Best SPIN Covers

By Every Day StoryJuly 10, 202630 items

About this list

The most memorable SPIN Magazine covers feature cool photographs, sexy celebrity shots, and innovative designs. Spanning the publication's history, these best covers provide a good overview of SPIN's stories and issues. Iconic covers capture historic and cultural landmarks, including rare and hard-to-find classics, as well as popular and famous ones. Famous figures on the covers document major world events and news stories. Fashion, technology, and societal trends influence the art and design, but SPIN's signature font, layout, and style set it apart. Vote for your favorite vintage covers based on design, news stories, or recognition. Missing one? Add it to the list!

1
Kurt Cobain
SPIN - April 2004
Anything
🔥 39 up · 23 down
Also ranks #1 on Famous Aberdeen High School Alumni · #1 on Members Of The 27 Club · #1 on Famous Friends of Dave Grohl
16
2
My Chemical Romance
SPIN - March 17, 2009
Anything
🔥 34 up · 24 down
Also ranks #1 on Best Emo Bands · #1 on The 36 Best Emo Bands Of The 2000s, Ranked · #1 on Famous Jersey City Bands
10
3
Gerard Way
Anything
🔥 37 up · 27 down
Also ranks #3 on 70+ Famous Aries Singers · #3 on 13 Writers Who Had Awesome Jobs Before They Became Comic Book Superstars · #4 on Famous People Named Gerard
10
4
Hayley Williams
SPIN - July 2010
Anything
🔥 31 up · 27 down
Also ranks #2 on 50+ Celebrities Born Dec 27 · #3 on Famous Female Lyricists · #4 on 45+ Singers Who Are Capricorns
4
5
Joan Jett
SPIN - May 1987
Anything
🔥 16 up · 12 down
Also ranks #1 on Famous Guitarists from Philadelphia · #2 on 50+ Celebrities Born on September 22 · #2 on Famous Philly Bands
4
6
Red Hot Chili Peppers
SPIN - May 2006
Anything
🔥 26 up · 23 down
Also ranks #1 on California Reggae Bands List · #1 on Best Funk Rock Bands · #1 on California Punk Rock Bands List
3
7
Billie Joe Armstrong
SPIN - April 2010
Anything
🔥 32 up · 30 down
Also ranks #3 on Who Is The Most Famous Armstrong? · #3 on Singers Who Had Meltdowns on Stage · #3 on Celebrities in Orange County, California
2
8
Brandon Flowers
SPIN - January 2006
Anything
🔥 27 up · 25 down
Also ranks #3 on Most Famous Brandon · #3 on Best Utah Musical Artists · #3 on 19 Musicians and Singers Who Are Mormon
2
9
Purple Rain
SPIN - June 2009
Anything
🔥 20 up · 18 down
Also ranks #1 on 20 Essential 1980s Albums, Ranked · #1 on Billboard #1 U.S. Albums 1985 · #5 on Billboard #1 U.S. Albums 1984
2
10
Dave Grohl
Anything
🔥 16 up · 14 down
Also ranks #1 on 15 Hilarious Interview Moments · #1 on 14 Sweet Stories About Famous Musicians 2023 · #1 on Famous Guitarists from Ohio
2
11
Florence + the Machine
SPIN - January 2010
Anything
🔥 10 up · 11 down▲ 3 above editor
Also ranks #1 on Best Rock Bands on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts, Ranked · #2 on Best Folk Artists on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts, Ranked · #3 on English Indie Pop Bands List
-1
12
Scott Weiland
SPIN - June 2010
Anything
🔥 19 up · 21 down
Also ranks #2 on Musicians Who Died in 2015 · #2 on Celebrities Who Died in 2015 · #3 on 50+ Celebrities Born on October 27
-2
13
Steven Tyler
SPIN - January 1998
Anything
🔥 12 up · 14 down▲ 2 above editor
Also ranks #1 on Celebrities Who Live in Boston · #1 on 12 Great Singers Who Lost Their Voice · #1 on Wildest Reveals From Musicians' Memoirs
-2
14
Pearl Jam
SPIN - April 18, 2010
Anything
🔥 18 up · 21 down▼ 1 below editor
Also ranks #1 on Famous US Bands · #2 on Famous Seattle Bands · #2 on Best Dad Rock Bands Ranked
-3
15
Madonna
SPIN - May 1985
Anything
🔥 33 up · 37 down▼ 4 below editor
Also ranks #1 on Celebrities Who Have Written Children's Books · #1 on 250+ Virgo Moon Celebrities · #1 on The Most Overrated Artists of the 80s
-4
16
M.I.A.
Anything
🔥 11 up · 15 down▲ 1 above editor
Also ranks #3 on Celebrities Who Practice Hinduism · #3 on 28 Rappers with Degrees · #3 on Best Funk Carioca Bands
-4
17
Tegan and Sara
Anything
🔥 8 up · 12 down▲ 5 above editor
Also ranks #1 on Canadian New Wave Bands List · #1 on Famous Gay Twins · #1 on Famous Calgary Bands
-4
18
Nick Rhodes
SPIN - February 1987
Anything
🔥 7 up · 11 down▲ 5 above editor
Also ranks #18 on Famous Birmingham Bands · #19 on Greatest Keytarists of All Time · #45 on Most Famous Nick Or Nicholas
-4
19
Aerosmith
Anything
🔥 4 up · 8 down▲ 8 above editor
Also ranks #1 on Boston's Famous Bands · #1 on Best Musical Artists From Massachusetts · #1 on 14 Questions From History We're Glad We Finally Asked - And Answered
-4
20
Lily Allen
SPIN - February 2009
Anything
🔥 13 up · 18 down▼ 4 below editor
Also ranks #3 on 14 Celebrities Who Had Stillborn Babies · #3 on Rupert Grint's Dating History · #3 on 50 Celebrities Born on May 2
-5
21
James Murphy
SPIN - January 2011
Anything
🔥 11 up · 16 down▼ 3 below editor
Also ranks #25 on 50+ Celebrities Born on February 4 · #25 on Most Famous Murphy · #33 on Famous US Disc Jockeys
-5
22
Kings of Leon
SPIN - November 2010
Anything
🔥 8 up · 13 down▲ 2 above editor
Also ranks #1 on Brother Bands Ranked: Peaceful To Post-Nuclear · #5 on Pop Stars' Most Embarrassing On-Stage Moments · #5 on Best Musical Artists From Tennessee
-5
23
Johnny Knoxville
SPIN - February 2011
Anything
🔥 8 up · 14 down▲ 2 above editor
Also ranks #1 on Jackass Crew Ranked · #2 on 50+ Celebrities Born on March 11 · #2 on Jackass Members: Where Are They Now?
-6
24
Lenny Kravitz
SPIN - September 2011
Anything
🔥 6 up · 12 down▲ 4 above editor
Also ranks #1 on Most Famous Lenny · #3 on Actors Talk About Crossing Paths Before They Were Famous · #3 on 50+ Celebrities Born on May 26
-6
25
Kanye West
SPIN - December 2007
Anything
🔥 5 up · 11 down▲ 4 above editor
Also ranks #1 on Best Hip-Hop Producers Turned Rappers · #1 on Rappers With Their Own Shoe Lines · #1 on Famous Male Designers
-6
26
Arcade Fire
SPIN - October 2010
Anything
🔥 3 up · 9 down▲ 4 above editor
Also ranks #1 on Canadian Indie Pop Bands List · #2 on Famous Bands from Montreal · #4 on Bands That Are (Or Were) Couples
-6
27
Lykke Li
SPIN - March 2011
Anything
🔥 13 up · 20 down▼ 8 below editor
Also ranks #3 on Famous People Named Li · #13 on 50+ Celebrities Born on March 18 · #17 on Best Electro Pop Bands & Artists
-7
28
Eminem
Anything
🔥 11 up · 18 down▼ 8 below editor
Also ranks #1 on 25+ Shortest Rappers Of All Time · #1 on Who Do You Want On Carpool Karaoke? · #1 on Best Mainstream Rappers
-7
29
Pete Wentz
SPIN - December 2005
Anything
🔥 10 up · 17 down▼ 8 below editor
Also ranks #1 on Famous New Trier High School Alumni · #1 on 15 Photos of Male Celebs Without Makeup · #2 on Famous DePaul University Alumni
-7
30
Sleigh Bells
SPIN - March 2012
Anything
🔥 9 up · 16 down▼ 4 below editor
Also ranks #7 on Best Noise Pop Bands/Artists · #12 on Best Indie Duos · #52 on Best Lo-fi Bands/Artists
-7

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