Rodney Alan Greenblat
Rodney Alan Greenblat created the charming cover art for They Might Be Giants' eponymous debut. John Flansburgh contacted Greenblat without any prior connection, and asked him to create the art essentially without payment, since the band had virtually no budget. Having heard of the band, Greenblat benignly agreed. Of TMBG, he says "I met John and John in 1985, when they asked me to do the artwork for their first album. It was one of my first illustration jobs ever. I have always felt a connection between their music and my artwork. Still funny, quirky, personal, original rock."
In an interview with Gwynne Watkins,[2] Linnell said,
When we put out our first record, there was some confusion, because the cover was this wonderful illustration by Rodney Alan Greenblat: sort of a cartoon landscape with me and John and all these cartoon figures and stuff, and people mistakenly thought that it was a kid's record.
When asked in an interview with This Might Be A Zine if this were intentional, Greenblatt stated:
No. My artwork looks like kids illustration and at the same time is not kids illustration. It’s as it is. If I could make some kind of serious grown-up art I would, but it is impossible, and at the same time my artwork is serious and grown-up. After many years of Zen meditation I see all of this as just the crazy magical reality of my life. The images I loved when I was ten years old I still love. As I am writing this Gumby and Pokey figures are watching over me from on top of the cassette deck. At the same time I am still ten and also turning 65. It’s as it is.
Greenblat also created various artwork for WFMU's Greasy Kid Stuff radio show, including all of the art for their various artist compilations, in which TMBG is featured on the second and third installments.
Greenblat also designed all the characters for the popular video game series PaRappa the Rapper, as well as the spin-off game Um Jammer Lammy. He also designed the album cover for Shonen Knife's Strawberry Sound.
Greenblat is also a musician and has released several albums via Bandcamp.
External links[edit]
- Wikipedia article
- Interview with This Might Be A Zine
- Whimsyload - Greenblat's personal website