I always thought there was a connection ... now at least one band has gone and made it explicit.

Robert Longo is an artist who, back in the early 80s, created a series of lithographs called "Men In The Cities." Basically, it's a bunch of depictions of people looking like they're being shot. When I looked at them, though, I was always reminded of David Byrne in the "Once In A Lifetime" video. (Not to mention Devo). You know, that whole early-80s punk/new wave stage move that incorporates spasms, or looking like you're being electrocuted.

So, I always wondered if Byrne (and Mothersbaugh et. al.) were referencing Longo's works, or vice versa, or either. It seemed like a perfect comment on the times, really; what better way to comment on the alienation and weirdness of the modern world of 1980 than spastic convulsions?

Anyway, to make a long story short ... Maximo Park has gone and appropriated the Longo images themselves for their CDs and website (here's a good example). For a band who clearly has the jerky new-wave of the early 80s as a prime influence, it seems perfect. As I said, the connection made concrete.

Interesting stuff for an art-nerd like myself, at least.