Here are 10 rock and metal album covers that had to be changed due to controversy.
Album covers may not be as important today as they used to be thanks to the world of streaming, but back when vinyl and CDs were the primary formats of music, the artwork was the first impression.
There’ve been some “controversial” ones over the years though, so much so that the bands actually had to change them. Guns N’ Roses‘ Appetite for Destruction is a prime example, but did you know that The Beatles even had a cover so grotesque that stores refused to stock it? Now, copies with the original cover go on eBay for over $700.
Whether the issue was that the artwork contained nudity, gore or was just downright inappropriate for other reasons, there are a quite a few bands that have had to legally change their album covers. We compiled a gallery of some of the biggest cases, which you can scroll through below.
READ MORE: 7 Times Rock Bands Were Sued by Album Cover Models
For each album listed, we included both the changed cover and the original version, so you’ll get to see what the album would have looked like if the band had its way from the start.
Rock + Metal Album Covers That Had to Be Changed Due to Controversy
These bands had to change their album covers because they were too controversial.
Gallery Credit: Lauryn Schaffner
50 Most Controversial Hard Rock + Metal Album Covers
Some covers got changed, others stayed. Controversial, nonetheless.
Gallery Credit: Joe DiVita