In response to Aerosmith’s deep concern and dismay at the notion of having offended any religious group by the image on the cover of their recently released album, Nine Lives, the five band members have requested that their record label, Columbia Records, immediately cease manufacturing the cover artwork. They also asked that the image be replaced in all future manufacturing runs with a new and completely different design.
The original album cover image, as presented to Aerosmith, was selected for its aesthetic qualities and its consistency with both the album’s conceptual and graphic themes. Up until the time of the album’s release, the band was unaware that this particular image was inspired by an original painting in a book written by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and published by the Bhaktivedanta Trust, an affiliated organization. Upon being informed of the origin of this image, the band, in order to avoid any perceived infringements or potential conflict or embarrassment for any group, went through all of the proper channels to obtain licensing approvals for its use from this Trust. Having obtained this permission Aerosmith believed that no further issues existed.
At no point in the development of the album packaging did the band, or anyone else involved in this project, intend to harm or show disrespect to the Hindu community or any other religious group, nor did they intend to denigrate any religious image.
Aerosmith sincerely apologizes for any offense, however unintended, caused by the Nine Lives artwork.