“It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock ‘n’ roll” —AC/DC

Award-winning creative directors, designers, authors, and radio hosts Spencer Drate and Judith Salavetz project a stunning array of their designs for album covers, posters, and special CD packaging for some of the most creative musicians in the downtown scene, including 23 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. As every picture tells a story, expect tall tales and wild experiences to go along with the visuals of individual projects.

Drate and Salavetz have created packages for Ramones, Talking Heads, Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Dee Dee King, The Godz, Marshall Crenshaw, Billy Squire, Bon Jovi, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Pretenders, The Beach Boys and many more.

Guest speakers Sylvia Reed, co-designer for Lou Reed’s New York and Magic and Loss, as well as The Velvet Underground’s Live MCMXCIII album packages, and John Holmstrom, who relates the story of the Ramones Road to Ruin album cover, join the hosts for a behind-the-scenes discussion about many of the projects. A Q&A will follow.

About Spencer Drate and Judith Salavetz
Drate and Salavetz have a pop culture radio show and have authored and designed 21 pop culture books. Their work is included in the permanent collections of MoMA, AIGA and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their output has been displayed in major museums, galleries and touring shows. Drate also contributes articles to Punk Globe magazine and was nominated for a GRAMMY as co-designer of the Talking Heads’ Fear of Music album package in 1979.