...to immediately know who it is (though I'd have thought Dave D and his mid 60s flying V was a pretty distinctive image to the majority of 'the Word demographic'). The key thing is, especuially after last month's amateur-hour at the photoshop, it's a pleasing, well proportioned, quirky design. And it'll stand out on the shelves.

the publishers have made, IMHO, is not sticking to this style of cover since the re-design and the excellent Dylan illustration that decorated that first edition. A consistent and identifiable cover design can become part of the overall branding. The Word almost certainly does not have that brand recognition from the casual buyer.

...I'd not properly looked at it and assumed it was Pete Townshend for some reason. He's the person most associated with 60's power chords in my mind I guess.

I rarely take much notice of the cover to be honest. It's just the bit that keeps the cake crumbs off the interesting stuff.

I thought it was Tim Wheeler from Ash.

I thought it looked like Trent Reznor. "Is The Word heralding Nine Inch Nails new 60's psych direction?" I pondered. But then I found out who it was. All of which means I'll remember this cover. More importantly, the content is v. good. Anything by Mark Hodgkinson gets my seal of approval - great writer.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives make the cover of The Word..!!

I wish it was.

However, after kicking off the complaints about the cover of issue 100, I'm keeping a low profile.

Can't help agreeing with Mr Duvet though.

And I thought it was Jimmy Page, who was for some reason playing a flying V.

surely that was the catalyst in creating the noisy fuzztone that went on to spawn a thousand imitators. That might have been more apt for Dave Davies.

At first I thought Jimmy Page too by the way.