10 banned album covers Racy zippers, smoking cherubs, and ? heaven forefend ? vulgar lavatories are just a few of the bizarre reasons behind the banning of these album covers. By Rachel Thompson 01 May 2015 ? 1:14pm Racy zippers, smoking cherubs, and ? heaven forefend ? vulgar lavatories are just a few of the bizarre reasons behind the banning of these album covers. By Rachel Thompson The Mamas & the Papas ? If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears (1966) This album cover caused an uproar in 1966 due to the supposed indecent inclusion of a lavatory, which contravened the mores of the time. A second cover was later released with a list of hit songs to obscure the lavatory, but sadly no remedy was sought for the album’s obscene abuse of the apostrophe Bruce Springsteen ? Born in the USA (1984) American Republicans didn't take too kindly to this cover as they believed the photo, taken by Annie Leibovitz, showed Springsteen urinating on the American flag. Others were more fixated on the firmness of Springsteen's buttocks The Rolling Stones ? Sticky Fingers (1971) Designed by Andy Warhol, this sleeve caused outrage because of its racy zipper. Censors banned the cover in Spain during Franco’s repressive regime as the cover was believed to be 'offensive for the Catholic church' Van Halen ? 1984 (1984) This album cover features a cherub holding a cigarette in its hand. After attracting a great deal of complaints, stickers were placed over the cherub’s hand and the pack of cigarettes The Rolling Stones ? Beggars Banquet (1968) This cover caused something of a stir due to the indefensibly-vulgar photo of a public lavatory: an unspeakable offence to British values during the 1960s The Residents ? The Third Reich N’ Roll (1976) Though this album was not intended as a political statement, the swastika on its cover did not go down well in Germany, and retailers there refused to stock it Pink Floyd ? Wish You Were Here (1975) Retailers banned this album as it was deemed 'too violent', despite the fact that neither men appear fazed by the fact that one of them is on fire The Beautiful South ? Welcome to the Beautiful South (1989) Woolworths banned this album cover because they believed the image of a man smoking would encourage people to take up smoking. Surprisingly, the image of a woman with a gun in her mouth was deemed less shocking, but offensive nonetheless. A second cover featuring a fluffy rabbit and teddy bear was issued in its stead Poison ? Open Up and Say… Ahh! (1988) Tame by modern standards, this cover was apparently too 'raunchy' for some retailers and Walmart banned the album for its inappropriate cover art Aerosmith ? Nine Lives (1997) The Hindu community were angered by this album cover as they felt the artwork - derived from Hindu imagery and bastardised with a superimposed cat’s head - was offensive. The band were unaware of the artwork’s source and swiftly issued an apology before issuing a newly-designed cover Twitter Icon Facebook Icon WhatsApp Icon Email Icon Comment speech bubble