Videodrome's Blythe Russo turns déclassé 1980s images into funtastic flyers

Glam/synth-pop icons like Dale Bozzio (Missing Persons) and Mark Almond/David Ball (Soft Cell) make for obvious choices, as do the Village People, of course, who are one of the most rainbow-licious acts of all-time. But it's the lesser obvious choices in Russo's work which are the most interesting.

Blythe Russo, who grew up in Northampton and studied at Simmons College for Graphic Design & Studio Art, says that her designs are inspired not only by album artwork but also by fashion magazines of all eras and abstract collaged paintings. "The design goal is to encapsulate and represent the essence of a night at Videodrome in a single image," says Russo, also citing Videodrome's use of both the best and worst of pop/camp footage from decades past as another key visual component that "represents and enforces our ethos and intent."

Here's a poster of Hall & Oates, where a black and white cropped image of the famously great/corny duo notoriously wearing make up is super-imposed over a pastel 'peacock tail' rainbow and a feast of fonts. It's almost saying, you might be a blue-eyed soul boy in a sportcoat Monday through Friday, but on Saturday, we're putting blush on you and letting loose the rainbows.

This one of Prince is one of my favorites, with his Purple-ness posing shirtless in what looks like a driver's license photo, on top of polka-dotted ribbons, and an asymmetrical banner around the date. It's almost saying, wake me when the party starts.

Here is the bravest of the bunch---Randy Newman, whose music isn't particularly Videodromey, making fun of KISS' commercialism with dollar-sign facepaint (and note Russo's neon graffiti-like accoutrements). It's almost as if the poster is saying, yeah, we know, Randy Newman is a famous songwriter with opinions, but we love commercialism. Bring your bubblegum and your Fangorias and your t-shirt dresses and let's dance to some serious Altered Images.

Videodrome
Saturday, May 5
Radio
379-381 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA 02143
9PM-1AM, $5, 21+

(Blythe Russo is available for contract and freelance work)
blythedesign@gmail.com
www.blythedesign.net