The Queen Is Dead is the third studio album by The Smiths, released in 1986. The album cover is iconic and features a still from the 1964 film L’Insoumis (The Unvanquished), showing the French actor Alain Delon lying down with his eyes closed, looking almost as if he is deceased. The image is tinted green, which gives it a haunting and melancholic feel, matching the themes of the album. The band’s name and album title are displayed in a simple serif font at the top.
The Smiths’ The Queen is Dead was designed by Morrissey, the band’s lyricist, vocalist, and over-all frontman. The Smiths’ album designs are always understated and usually a sort of duo-toned color. They often featured film or pop stars due to Morrissey’s fascination with them.
This album cover features Alain Delon from the 1964 French film L’Insoumis. Evidently, Delon experienced physical injury and terrible reception of the film. It was later considered one of his failures. It’s interesting how an image from a film star’s first failed performance is used on one of the most successful albums of all time.
Delon had written to The Smiths and gave them the approval to use his image. However, the offer came with one condition, as he revealed in his autobiography: “I told them my parents were upset that anyone would call an album The Queen is Dead.”
Here’s the last scene of the movie L’Insoumis featuring Alain Delon, and The Smiths used the scene for their album The Queen Is Dead in 1986:
The Queen Is Dead spent 22 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, reaching the number two position. It reached number 70 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in late 1990. Critically acclaimed, Rolling Stone ranked the album 113th on its 2020-updated list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” In its 2013 list, NME named The Queen Is Dead the greatest album of all time.
Iconic actor. Iconic album and band.
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