Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Logo #88: Adhesive

Micke Claesson (later Micke Fritz), singer and guitarist for Sweden politcal hardcore unit Adhesive, explains, "Our drummer, Robert Samsonowitz, designed the logo. It's based on an old Nothern Soul symbol. It first appeared in 1999." While the band only lasted from 1994 - 2002, this potent symbol - the fist inside the usually welcoming circle - has a long and storied history as a catalyst for agitation. Sprinters Tommie Smith's and John Carlos' Black Power salute at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, for example, or any number of political movements - American Indian Movement, Earth First!, Food Not Bombs, the United Farm Workers of America, and the Weather Underground - all using the simple gesture that can be replicated anywhere and just as quickly explained away by saying "I was stretching!"

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