Swiftly following the Home Ministry ban on the 1967 album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience Axis: Bold as Love, the supervisor of one of KL’s most popular music stores has revealed that there are at least two other classic albums that have received similar censorship from the authorities due to their album cover art, released by David Bowie and Bob Marley.
Supervisor at Mid Valley Megamall’s Rock Corner outlet, Sulaiman Ahmad Junid, told The Malay Mail Online‘s Boo Su-Lyn that the album covers gracing David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs (originally released in 1974) and Bob Marley and The Wailers’ Kaya (1978) albums have been barred from sale and distribution.
“There’s a small picture of a burning joint (of ganja) on the back cover of Bob Marley’s album. For David Bowie’s ‘Diamond Dogs’, the cover is not allowed in because it shows a picture of his face on the body of a dog,” Sulaiman said.
“When we get the products, we just get the box and the CDs. The covers have been seized,” he added.
Yesterday it was revealed that due to complaints from Hindu religious groups, the Home Ministry had banned the distribution and sale of The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s 1967 album Axis: Bold as Love album due to what is perceived to be offiensive depictions of Hendrix and his bandmates juxtaposed on a painting of the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu.
The posters for the album, displayed by bookseller and organiser of the popular Big Bad Wolf book fairs BookXcess at their event in Penang, have been seized. BookXcess has since apologised to the public for their insensitivity.
Album cover art for David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs
Front and back cover art for Bob Marley and The Wailers’ Kaya album
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The Home Ministry has banned a 1967 Jimi Hendrix album for insulting Hindus
