When The Rolling Stones released Tattoo You in 1981, they were experiencing a resurgence, fueled by their earlier success with Some Girls and the commercial energy that accompanied the rise of MTV. After a creative lull in the mid-1970s, the band was revitalized by the punk and disco movements that had dominated the end of the decade, finding a renewed sense of vitality and creative energy.
Tattoo You, their 16th studio album, was driven by the success of its lead single, “Start Me Up.” The album drew on a mix of outtakes and unreleased tracks from previous recording sessions, including “Waiting on a Friend,” which had been originally written during the Goats Head Soup sessions nearly a decade earlier. As MTV emerged as a cultural force, the band’s presence on the network, particularly Mick Jagger’s energetic performance in the video for “Start Me Up,” helped cement their place in the music world for a new generation.
For the album’s cover, graphic artist Peter Corriston and illustrator Christian Piper were tasked with creating a striking visual. The result was one of The Rolling Stones’ most memorable covers, featuring a dramatic red background with black-and-white imagery, adorned with tribal tattoos. The design marked a bold departure from the band’s previous covers, echoing the iconic rejection of the Beggars Banquet toilet cover.
Corriston explained that the inspiration for the cover came from a variety of sources, including Indian sand paintings, sideshow circus art, and samurai warriors. “The strongest of the strong would have tattoos on their face,” Corriston recalled. The symbolism of strength aligned perfectly with the band’s persona, and the cover became a striking visual statement about their dominance in the rock world.
But the question many fans have asked is, “Who is the woman on the cover of Tattoo You?” The model featured on the album cover is none other than Mick Jagger himself. In a style reminiscent of the Goats Head Soup cover, where Jagger appeared prominently on the front and Keith Richards on the back, the shoot for Tattoo You involved both band members. Photographer Hubert Kretzschmar took several headshots of Jagger and Richards, capturing their contrasting approaches to the session.
Jagger was punctual and dedicated to the shoot, reviewing all contact sheets to select the best shot. Richards, on the other hand, arrived three hours late, took a few quick photos, and left without much fanfare. When asked about his favorite photo, Richards quipped, “Nah, that’s what Mick’s for, cheers.”
The album cover became one of the most iconic images of the 1980s, helping define the band’s image for the decade. It symbolized the Stones’ magnetic appeal during their 1960s heyday, while also marking the last time the band exhibited such unbridled energy and vitality. Through the striking visual and the album’s success, Tattoo You introduced the Rolling Stones to a new generation, securing their place in the cultural landscape of the 1980s.
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