Jamie Reid, graphic designer for Sex Pistols, dies at 76

Jamie Reid, the graphic designer who defined the visual identity of the Sex Pistols and the punk movement, died on August 8, 2023, in Liverpool at age 76. Born in London in 1947, Reid studied at Croydon School of Art before leaving to co-found the anarchist publication Suburban Press. His DIY aesthetic—influenced by Situationism, Futurism, and Dadaism—featured torn, photocopied images, bright backgrounds, and ransom-note typography. Malcolm McLaren, his former classmate and Sex Pistols manager, commissioned him to create the band's visual identity. Reid designed the iconic cover for the 1977 album "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols" and singles "Anarchy in the UK" and "God Save the Queen," which defaced Queen Elizabeth II's portrait and the English flag with rips and safety pins. He also created graphics for the 1980 mockumentary "The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle" directed by Julien Temple. Later collaborations included the Afro Celt Sound System, artist Shepard Fairey (Obey), and in 2021, the clothing brand Supreme. His work is held by Tate Modern, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.