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Artwork by Storm Thorgerson for Mars Volta's album Frances The Mute

Mars Volta photographer Storm Thorgerson (1944-2013)

Catalogue No: MVOL002ST Artist(s): The Mars Volta Location: Stewartby, Bedfordshire, England Date: 2004 Era: The 2000's Edition: Storm Thorgerson 20/20 Edition Print type: Giclée Print Paper type: Archival 310gsm cotton based rag paper

Album cover for Mars Volta's 'Frances the Mute' created in Bedfordshire, UK in 2004 by Storm Thorgerson. Storm Thorgerson recalled, "What is there to say about The Mars Volta? An extra ordinary coupling: exotic, extravagant, improvising, unrestrained but as tight as a drum when they need to be - a heady mix of styles woven together at a frenetic pace but interspersed with unexpected longeurs. spun around a story for a film never made for which this, their record, is the soundtrack. One of the aspects of the story was addiction and although it had specific references it also had universal connotations, one of which interested me greatly, namely the idea that the addicted party thinks he’s alright and is in control, knows where he’s headed even though still addicted and therefore probably doesn’t have a fucking clue. I imagined car drivers navigating their way through town i.e., through life, thinking they are steering a safe path but in fact having no idea where they are going, i.e., drivers wearing custom hoods - not hoods to hide their identity but nicely made velvet accessories that simply and surreally prevent them from seeing or having any idea of where they were driving. Since this is a general malaise and not a one-off event, all the drivers in town are similarly hooded and in our picture they can be seen passing each other as if in normal traffic, blithely unaware it would seem of impending collisions. No secret society here, no evil to be prosecuted. but inhabitants in a world of velvet delusion. What you see is what you get, although the hooded drivers can’t see what they’re getting. Soiled suits and old American cars added a slight retro feeling in an attempt to be timeless as per the perils of addiction be it to gambling or to causes or even to nicotine...and so say all of us."

This is a limited edition of 20 prints. The remaining prints available in the edition are numbered and come complete with a certified Storm Thorgerson estate stamp. 

Please contact us at info@rockarchive.com for our current availability of limited edition prints signed by Storm Thorgerson

Size Price



A1 £800.00
Please note prices exclude VAT. All EU, USA and other non-UK countries will be charged the above prices at checkout. 20% VAT will be applied at checkout to UK purchases only.
  • Print type

    At Rockarchive we carefully select the best print-type to optimise each individual photograph. We have chosen to print this image as a giclée fine art print produced in our London studio.

    A giclée print is the most popular way of producing great quality collectable prints in the digital age. It is produced is by scanning an original negative. The image is then outputed onto the chosen paper using specialist inks to make a beautiful archival print. 

    Paper type

    This giclée print will be produced on archival 310gsm cotton based rag paper. Photo Rag paper is the most popular choices amongst professional printers as it produces high quality fine art prints with excellent clarity and depth.  

    'A series' print paper sizes

    Our prints are available in a variety of sizes. Please see below for specific measurements for the 'A series' of paper sizes.

    A3 (11.7" x 16.5" inches) (29.7 cm x 42.0 cm)
    A2 (16.5" x 23.4" inches) (42.0 cm x 59.4 cm)
    A1 (23.4" x 33.1" inches) (59.4 cm x 84.1 cm)
    A0 (33.1" x 46.8" inches) (84.1 cm x 118.9 cm)

    Please note all our sizes refer to the paper size of the print produced not the image size unless otherwise stated.

  • Delivery

    Delivery charges are added during the checkout process and calculated on a 'by country' basis.

    We aim to dispatch all our prints as soon as possible. If we have the requested print in stock we will arrange to post within a few days. However, in some cases we may require a photographer to sign or send us a print, it will take a little longer to be delivered. In these instances we will notify the customer of when they are likely to receive a print.

    It you have any queries regarding delivery charges or need a print delivered by a specific date, please let us know and we will do our best to sort this out.

  • VAT

    VAT (Value Added Tax) is a tax added to prints and other goods that are delivered to the UK.  

    Prints delivered to countries outside of the UK do not have VAT charged to them.

    Our prices are displayed excluding VAT, so for orders outside of the UK the price shown is the price that will be charged. For UK orders VAT is added during checkout.

    The current UK rate of VAT is 20%. Import charges may apply to orders delivered outside of the EU. Books are exempt from being charged VAT.

    If you have any queries regading VAT please email info@rockarchive.com

  • Framing

    A great print deserves a great frame. At Rockarchive we would be delighted to advise you on how best to select the right frame for your print. Please just let us know when you place your order or contact us once you have received your print and we will discuss the various options with you.

    If you live in London we can arrange to get your print framed for you. Once the print is framed you can either collect it from our London Rockarchive Studio, in Kentish Town or we can arrange for it to be delivered to your London address (at an extra charge).

    If you live elsewhere in the UK, we can arrange to get smaller sized prints framed and shipped to you. However due to postage regulations acrylic (eg perspex) rather than glass needs to be used in the frame.

    If you live outside of the UK, we are sorry we are unable to ship framed prints to you.

    For all framing enquiries please contact us at info@rockarchive.com or call us on +44 (0) 20 7267 4716


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