Who Designed the Rolling Stones’ Tongue and Lips Logo and When Was It First Used?

The iconic tongue and lips logo was designed by John Pasche, a young art student at the Royal College of Art who was paid just £50 for the job in 1970. Pasche reportedly based the design on Mick Jagger’s mouth and the Hindu goddess Kali’s protruding tongue—though Jagger later joked it was simply his own lips.

The logo first appeared in 1971 on the inside sleeve of the Sticky Fingers album (the cover itself featured Andy Warhol’s zipper). It quickly became the band’s official emblem, popping up on stage banners, T‑shirts, and tour posters. Today it’s one of the most copied and recognizable logos in music history, but it started as a £50 freelance gig.