Though their album Hey Ma just hit stores in the U.K. on April 8, the cover art for the album is already stirring up controversy. Depicting a baby reaching toward a gun with baby blocks spelling out the album name, the idea for the cover arose from a news item about a 10-month-old American baby obtaining a firearms certificate. Guitarist Larry Gott said, "Firearms are dangerous, they're not to be taken likely, and we as a society are becoming over familiarized with the image of gun and gun culture."
The Advertising Standards Authority in the U.K. has a different opinion, however, and has banned the cover art from any billboards promoting Hey Ma.
Do you think this is necessary?
Christian Louboutin
Anna Sui
Francesco Biasia
It's an artistic statement. I can see both sides of the argument, but I don't think it should be banned.
1It reminds me of the cover to Nirvana's nevermind album. Dollar vs. a gun? Either way the baby just represents innocence. Anyone who has a problem with that photo clearly has been to an R rated movie in the past twenty years.
2I thought we decided this issue with the first amendment. These controversies never fail to baffle me.
3I can see why this would bug people, but I have issues with people trying to censor things.
4I don't like it either.
5I really think they have no right to ban it...
6oh please.
why is everyone so uptight?!
7No, it should not be banned. There isn't anything offensive, it's just making a statement.
8I hate guns.
But, still, it's an artistic statement and shouldn't be banned.
Meanwhile, I can't BELIEVE James is still around and making music. I'm amazed.
9I think that given the context, it makes a great point. The outrage should not be over the album art, but the parents whose child has a gun license. Hands down, guns are bad. A three year-old in Detroit shot herself in the eye this week and died. In light of that, I think people need to really think hard about what the real issue is here.
10And yes, they are protected under the first amendment.
If it brings attention to an important issue then it shouldn't be banned and "pushed under the rug".
11"I think that given the context, it makes a great point. The outrage should not be over the album art, but the parents whose child has a gun license."
12I totally agree Ekaterina, this is exactly what I was going to write.
i think all billboards should be banned. that is my position.
13It should not be banned- although I don't always like what people have to say, I cannot condone censorship. Besides, the cover is thought provoking, which one can obviously see from all the response it is receiving!
By the way, I love James- such an underrated band, particularly in the US.
14no way, this shouldn't be banned! If you don't like it, don't buy it
15I can see their point, but I've seen way more offensive album covers (most of the time involving naked ladies and weirdly suggestive poses) that obviously didn't get censored..
16I love this cover. No government anywhere should be able to ban any expression or art. Freedom matters!
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