How the Tattoo You Cover Captured the Rolling Stones' Endurance

The cover of Tattoo You is a literal patchwork of the band’s history. Designer Peter Corriston, who also did Some Girls, collaged a painted portrait of Mick Jagger’s face with tattoo-like flash art—daggers, snakes, a heart, a panther—that nods to different eras: the ’60s R&B roots, the ’70s decadence, the ongoing swagger. The idea was that the band, like a well-worn tattoo, had become permanent.

Corriston originally wanted a full-body tattooed Jagger, but what ended up on the sleeve is a kind of scrapbook of symbols. The “Tattoo You” title itself feels like a dare—a promise that the Stones could still surprise you after nearly two decades. It’s one of the few album covers that directly addresses the band’s longevity instead of pretending they were still kids.