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On January 1, 1969, Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger wrote artist M.C. Escher a letter asking Escher to provide an image for the Stones’ second volume of greatest hits, entitled Through The Past Darkly. Jagger was a big Escher fan, and addressed the letter to “Maurits,” the “M” in “M.C.” Well…turns out Escher was NOT a Stones fan. Below is the correspondence, as reproduced by a World of Escher forum post from 2002. It’s kind of mind-blowing to think that an artist would turn down the chance for a Stones album cover, but hey — apparently Escher preferred Bach (and Mott the Hoople, which used a colorized version of Escher’s “Reptiles” on their self-titled debut in 1969).
Jagger’s Letter
Dear Maurits,
For quite some time now I have had in my possession your book (Graphic Works Of…) and it never ceases to amaze me each time I study it! In fact I think your work is quite incredible and it would make me very happy for a lot more people to see and know and understand exactly what you are doing.In March or April this year, we have scheduled our next LP record for release, and I am most eager to reproduce one of your works on the cover-sleeve. Would you please consider either designing a “picture” for it, or have you any unpublished works which you might think suitable -the “optical illusion” idea very much appeals to me, although one like “Evolution” would of course be equally as suitable. -and would say the same thing. You might even like to do a long one like “Metamorphosis” which we could then reproduce as a folding-out sleeve. It could be either in one colour or full colour, that would be up to you entirely.
Naturally, both you and your publishers would get full credits on the sleeve, and we could negotiate a fee on hearing of your decision to do it. I would be most grateful if you could contact Peter Swales or Miss Jo Bergman at the above address or telephone (reverse charge), and either will give you every necessary assistance. However, I am not so fortunate as to possess a Dutch interpreter, and so if you do not speak English or French, I would again be grateful if you could fix up somebody in Baarn to oblige.
Yours very sincerely,
MICK JAGGER
for ROLLING STONES LTD.
Escher’s Response
I have bolded the diss.
Dear Sir [addressed to Mr. Peter Swales],
Some days ago I received a letter from Mr. Jagger asking me to design a picture or to place at his disposal unpublished work to reproduce on the cover-sleeve for an LP record.My answer to both questions must be no, as I want to devote all my time and attention to the many commitments I made; I cannot possibly accept any further assignments or spend any time on publicity.
By the way, please tell Mr. Jagger I am not Maurits to him, but
Very sincerely,
M. C. Escher.
According to the forum post that brought this all to light: “In an ensuing letter, Mick Jagger asked for permission to use the Escher image “Verbum” a hexagonal image for which a hexagonal album cover would be designed, a request that was again denied. Escher claimed that he was not offended by the “over-familiarity” of Mick’s letter, it was more that he received so many requests, and in all fairness to all the other refusals, he could not make an exception to that rule. The Stones LP entitled “Through The Past Darkly” was released as a hexagonally designed cover-sleeve.” Pictured at the top of this post is the actual image used for the sleeve. Not exactly a masterwork. (Note from the comments: yeah, that’s an octagon, not a hexagon. Well, anyway.)
(Via Kottke.org, in a rather amusing post entitled From the desk of Mr. Jagger, which includes correspondence with Andy Warhol.)
Comments (18)
Comment
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Well at least they got Andy Warhol to design the “Sticky Fingers” album cover!
posted by Nerak on 10-21-2009 at 1:59 pm
I own this LP and always thought that someone who owned it previously must have cut off the corners for reasons unknown. This is just one of the many mysteries of LP covers that I have wondered about over the years. Thanks for this.
posted by Cody on 10-21-2009 at 2:01 pm
That is definitely an octagon.
posted by Ben on 10-21-2009 at 2:12 pm
Looks like when they couldn’t get Escher they just gave up.
posted by Craig on 10-21-2009 at 3:47 pm
aw cmon,chris, this has been blown outta proportion all this time
there’s no diss!
unless ya really love an overdramatic sound bite instead of information.
it’s articles like these which are the diss
if you read the whole [slight] correspondence at http://forum.worldofescher.com/viewtopic.php?t=11 you can see that [though mr escher was quite old about to move for the last time] he answered promptly personally and exactly as asked by sending his reply to that 3rd guy.
escher hasd agents and handlers and managers… he did not have something to offer the rolling stones.
as to jagger calling him maurits, escher was being informative. would mick have liked being called “michael jagger”? not much! the “mc escher” name was eventually trademarked. escher’s family and closest friends knew him as “mauk”.
ya know, like “mauk jagger”
dearest christopher/christian/christina higgins,
we see a lotta republicans on tv apologising to their wives.
id prefer to see a few punchy/scurrilous articles retracted!
now i feel so cranky. does anyone agree with me?
very sincerely,
ms jay sheckley
posted by jay sheckley on 10-21-2009 at 4:43 pm
Not upset about the article, but am about the ads. “Ads by google” pop up ad covered Escher’s reply letter and offered no way to move or hide it. I had to copy the text and paste it into an editor to read it.
Very annoying.
posted by Bryan on 10-21-2009 at 7:09 pm
i agree with Bryan…
posted by Doflitchit on 10-21-2009 at 9:11 pm
If anyone can tell us what the ad is for, we can try to remove it. I’ve had a few of my co-workers in various parts of the country check it out, and we keep coming up empty.
posted by Jason English on 10-21-2009 at 10:25 pm
It’s probably the the Rockport Fulton ad off of the top banner. It tends to drop down and stay down even if your mouse never gets right on top of it. At least thats what I have trouble with using Firefox. I also despise those stupid Bing boxes that pop up as well. Annoying as hell
posted by dbus on 10-22-2009 at 1:15 am
Dear Ms. Jay Sheckley,
I appreciate your concern about overdramatic soundbites, but do remind you that this is a blog with a sense of humor mixed with factual content — both of which are present in this blog post. As such, I really don’t see the harm in presenting the article above as-is and do not retract my headline nor the content of the article.
You may refer further complaints to the Department of Reader Comment Dismissal, via these here comments. :)
-Chris
posted by Chris Higgins on 10-22-2009 at 1:42 am
It’s for the Blackberry Bold
posted by Seamus on 10-22-2009 at 8:55 am
That is an annoying ad. And the bing keyword searches is also really, really annoying.
Actually the coding for this page may be what’s out of whack– the recaptcha box is at the top of the page for me. Not the words, or the recycle button, but merely the text box.
posted by Joel on 10-22-2009 at 9:06 am
They stole the title “Sticky Fingers” from Mott The Hoople also. That was supposed to be the title of their next L.P. Guy Stevens wanted Mott The Hoople to be like Dylan fronting the Stones, seems like the Stones wanted to be like Mott The Hoople at that time.
posted by Kelly on 10-22-2009 at 10:23 am
hear hear Chris!
@ Jay, sorry I can’t support your opinion – to which you are entitled. I felt this was a fun insight to something I wouldn’t have known about before. Additionally, it was told in a lighthearted enough matter (which surely 40 years later is all that’s required) Links to the original forum were provided for those who wished to form a deeper opinion and understanding. Thank you though for providing your opinion. I hope mine doesn’t make you too cranky! :-D
By the way, I had no trouble with ads. Sorry to be disagreeing with EVERYONE today!
posted by Hastings on 10-22-2009 at 12:35 pm
Yeah, a T-Mobile ad is covering part of the text of mc escher’s letter.
posted by Vickey on 10-22-2009 at 12:53 pm
LOL Glad I wasn’t the only one swearing to myself about that stupid ad! Mine was also for TMobile Blackberry. If they pay per click I bet they are paying through the nose right now!!
posted by Kayla on 10-22-2009 at 5:46 pm
I’m also getting the T-Mobile ad in Japan, blocking the Escher letter.
And the comments for this post are showing up in bold red.
And, like Joel, my Recaptcha box is showing up in the middle of the comments.
posted by Karen In Japan on 10-23-2009 at 6:35 am
dear Chris, dear Hastings,
@chris oh, I dont insist you retract it,I’m just being dramatic like you. I can’t imagine complaining about you to censors or trying to have your freedom of speech retracted.
Matter of fact, Hastings, I was just saying the interesting matter couldve been brought to our attention without copying the bs line about an alleged “diss”. Accuracy is interesting too! As Ive stated, if you examine the materials you see it was a fast reply of exactly the sort requested.Escher could not accomodate Jagger, but even replied to the name part of his letter. As someone who respects both men, Im irritated that the dead, lesser known artist was dissed for his prompt short reply elsewhere on the net and then and then dissed again by this, oh never mind.
That ad over the text you guys are commenting on is TRULY egregious and I hope you succeed in killing it.
Sincerely
Jat Sheckley and her little dog Romeo
posted by Jay Sheckley on 11-2-2009 at 9:17 am