10 Rock Bands Who Were Forced To Change Their Album Covers
6. Black Label Society - Sonic Brew (1998)
In the middle of a decades-long tenure as Ozzy Osbourne's axe man, Zakk Wylde put together his own side-project in the form of Black Label Society, a doom troopin', leather clad cadre from the South who gave form to Wylde's musical aspirations beyond the Prince of Darkness.
Their debut album, Sonic Brew, was released to meagre fanfare while nonetheless being considered an important record in the hard rock annals from the outset. What did draw attention, however, was the artwork.
The Johnnie Walker whisky company slapped the band with a cease and desist order due to the imagery's striking similarity to the label and neck of the brand's Black Label whisky. This should not have come as a surprise to the Black Label boys though, as the very name of the band was chosen in reference to frontman and lead guitarist Zakk Wylde's love for the aforementioned whisky.
As a result, the band opted to reissue the album with a different cover: the band's signature skull logo on a black background. The Society may not have been happy about this, but the new version of the artwork is a definite improvement. Really the only ones who lost out were Johnnie Walker – a co-branding opportunity sorely missed.