, which was taboo. The toilet was first obscured with a text box, and later cropped out entirely.

[@l.salisbury1253]

Suggestions for Vol. 2: STRYPER- "To Hell With the devil" (1986)! ALICE COOPER- "Love It To Death" (71) BON JOVI- "Slippery When Wet" (86) TYPE O NEGATIVE- "Origin of the Feces" (92) DEAD KENNEDY'S- "Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegatibles" (80)... for the BACK cover!

[@Rebelxstudios]

No Black Crows "Amorica"?

[@Chaz4543]

People forget Black Crowes had a very short run at the top. They did get wiped away by grunge and that album was 1994 and had no big hits. It had songs that charted high but it was the mainstream rock charts and alternative was so much bigger at that time. I would include it in a top 20 maybe.

[@ericswires8534]

Yeah I remember that one. Lots o pubes.

[@ericswires8534]

Guess the Metallica album cover load may have been censored if people knew the image was blood and semen mixed together. Ewwww

[@Destroyer_13]

I used to just think it was fire lol

[@13Mizzou]

Reload I believe was the same way only instead of semen they used the artists urine

[@beeragainsthumanity1420]

I know it's fictional, but "Smell the Glove" by Spinal Tap sums this up perfectly.

[@stevebond7387]

Tad, 8 Way Santa on Sub Pop records. The cover was a shot of a guy and a girl, the guy had no shirt on. Apparently the guy in the photo became born again and got the cover changed.

[@craigroaring]

Let this be an eye opener to all those who say "You wouldn't get away with that anymore". Most of these album covers would not cause controversy now.

[@jimpennington3824]

"LUCKY CHARMS". someone had to say it.

[@MegaHentai00]

The Coup's album Party Music originally had a cover with Boots Riley blowing up the World Trade Center with a guitar tuner. The album was meant to drop in mid-September of 2001. It was quickly changed after some buildings fell down.

[@MrPPunch69]

"A few copys of "Appetite for Destruction" with the "Raping Robot"-Cover were sold here in Europe...I got one in my vinyl collection.

[@lynchie137]

Surprised Cannibal Corpse weren't on the list. After all, their albums up to and including Tomb of The Mutilated were banned in Germany. And not only that, they weren't even allowed to play any songs off those albums when they happened to tour that country...

[@andrewbloom7637]

That would be the band's first three studio albums (1990's "Eaten Back to Life", 1991's "Butchered at Birth", and 1992's "Tomb of the Mutilated").

[@tristandunn4628]

Chumbawamba's "Anarchy" definitely deserves a mention. Although, I don't think it was actually banned.

[@haolekoa737]

Just commented the same thing, nice to see there are others out there that know the real Chumbawamba.

[@tristandunn4628]

I can't say that I was a huge fan. Back in the early 90s the likes of Shhh, Timebomb, Enough is Enough and Mouthful of Shit were played at the local indie club. That prompted me to buy Shhh and Anarchy. Good albums. There's probably way more cool stuff of theirs that I still haven't discovered.

[@phantomalex777]

hey i know of an album cover that was banned. never was sure why though. it was strypers to hell with the devil album. any info would be great!

[@ResurrectionEngine]

Had a couple Metal Up You Ass t-shirts over the years. got a lot of looks and comments back in the 80 with them I tell ya. Funny thing is, how tame that is compared to some of the covers and shirts out now.

[@YouCanCallMeXoe]

We have come so damn far since these. Nowadays, I can walk into Walmart, and get a copy of Flower Boy by Tyler The Creator, and "Scum Fuck" is completely uncensored on the side. I'm happy about this~

[@Courier-Six]

My go to controversial album cover has to be Lynyrd Skynyrds Street Survivors. If what my uncle told me is correct, the album cover was designed and set to release very shortly before the band died in the plane crash and the cover was redesigned due to the tragedy

[@davidl570]

He is definitely correct.

[@ronh.798]

Correct. I saw them on that tour a couple months before the crash. Still have the original cover album.

[@tinkntrix9834]

This is true. I ran into a copy while I was working in a shop but it was in such rough condition that we really couldn't sell it for more than a couple of bucks. It had the fire and everything around the band which would have made it fetch a nice price, except for the condition was trash. I think we gave it to somebody and they framed the cover just for fun but the condition of everything and the record itself really didn't play, I don't think there was any monetary value left in the poor thing. It was unfortunate because I love collectible covers LOL. I've come across rare albums and covers so many times that were just in horrible condition, low-grade fair condition is one thing but it makes me sad some of the things I've had to just put into the trash. Please take care of your vinyl people!

[@jimbob8910]

Shining - through years of oppression Mayhem - dawn of the black hearts Wurdulak - severed eyes of possession Cannibal corpse - tomb of the mutilated

[@Greybush46322]

Stryper's "To Hell With the Devil" is another one that was interesting.

[@spddiesel]

I still have the original cassettes of Open Up and Say Ahhh..., Mother's Milk, and Jane's second album Ritual de la Habitual, which also had a banned cover. Edit: Achtung Baby sucked balls and U2 has been garbage ever since.

[@bigdaddydynasty395]

When he said Scorpions, thought it was gonna be Virgin Killer

[@matthewvoss7365]

Lovedrive is always mentioned and I just never saw a problem with that strange album cover. People just see that breast exposure and how a hand is strangely connected.

[@SilverTounge85]

TNT's 'Knights of the New Thunder' record had originally a different sleeve as well. I think there was another Scorpions-album too w. some controversy.

[@jamesjones7138]

Back when it came out, British retailer W.H. Smith took exception to the cover of Van Halen's 1984.

[@albanb]

I had mother milk with the original one, never saw the other version in France, it's even the one use on Apple Music or spotify

[@MetalMe55iah]

virgin killers the end

[@vassily-labroslabrakos2263]

If one scorpions cover is controversial it's this one. heck it's posterchild of the controversial covers.

[@ideitbawxproductions1880]

@@vassily-labroslabrakos2263 "poster child" no pun intended

[@hardankles3382]

I’m not sure if it fits here, but how about the poster included in the Dead Kennedy’s Frankenchrist album?

[@tommyinohio]

If I recall correctly didn’t Motley Crue have to change out the Shout at the Devil album cover??

[@bodybytacos6043]

Wasn't Bon Jovi's original Slippery When Wet cover a girl in a wet t-shirt?

[@KardboardKenny]

yep

[@LegendoftheDragonSword]

Nah, it was John naked on a toilet soaking wet.

[@Blacknyell0w]

Any Cannibal Corpse album cover, though I'd say the Wretched Spawn takes number 1

[@paulshayter1113]

A buddy of mine worked for his dad who was an album distributor. The Beatles Yesterday and Today albums weren't recalled until after they had reached the distributors. My buddy managed to keep one and kept it pristine and unopened until he sold it around 1990 for $20,000.

[@bubby7014]

Golden Earring Moontan. Original cover head naked women on front and naked man on the back. Outrage caused them to change it to just a big ear (with an earring, of course)

[@freeparking301]

They recently released an album called Tits and Ass…still making music after all these years.