Great Big Story visited John Pasche, the designer behind the iconic “Hot Lips” logo for The Rolling Stones, who explained how he got the call that would change his life.
I was at the Royal College up to 1970, doing three years at a design course there. Well I was in my last year and the college got a phone call from the Stones’ office saying, ‘would a student go along and talk to Mick Jagger about a forthcoming, tour.’ …I got the gig.
Pasche talked about how he met with Mick Jagger at his home to discuss ideas and how that meeting inspired his initial design.
…I got a letter and then a call asking if I’d go and meet Mick Jagger at his house in Cheyne Walk. .. he showed me a cutting that he found in the local news agent.The image was of the Indian goddess Kali with her tongue sticking out. And I think it was that moment that was the real spark.
He also made clear that the logo was based upon a woman, not Jagger,
Some people say to me that it was inspired by Mick Jagger’s mouth, but in fact it wasn’t. I always saw it as basically a woman’s mouth because I wanted to use a very strong red, obviously to grab attention.
