Athletes Recreate Iconic Album Covers For ESPN. All The Images, Side by Side Comparisons and Behind The Scenes Shots.

ESPN Magazine's Music Issue has a fabulous photo editorial that I simply had to share with you (along with some 'behind the scenes' shots). Photographed by Mattias Clamer, 14 athletes, all with a good sense of humor, let themselves be transformed to emulate musicians and recreate iconic album covers from the past few decades.

Below are the shots for ESPN, the original album covers, side by side comparisons and images from the set.

NFL Players Trent Richardson, Marshawn Lynch and LaMarr Woodley as Run-D.M.C. (Album: Ultimate Run DMC, 2003):


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:


NFL Players Trent Richardson, Marshawn Lynch and LaMarr Woodley as Run-D.M.C.(Album: Run DMC's Greatest Hits, 2002):


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:


Olympic Gold Medal Sprinter Allyson Felix as Beyonce (Album: Dangerously In Love, 2003)


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:


Olympic God Medal Swimmer Ryan Lochte as the baby on Nirvana's Nevermind Baby (Album: Nevermind, 1991):


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:


Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman as Michael Jackson (Album:Thriller, 1982):


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:


Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman as Michael Jackson (Off The Wall, 1979):


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:


NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson (and wife Chanra) as Bob Dylan (Album: The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, 1963)


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:


Motocross Racer James Stewart as Rick James (Album: Street Songs, 1981)


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:



U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Forward Alex Morgan as Katy Perry (Album: One Of The Boys, 2008)


Side by Side:

Behind The Scenes:


MLB Players J. Upton, E. Longoria, B. Phillips, G. Stanton and S. Victorino as Devo (Album: Freedom Of Choice, 1980)


Side by Side:

Behind the Scenes:



The Cover of the ESPN Magazine February Music Issue:


Another cute feature is that the athletes have each compiled playlists you can find here.

The Perfect Sexy Gift For Both Of You This Valentine's Day. The Adore Me Pleasure Set from LELO.

70% of men admit they only want sex on Valentine's Day, while 80% of women feel their partner does not make any effort in choosing a Valentine's gift or preparing a special celebration for the occasion, according to original research done by LELO, the makers of high end intimate apparel and pleasure items for men and women.

If This Van's A Rockin' Don't Come A Knockin - Unless You're Dressed In Black Tie. The Mercedes Benz Sprinter With Luxury Bedroom.

This Mercedes Benz Sprinter Passenger Van has been given the royal treatment by Lexani Motorcars who specializes in outfitting coaches and appointing them with custom amenities and materials that rival the finest luxury jets and yachts. All the fancy schmancy items you can think of from wireless Apple iPad integration to a platinum grille are available options. Orthopedic mattresses, Bose Home theater system, a full bar, 46" 3D tv, a Playstation 3 (blu-ray) can all be wrapped up in this van complete with secure armor on the perimeter if someone is out to shoot you.

Pencils Packaged To Make the Portrait of Russian Mathematician Grigori Perelman.

Using a portrait of Russian Mathematician Grigori Perelman by artist Jules Julian, designers Alan Temiraev and Volodenka Zotov created a beautifully designed pencil set.

The packaging is designed so that when intact, the eight individually boxed graphite pencils make up the illustrated portrait, by Jules Julien, of the Russian mathematician Grigori Perelman, famous for solving the the legendary Poincaré Conjecture.*



The beautifully designed pencil box has a die-cut window in the shape of the portrait's head and foil stamping. The interior of the box has a color printed image of the universe.





Each graphite pencil is a different degree of lead  (2H, H, F, HB, B, 2B, 3B, 4B) and individually packaged in multi-colored four-sided boxes so that, when properly aligned, they make up the graphic portrait of Perelman seen through the die-cut window.






Grigori (or Grigory) Perelman:


*Perelman solved the legendary Poincaré Conjecture, one of the world's most difficult mathematical tasks. He was awarded the Field Medal but Perelman didn't show up to claim the award, and said he doesn't want it. He told a British newspaper, "I do not think anything that I say can be of the slightest public interest." Refusing to take the one million dollars in prize money, he remarked "Why do I need a million dollars if I can control the universe?"

Designers: Alan Temiraev, Volodenka Zotov
Illustrators: Julien Jules, Phil
images courtesy of The Bold Studio on behance, first sighted on Fubiz