The document analyzes the cover of a Kerrang! magazine featuring the band My Chemical Romance. It discusses several key elements of the cover layout and design, including the placement of the band members and masthead, use of fonts, colors, banners and buttons. The analysis concludes that the cover is designed to portray My Chemical Romance as the main focus and sell the magazine to their fans, while also appealing to readers interested in the other bands featured. The overall design aims to create a "rough around the edges" feel consistent with rock music.

1. Kerrang! Front Page Analysis
Meghan Moore

2. The image is a studio shot, as we can tell
from the white background behind the
band that is most likely going to be some
kind of backdrop. There are four people
in the main cover image. Gerard Way is
at the front of the other band members,
as he is the front man of the band as well
as the lead singer. However, although
the other band members are in the
background, we can see still all their
faces. This demonstrates that the other
band members are still important, but
Gerard is the most.
All of the members on the front cover
are using direct address and have been
photographed mid-shot. This gives the
impression that you are on a par with
the band. Gerard is positioned holding
on to the collar of his jacket- this is a
very “cool” look. His facial expression is
neutral but slightly antagonizing, as if he
is ready to start the fight, adding to his
cool look. He also has an eyebrow
raised as if he is asking you something
with his eyes. Behind him, in the mid-
ground, Frank Iero and Mikey Way are
both positioned side on, but have their
faces turned towards the camera. They
both have very similar neutral facial
expressions to Gerard, with Frank’s chin
pointed upwards in a similar
antagonizing way. Ray Toro is in the
background, facing straight towards the
camera, again with a very neutral, cool
expression. With the unity of their facial
expressions, they give the impression of
a typically “cool” group. However, with
the whole group looking into the
camera, you get the impression that they
are ready for a fight, which adds to the
cool rock and roll persona they are giving
off, as rock bands are usually considered
as rebellious.
The band’s costumes are a mix of bright
and dark colours. Gerard’s bright red
hair is contrasted by the blue of his
jacket, and the brown driving gloves
compliment it. Due to Mikey’s pale
complexion, the red of his jacket comes
out very bright, and is complimented by
the yellow on his t-shirt and his platinum
blonde hair. Frank’s outfit is dark which
is very distinct compared to the
brightness of Mikey’s and Gerard’s
outfits. His hair is partially covering his
eye, which seems quite defensive. He is
in dark green and black. Although
people could say that it doesn’t fit with a
theme, due to it’s contrasting nature it
works very well. Ray’s outfit can’t be
seen behind the rest of the band
member’s other than a small dark collar-
we can assume he is also wearing dark
colours like Frank. However, we can see
that his face is framed by his iconic, dark
curly hair. The use of dark colours and
bright colours could be demonstrating
two sides to the band and demonstrates
that they are each unique members
working together as a collective. For
fan’s of the band, there is lots of iconic
things that could be picked out, but
according to genre, there is very little,
except for the startling tattoo on the
side of Frank’s neck. Tattoo’s have
always been a large part of punk and
rock culture, as it was considered
rebellious to have tattoos and piercings.
Cover Image

3. The masthead is placed behind the
band’s heads. Although this means we
can’t read the whole of the title, the
masthead is iconic in regards to the
magazine, so would still be noticeable to
a regular reader. It is also noticeable as
it is the only black and white thing on the
page. It also shows that the creator
considered the band to be more
important than the title, and more likely
to get people to pick up the magazine
than the name.
The cover lines are presented as banners
here, and there are only four of them.
This highlights that the band is the main
focus for the cover and are the most
important. This is probably because it is
being labelled as “the return” of the
band which is why they’re so important.
The fact that the band’s name is bigger
than the rest of the name demonstrates
the importance of the “named brand”
being used to interest the reader. The
use of a lightning symbol behind the
name demonstrates that it is very
exciting and electric. The band being
the main focus is also highlighted by the
use of the button that labels the story as
a “world exclusive. The effect of paint
dripping gives the impression of the
magazine having been grafitti-ed which
further confirms the image of the
magazine being one of going against the
rules. The story concerning Green Day
with a small thumbnail of Billie Joe
Armstrong’s face doing a silly expression
is still at the top and, though a lot
smaller, is obviously still important. The
fact that Billie Joe is doing a silly face
highlights that the magazine is not
particularly serious.
We can also see a banner at the bottom
with a list of the other bands being
mentioned inside the magazine. This
makes it seem like there is a lot packed
inside the magazine and also advertises
to those who don’t like My Chemical
Romance.
They also have the ripped effect banner
straight across the cover, which has
thumbnails of a number of different
posters within, which would perhaps
attract an audience that liked those
bands who would want posters of them.
The ripped effect gives the iconic punk-
rock effect of the magazine being
disheveled and edgy.
There are two different sans-serif fonts
being used on the magazine, not
including the font used on the masthead.
This gives a sense of unity on the front
cover. The entirety of the text is in caps
locks which gives the impression of the
article being urgent and exciting. The
use of a seemingly faded font on “PLUS!”
and “MASTERS OF NOISE” is used in the
same way as the dripping button and the
ripped banner. It is also highlighted by
the use of symbols such as a lightning
sign inside the O and an explosion
symbol behind the word plus.
The main colours on the magazine are
red and yellow, as well as black and
white. These colours are complimentary
and continue the theme of unity through
the magazine. They are also bright
colours which will attract the eye to the
magazine. It also continues the theme
of bright colours in the outfits worn by
My Chemical Romance.
Text

4. The masthead is placed behind the
band’s head which demonstrates that
they are more important than the title
and they are what is going to sell the
magazine.
They have two small banners parallel on
the page. Although the banners are
small and therefore less important than
the main article, they are still noticeable
due to the yellow background. This
appeals to an audience who are not
interested in My Chemical Romance, but
are interested in Green Day (it’s
contrasting in red) or in any of the other
bands at the button.
The button that says “World Exclusive”
has been placed in between Ray Toro’s
and Frank Iero’s face. Frank’s head is
still on top of the button. This
demonstrates that they still need to
highlight that the article is a world
exclusive but the band is more important
than the majority of the text. It is also
noticeable as it is a bright yellow on top
of the black Kerrang! masthead.
“The Return of My Chemical Romance”
is right across the band’s cover image.
The use of this under their heads
demonstrate that these are the
members of the band My Chemical
Romance. This particular banner seems
to be at the top of the hierarchy of
items, even more so than the title, due
to the size of the item and the fact that it
covers even the band, which none of the
other items did. The masthead is
probably the next item in the hierarchy
as it is the only thing in black and white
and is also huge.
Although “World Exclusive” is an
extremely small button, it is still next in
the hierarchy of items since it is so close
to the band’s heads and is linked to the
main article. The next item is the
poster’s banner and then finally, the tiny
parallel banners at the top and bottom.
Layout

5. The genre of music that the magazine is
reporting on is first made clear by the
use of fonts for the title, as well as the
banners. The use of a cracked glass
effect and the rough sides of the button
and poster banner demonstrates a
rough, rock music edge to the whole
magazine. Although the costumes of
the band could be considered pop due to
the bright colours and lack of extreme
make-up, we could also say they still link
to a rock idea of magazines as the
costumes seem more of a fantasy
element than something people would
wear outside. Also, Gerard’s bright red,
messy hair also give an impression of the
band being rough. All of this gives the
magazine an extremely rock and roll
image, that uses lots of subtle
iconography, majorly pointing out a
“rough around the edges” feel to a lot of
rock music.
The audience is going to be fans of rock
music, however it is also most likely to
be teenagers, particularly girls. This is
because the majority of pictures on the
front cover are of males, and attractive
ones at that. The bands are also made
up mostly younger men, or younger
looking men. Although this will attract a
typically male audience who enjoy the
music as they will want to emulate and
imitate the bands on the front cover, it is
also very likely to attract girls who will
find the men on the front attractive and
will become very excited over the
members.
The front cover seems very ordered as
everything has it’s place. However, it
also seems to very silly and fun due to
the explosion and lightning symbols, and
the silly faces made by some members
of bands on the front cover. Everything
except the title is very clear, large and to
the point, meaning it can be read in a
hurry and quickly picked up.
General