The Swarm

February 26, 2008

Icons Redux: Converse taps Ian Curtis and Sid Vicious for 'Connectivity' campaign

David Prince

ALSO:

Exclusive: Kurt Cobain Converse custom Chucks coming

Converse looking to ‘Connect’ with a few living, breathing artists too

Joy Division New Balance Sneakers Really Limited Edition: One pair only

Press Release: (via Pitchfork)

“Converse is the footwear company that was first in sports and first in rock ‘n’ roll. We are extremely proud of our history and excited about our journey into the next century. Connectivity is an exceptional global campaign that fully captures our spirit and brand ethos celebrating true originals. The campaign is bold and iconic saluting those people – past and present – who push the boundaries of creativity, who inspire originality and who embody the values of the brand.” said Geoff Cottrill, Chief Marketing Officer, Converse.

Flashback: Tasteless!:

“We wanted to communicate that Dr. Martens boots are ‘made to last,’ ” explains writer Andrew Petch, “and we discovered that these idolized musicians wore them. Showing them still wearing their Docs in heaven dramatized the boots’ durability perfectly. And, as images, they feel very iconic.”


20 Comments (further comments disabled)

#1 sly stallone says:

don't wear them to pangea!

#2 hmm says:

I don't recall ever seeing a photo of Ian Curtis wearing converse.

#3 Death Becomes Shoe says:

"I don't recall ever seeing a photo of Ian Curtis wearing converse."

Save for when he was 10, he didn't. Nor did Sid Vicious.
Maybe they should should sue.
Oh wait they can't, they're dead.
Note to future self: No shoe contracts after I expire.

#4 ubusonic says:

this is gross. just gross...

i love the sex pistols. i cant imagine my life without joy division.

but having CONVERSE use the images of a suicidal, epileptic, manic-depressive and a heroin addicted, possible murderer as the basis of an ad campaign is disgusting.

#5 The Marketing Police says:

Wow can't believe they ripped this from Doc Marten's non-starter. Couldn't they have at least waited a year?
And BTW isn't this campaign like those 'Think Different' Apple ad's, the ones with Amelia Erhardt, Ghandi etc.?
As Death Becomes Shoe so obtusely put it, it's hard to say 'no' when you're six feet under.

#6 ladeda says:

so their two icons are a dude that hung himself and a dude that shit his pants on a regular basis... dope! i want to be just like them... I should go buy some converse

#7 Dead N' Buried says:

Yo fuck these two stiffs.
Let's see the pics of Karen O! 8-)

#8 ic waters says:

between this and those other dodgy new balances it looks like poor ian has 'lost control' of his legacy.
is it me or does it look like they made Ian Curtis even skinnier in that picture?
sid sucked, overrated. idol lust for him is vapid at best. at least with other cult dead music icons they could actually play their instruments, he wasn't even on the bloody album!
oh and he murdered someone, apparently the pinnacle of rockstar hedonism.

#9 paco says:

this is so lame. and they know it. but the ads fulfilled their intentions. we're talking about it. it sucks

#10 Gonna puke! says:

this is just disgusting taking advantage of dead people who have nothing to do with this sh*****y brand. F***k converse this is just not right and why the h***l pick ian curtis? Ffs this is complete bollocks...how low can a brand like that go..? No limit ein? f***k unbelievable...

#11 plop says:

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

#12 - says:

Ian Curtis was one of the most incredibly gifted and revolutionary figures ever to walk this earth- perhaps that's why they chose him.

#13 Cannow says:

Fair do's when Kurt Kobain gets a pair of Converse - he wore them all the time... but Ian Curtis based his style of the depression in the 50s... ie fuck all to do with Converse.

I bet he'd be well pissed off to see himself stood next to that part time punk from Green Day too.

#14 yudy says:

the converse are very cool they are the best shoes in the hole world and by disgrace i only have two.I wish i had all th converse.

#15 yudy says:

I wish that all the people would knew how cool are the converse,i dont care what the people think i only know that they are so cool

#16 apo. says:

wtf. I saw today underground ads. Horrible, how they can use these icons for sponsorize converse ?

I hate them.

#17 ribbon says:

Makes me don't want to wear Converse now. They suck!!! I walked in this shoe shop and saw this giant Ian Curtis poster in converse, like just not right. And the underground as well as mentioned. Can't they come up with something else? Those shitheads!

#18 she's lost control says:

IAN CURTIS NEVER WORE CONVERSE!!!!! and it's depressing to see how low converse will go for a decent ad. photoshopping converse onto an amazing icon such as Ian Curtis is just...low.

#19 Gaaaah says:

Completely evil.
Also "Ian Curtis based his style on the depression of the 50's..."
Huh?
Think he more based it on the depression of the 70's. Manchester was pretty gloomy back then.

#20 Rachel says:

In the movie "Control", about Curtis's life, as a teenager you see him wereing Converses.

Terrible though, makes people think that they are "Creative" or "Into the whole retro punk era". This is why I buy the generic knock offs of Converse shoes.


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