Lenny Kravtiz: Baptism
Posted by Ash on 4 September, 2007
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The first thing I thought when I saw this cover was ‘Is that Prince?’.
While the photo for the cover by Mark Seliger is beautiful and thought provoking, the choice of font makes comic sans almost seem like a better choice.
The design and art direction is credited to Len Peltier for whom I can find zero info on besides credits for other cover designs. So all blame for the typeface must go to Len :)
Update: Len has commented below to give more info behind the cover and also let me know that the type had nothing to do with him. It’s all Lenny’s fault. Stick to the tunes Lenny.
Mark Seliger was the chief photographer at Rolling Stone from 1992-2002 and after checking his site and a few galleries I realized he’s done so many memorable photos that have graced Rolling Stone. He always manages to make the stars look sexy yet interesting. I’ve posted a few of my favs below.
You can buy many of them here as large prints.
Mark was also the photographer behind the hard cover book on Lenny aptly titled Lenny Kravtiz.
Terry Richardson is also credited for photos which are for the booklet photos. I would post my favs of Terry’s work but they are all a little risque to say the lest. So I’ll just post this one which still makes me laugh when I see it.
The guitar featured on this cover is the same one (someone correct me if I’m wrong) from Lenny’s killer song and Mark Romanek’s killer film clip for Are You Gonna Go my Way?
Lenny Kravtiz: Baptism
bob_vinyl:
He certainly does look like Prince. It’s appropriate, because Kravitz has made a career of playing really derivative music very well.
# 04 Sep 07 at 2:30 am
Guitar Noize:
I had a look to see if Gibson still make that Flying V guitar he uses in the ‘Are you gonna go my way’ looks like they don’t do that exact finish anymore but the album cover would appear to be the Gibson V-Factor X maybe with custom pickups?
# 04 Sep 07 at 8:51 am
Fabien Barral:
I have look for Len Peltier several times, and even if has no website or nothing on the web, I know he did the sleeve of Lenny Kravitz circus album too, Iggy POP - American caesar, and several Sting albums as this promo CD too : http://www.graphic-exchange.com/archives/04cd_01.htm
# 12 Sep 07 at 1:09 am
Len Peltier:
Hey guys, I just stumbled on this site by accident. Well, you’ve made a grand assumption. I was the creative director of Virgin records for 10 years and have done many covers including almost all of Lenny’s. I am a fanatic about type and hate the font too. You have to realize that the artist still has final say in the graphics… as does the label in some cases, and since I had been working freelance by this point, the package I had designed was redesigned by the new label creative. Unfortunately, they didn’t remove my name, which I would have done. It was Lenny, who insisted on the font and the image, which I also think is one of Mark’s weakest. (Sorry for that, Mark is a great guy, but this was not a look I promoted.) Trust me It’s not fine art, you still have to sell and compromise, at times even with your muscical heroes, which is why you should not always meet all of them.
Regarding my background. I have been Creative Director of A&M and Virgin Records and have designed and art directed hundreds of covers, both for music I love and not. I also direct commercials and film. My most recent cover is Maroon 5 “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long” and I just began a job as Creative Director for Levi’s and am working on a re-branding the company. My design hero… Peter Saville.
Sorry for the bad type. This one was out of my hands.
Web site… who’s had time?I am workiing on it.
Sincerely,
Len Peltier
# 29 Oct 07 at 10:32 am
sean mosher-smith:
hello all, I was the label head at Virgin that Len alludes to and I am in full agreement with him on this font/look on the cover. I think Len and myself were scratch our heads when Lenny came up with this and he is the artist, artistic or no artistic taste, haha. Len was(is) a hero of mine and has done some amazing work, Lenny insisted on Lens name in this and I was the one who had to redesign the rest of the package on a Lenny whim. It could havebeen great if Len was allowed to do what Len does, oh well. I have left Virgin and started my own company as well. Len email me and say hi. Glad to see your name! We had not one but 2 rocky artists to deal with together, always sad to be the guy inbetween that has to placate so many different cooks, now I am on the other side as well!
# 03 Nov 07 at 4:28 am
Sleevage.com: For Record Cover Enthusiasts:
[…] instance, in a post about Lenny Kravitz’s Baptism cover, the designer, Len Peltier, actually took the time to drop some comments about the creative process […]
# 10 Nov 07 at 9:19 am
Steve:
It appears that Kravitz is really into interior design
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/21/garden/21star.html
# 05 Feb 09 at 12:53 pm
christof Verelst:
in the eighties the font would be nice, if Lenny did the soundtrack of “the terminator” or “aliens”
# 11 Mar 09 at 8:55 am