The top 10 band mascots

by Ciaran Thompson

August 23, 2010

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Ordinarily associated with sports teams or schools, the mascot is a symbol that brings forth inspiration to win and never give up. The typical rah rah business to get people cranked. However mascots have been used by bands to represent their music. Cats, Dogs, War-Pigs, Bears, oh my. Here are our top ten band mascots.

Ordinarily associated with sports teams or schools, the mascot is a symbol that brings forth inspiration to win and never give up. The typical rah rah business to get people cranked. However mascots have been used by bands to represent their music. In a way they’re emblematic of a certain sound or mood or even the inspiration for the band’s existence. Cats, Dogs, War-Pigs, Bears, oh my. Here are our top ten band mascots.

10. Snacks is Bethany Consentino’s, lead singer of Best Coast, pet cat. But from what we’ve seen and heard of this furry feline, Consentino regularly post pictures on the band’s website, Snacks isn’t just any ordinary cat. He is on the cover of her band’s debut LP Crazy For You and is said to be one of the album’s inspirations. When Consentino isn’t photographed with her bandmate Bob Bruno, she’s with her cat like the one above.

9. Skank Man apparently became The Circle Jerks’ official mascot after the band tried to sue its creator, a California poster artist. The west coast punk band went on hiatus in the late ’80s/early ’90s, but reunited in 1994 and signed a major label deal with Mercury Records. With this move, Skank Man was given some new clothes and a more polished image like the one you see above.

8. “Snaggletooth” or “War-Pig” was created in 1977 by artist Joe Petagno for the cover of Motorhead’s self-titled debut album, released that same year. It has appeared on the cover of many of the band’s other albums and with its over-sized boar horns, chains and spikes, fits well with the band’s lyrical content involving substance abuse, war, promiscuous sex and abuse of power.

7. The Radiohead bear, albeit small, is one of the things people notice upon entering the typical music geek’s bedroom or dwelling place. It originally appeared in the artwork for the band’s fourth studio album Kid A, one of their most experimental efforts. It is sometimes referred to as “Modified Bear,” “Death Bear,” or “Scary Bear.”

6. The Misfits first used The Crimson Ghost for the cover of their “Horror Business” single. Since then it has been plastered on anything Misfitis related including albums and band t-shirts. The character stems from a 1946 film serial entitled The Crimson Ghost.

5. “Livin’ with Louie Dog’s the only way to stay sane” is a lyric from the Sublime track “What I Got” and an ode to the band’s best friend Lou Dog. Named after lead singer Brad Nowell’s grandfather, Lou Dog was often seen wandering around stage during live shows and was featured on the cover of Sublime’s box set compilation album as well as in dozens of band photos.

4. The cover of Queens of the Stone Age’s fifth LP Era Vulgaris has a picture of two cartoon light bulbs. The one on the left is portrayed as a pirate character while the other, whose name is Bulby, is on the right. The band liked the cracked-head, cigarette-smoking character so much a few short videos were made of Bulby singing and of course promoting Queens’ latest album.

3. Jamiroquai’s distinct Buffalo Man character is instantly recognizable and may have even given the English jazz funk band some much needed fan support. Apparently the character was created sometime before the release of their 1992 single “When You Gonna Learn” and was drawn by frontman Jason Kay.

2. The Kanye West bear appears on three of the rapper’s official albums as well as on a album comprised of Lullaby renditions of some of his most popular tracks. In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, West apparently said he’s always liked teddy bears and that it reminds him of his mother who used to bring them to him.

1. Created by contemporary English artist Derek Riggs, Eddie the Head was used for Iron Maiden’s self-titled debut album and has since been pictured on all their album covers as well as at live performances. At the forefront of the new wave of British Heavy Metal, the band’s mascot is both a tribute to the fighting spirit the Brits are known for and the genre’s dark themes.

Tags: Music, News, Best Coast, Circle Jerks, Iron Maiden, Jamiroquai, Kanye West, Motorhead, Queens of the Stone Age, Radiohead, Sublime, The Misfits

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