Uniformed Youth Group Advertisements: Non-existent Groups

Figure 1.--This image from a Jefferson Starship albumn shows what looks to be an English Cub Scout, but appears in fact to be a made-up uniform. At least we can not identify it.

Advertisers because of the various youth group regulations and trade mark regulations will often create a uniform made to look like a youth group uniform, usually a Cub or Scout uniform. This is a common convention when the advertisers desire to create the impresson of a youth group in their promotion.

Cover Industry

LP vinyl covers during the late 1960s, especially the 70s and the 80s were a fine industry that left a definitive mark in the annals of modern contemporary art. These coverst encompassed many disciplines - photography, airbrushing, classical and modern art techniques, props, locations, graphics and much more. Before the advent of the digital age, makers of LP covers went to prodigious and extra-ordinary lengths to capture the essence and the concept of the bands/groups music. As in the case of Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here', the shoot required one model to be on fire. This was done but they could not extinguish the fire and the person nearly got badly burnt. Another incident; a band member nearly drowns...There are legions of outrageous stories of mishaps, personality clashes, vast sums of money, brushes with the law and triumphs to capture their perceived view of the right LP cover. Some covers have become modern icons and classics in their own right.

Of particular note of LP cover art designers (of which there is many), is the company 'Hypgnosis' who was the forerunner of legendary and radical LP cover design; i.e. Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon', Led Zeppelin's 'Houses of the Holy' and many more. Another renowed LP cover artist is Roger Dean - well known for the group's 'Yes' LP covers and others.

Jefferson Starship Albumn

Whilst I don't know what the message of Jefferson Starship's LP cover is to convey, it deserves merit to comment upon. The albumn was released in 1979. The picture shows the boy running after a hologram type object. The shoot was done on a U.S. Coastguard cutter. In the inner sleeve of the album there is a picture of the Star Scout boy (from the back) presumably giving the object he managed to catch to members of the band. He is also now wearing a silver windbreaker with his uniform.

Uniform

The boy on the Jefferson Starship cover looks to be a Cub Scout. He wears a blue uniform without piping. The red scarve clearly identifies him as a member of a Scout-like group. The only available destinctive badge is a round shoulder patch that we can not make out. He is not a British Cub as thy wear green sweaters and grey shorts. He is not an American Cub. American Cubs have blue uniforms but the uniforms have either yellow piping are destinctive pockets on the shirt and pants. Also an American Cub would never wear grey kneesocks. We thus assume it is a made up uniform. At least we can not identify it.

The uniform the boy wears is essentially modelled on Robert Baden Powell's British scout uniform but is Americanized with the colours. The snappy looking black shorts and shirt look most attractive with the red cravat. What makes it more eye catching is the bold police type flash on top of the shirt sleeve. According to the info on the album sleeve, it's the uniform of a 'Star Scout'. We have never heard of Star Scouts. It does seem though that the grey British type knee socks are not part of the uniform. The track shoes also look somewhat informal.

Andre