Stiff Rowlands

What inspired you today? That’s the question The Drum asked our very own Mr Stiff. Read his response below or if you’re seeking further inspiration read the full feature here.

Music is a constant source of creative inspiration but the business behind the music we enjoy can often appear to be so far removed that it’s hard to understand how the two are connected.

There are exceptions to every rule though and any business that takes its name from the industry term for a dead duck, has to be worth a second look. I’ve always been intrigued by the story of Stiff Records, partly due to the name that we share but more importantly because of their seemingly uncompromising lack of respect for conventions and their stubborn independence.

Their artist roster and marketing were so gleefully haphazard and anti corporate that they really could only have got away with it in the late seventies and early eighties before the label imploded and went on a 20 year hiatus in 1986.

The legendary Barney Bubbles was responsible for much of Stiff Records’ early graphics and his eclectic style helped to create some of their most iconic sleeve artwork. A personal favourite has to be the Crown wallpaper sleeve for Ian Dury & The Blockheads’ 1979 album “Do It Yourself”, which came in 28 different patterns!

We’re very happy to be part of Unconvention 2009, having produced one of ten posters for the music conference. It’s a northern event where you’ll get the chance to rub shoulders with legends like Peter Hook and listen to bands like I Am Kloot. More importantly, it’s a chance to get together and share ideas about the future of independent music whilst eating a pie. The posters will also be featured in an exhibition at Urbis.

The latest issue of The Drum focuses its attention on their Top 20 creative start-ups. We are thrilled to be included alongside 19 successful, creative agencies of such high caliber and hope to prove that the statistics (that two out of three start-ups end in failure) don’t apply to any of us.

We designed this microsite to mark an exclusive download of The Verve’s Thaw Session for NME.COM.

We designed this microsite for NME to promote a free cover-mount CD and accompanying download for anti racism campaign Love Music Hate Racism.

We designed the beta version of MyNME – a new section of the NME.COM website dedicated to user generated content.

We created branding, print, event and web design for NME.COM’s 10th Birthday celebration and the Sony Walkman NME Breaking Bands competition.

Slash and Prince illustrations commissioned for Uncut Legends: The 100 Greatest Guitar Heroes, Issue 6, August 2005

A Flash microsite and listening post for Warp Records artist  Chris Clark’s album “Empty The Bones Of You”.

We collaborated with rock photographer Roger Sargent to create this Slipknot feature illustration for NME magazine.