Utoo said:
Why can't it be both a nod to pop art and to the Beatles? Couldn't it be both---a nod to the Beatles also being a nod to pop art?
It's not like U2Man is saying anything about the quality of the album based on the cover. And you can't really say that there are no similarities between the covers. Whether the similarities were done purposely or not, t's a valid thought to notice similar qualities.
Well Bono made references to Keith Harring, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein (my fave of the 3), quite a bit during the Pop days.
Granted I'm not much of Beatles fan, so you'd have to be a fan of both to make that connection IMHO.
I'd think more coincidental. Ripping off the Beatles, eh, the bass players of the bands are in different order.
If you go clockwise, U2 is in the order of age. Adam, Bono, Edge, Larry.
A huge nod to "Pop art" definitely. But that was the idea.
Look at the various coloured areas on U2's faces, kinda look like dots on their faces, check out some Lichtenstein works. The colouring itself and the darker areas, Warhol inspired.
http://www.warhols.com/portraits_of_artist.jpg
I don't think Beatles were what they were thinking about at this particular point in their career.
Bono sure name-drops a lot of artists though, I imagine the walls of his houses must be like mini art museums.