Client:

Personal Project

Title:

“Η Συμμορία της Ασφάλτου” Band Book

Project:

Book Design

About?

“Τα Ξύλινα Σπαθιά” (Ta Xýlina Spathiá / The Wooden Swords) was one of the most iconic Alternative Rock bands in the 90s Greek music scene. The idea behind this project was to compile a visual photo book of the band’s history, preferably with the band members’ contribution. Unfortunately, this project failed to kick off  due to various legal maters. At least, I have a visual draft I love and I got to meet the band’s front man, Pavlos Pavlidis and spend an afternoon at his studio with his Rock stories of the 90s and a ton of beer!

 

 

 

For this process, I searched every credit in their album booklets to find and contact people who were close to the band. Some of them led to even closer contacts that finally led me to Pavlos Pavlidis’ studio. Yiannis Psathas was a photographer shooting the band’s norhern tour gigs, and without his valuable help, I wouldn’t have reached far

Some material was taken from the CD booklets (internet was not a thing in the 90s) and some very touching moments were provided by Yiannis Psathas’ lens

The band was known for their excessive touring. To showcase that, the main visual idea was to create a band icon that would appear at the most unexpected scenery. From nature to urban landscapes, paying a tribute to the band’s concert milage

 

…and yes, I still have all the tickets from their gigs

 

 

Based on the same “Tour” theme, the discography section also displayed the band’s albums in a variety of places. To do so, I used Photoshop to show their albums in a landscape close to each album’s main theme.

Ξεσσαλονίκη
Xessaloníki / Wordplay of Thessaloniki and Partying

Πέρα από τις Πόλεις της Ασφάλτου
Péra apó tis Póleis tis Asfáltou / Beyond the Asphalt Cities

Μια Ματιά σαν Βροχή
Mia Matiá san Vrochí / A Gaze Like Rain

Τροφή για τα Θηρία
Trofí gia ta Thiría / Food for Beasts

Ένας Κύκλος στον Αέρα
Énas Kýklos ston Aéra / A Circle in the Air

Live