Morrissey: Ringleader of the Tormentors

Morrissey had been residing in Rome while writing and recording Ringleader and we wanted the design to echo the inspiration.The cover was shot by Fabio Lovino who also shot M on the streets of Rome with every allusion to Italian life and industry—on a Vespa, next to political graffiti eating gelato, in front of an old Fiat, playing football, under pizzeria signs and in between lines of linen hung out to dry. Some of these shots became the covers of the singles from Ringleader.

The branding focused around the cartouche and crest. The fleurons framing the cartouche were taken from triumphal arches found in books of Roman architecture. The “M” crest was aped from Rome’s official seal with his initial replacing “The Senate and the People of Rome” and we designed a monogramme in vein of an Italian high-fashion house to run on the inner bags. This monogramme carried into merchandising—silk scarves were printed with the pattern á la Louis Vuitton (a French fashion house to be sure). The crest featured on lapel pins, Tiffany-style keyrings, tie-pins, cufflinks and even girls’ pants.

This was done at Stylorouge. Mark Higenbottam at Stylorouge drew the typography for M’s name.