Music: U2 Cover

Pitchfork reports that the cover of the new U2 album is a photograph that was previously used by some "sound artists". (They sound like white noise to me.) I'm sure this was an innocent move by U2, who, like the rest of us, had probably never heard of these pretentious tossers.

Didn't U2 get into trouble for "The Unforgettable Fire" photos by Anton Corbijn, because he was copying the technique of another photo artist? Now they actually pay to use the original photo and get (very minor) flak.

My only objection is that the album is called "No Line On The Horizon", and the photo very clearly has a line on the horizon.

Pitchfork mentions this happened before to Bob Dylan and Luna.

The same photo was also used by Fountains Of Wayne and The Flamingoes.

You can hear the new U2 single, "Get On Your Boots", on their site. I like the "sexy boots" line but "Kinky Boots" would be better. In fact, "Zip Up Your Mickey" would have been a better title for the song.

YouTube: Pop Stars Falling

• Beyonce (poor quality but full points for fall)
  
• Bono (walks backwards off stage - wish I could see the Edge's reaction)
  
• Christina Aguilera (just a stumble)
  
• Axl Rose (does he do it deliberately?)
  
• Robbie Williams (but he carries if off with aplomb)
  

Bonus: models falling down.

Album Covers: Children

Whither the children who graced the album covers of yore?

The baby on Nirvana's "Nevermind" is Spencer Elden. He's 16 now, and has appeared on another album cover.

The boy on the cover of U2's "Boy" and "War" albums (and a slew of other U2 releases) is Peter Rowan, who is now a professional photographer. (He spells his name "Rowen" to avoid confusion with a bluegrass musician.)

The Rave-Ups' album "Chance" had a picture of the lead singer's son, Chance. Chance is the nephew of Molly Ringwald, and therefore the grandson of jazz pianist Bob Ringwald, who has a newer photo. Here is a letter the father wrote for his infant son. I really enjoy that album.

The most controversial child on an album cover has to be the girl on the cover of "Blind Faith", the self-titled album by the Eric Clapton/Ginger Baker/Steve Winwood/Ric Grech (who?) supergroup. She is now (if we can trust the internet) a massage therapist and shiatsu practitioner.

Sadly, the little angel on the cover of Van Halen's 1984 died in 1997 from lung cancer.