The cover art of Deftones' influential album "Around the Fur" is undeniably one of the most memorable images from the 1990s. It features a striking photograph of a young woman in a jacuzzi, captured from an unusual top-down angle using a fisheye lens, creating a visually captivating effect.
In a recent video piece, Jenkem magazine embarked on a journey to uncover the story behind this iconic album cover and its model, Lisa Hughes. They made an effort to locate Hughes in the present day and also spoke with the photographer who took the shot, Rick Kosick.
Kosick shared his experience in the video, recounting how he was invited to take photographs during the recording sessions for "Around the Fur" in Seattle. He emphasized that there wasn’t any pressure to create a specific album cover image; the aim was simply to enjoy the time spent with the band and capture moments as they unfolded.
"They were in their party phase as a band — which is totally understandable — so we went back to the condo they rented during the recording. There, I spotted this girl relaxing in the jacuzzi," Kosick explained. "I just approached and snapped a couple of photos. That was it. I walked away."
A few weeks later, Kosick received a call from the record label inviting him to review something they had been working on. When he arrived, the art director, Kevin Reagan, presented him with the album cover design. "I was stunned. I thought it looked amazing. I loved it instantly — though of course I would, it's my photo! But really, looking back, I felt a sense of excitement because, after all the drafts and concepts we’d gone through, this final version was just incredible."
Hughes, on her part, clarified that she never sought out fame through this cover art. She addressed any rumors claiming she was a groupie by stating, "I saw those articles suggesting I was just some kind of groupie, and I thought, 'Why not create a little page about myself?' I want people to know I’m Lisa, just a fun-loving girl from Auburn, and there’s no groupie story here. It was just me enjoying myself!"
Reflecting on Kosick's remarkable photograph, she remarked, "It's definitely a cool shot, right? With that fisheye perspective looking down, it has a bit of a risqué vibe with my breasts showing. Some have pointed out things like, 'Oh, look, you have a pimple there,' and I just think, 'So what?' What does that even matter? I’m a human being, not a model, and honestly, I don’t care. That’s who I am. The overall image looks fantastic, especially with my legs in the hot tub—it’s just an awesome visual."
But here's where it gets interesting: do you think images like this can shape perceptions about women in rock music? Should artists be more mindful of how they depict subjects in their work? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
