Frank Kozik, a graphic artist, died last Saturday (5/6/2023). Kozik’s death was confirmed on his official Instagram account by his wife, Sharon, who said his passing was “unexpected.” No cause of death was given.
Frank Kozik was a Spanish born American graphic artist best known for his posters for alternative rock bands. Kozik was born in Madrid, Spain. His father was an American serviceman, and his mother was Spanish. In 1976, at age 15, he moved to Sacramento, California to live with his father. After dropping out of high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force at age 18 and was stationed in Austin, Texas, where he later settled. After leaving the Air Force, Kozik worked as a doorman at an Austin nightclub, becoming part of the city’s underground rock scene. He first gained attention as a self trained underground artist in the early 1980s, making flyers and posters for Austin punk bands.
Kozik moved to San Francisco in 1993, where he started a print shop and founded Man’s Ruin Records, which would release more than 200 records by punk and alternative bands. He folded the label in 2001 to focus on fine art. As his profile grew, Kozik worked with Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Melvins, The Offspring, Butthole Surfers, and Helmet.
Kozik designed many album covers, including Houdini, by the Melvins, Queens of the Stone Age‘s 1998 self titled debut Queens of the Stone Age, and The Offspring’s Americana. He directed the music video for Soundgarden‘s song Pretty Noose.
Kozik published several books including Man’s Ruin: Posters and Art by Frank Kozik and Desperate Measures Empty Pleasures. Kozik has been described as “one of the rock world’s top poster artists”, and interviewed in Rolling Stone. Kozik created Smorkin’ Labbit and was the Creative Director of Kidrobot. Although primarily known for his screen prints, a rare painting of the Labbit sold on the TV blind auction show Four Rooms for £4,000. Kozik had been a force in the designer toy movement, with many of his works produced in that form. Kozik was also a member of the Stuckism art movement.
The music video for Pretty Noose was directed by Frank Kozik. Kozik had previously been known for his work on posters and album art. The video blends animation with various scenes of the band members in a bar, an exotic dancer, Cameron riding a motorcycle, Shepherd being arrested, a tattoo parlor, and Cornell in a bedroom. In the original version of the video, Cornell is shown killing a woman. The video was released in May 1996. MTV refused to show the full video, as it ends with an apparent murder. MuchMusic was given a revised version for its channel. Kozik said that the video was censored because it was “too heavy” for the “dipshits at MTV“. He added, “They got a dead girl in that lame Stabbing Westward video so I don’t understand their problem.” An alternative international version of the music video for “Pretty Noose” was released. This version was directed by Henry Shepherd (bass guitarist Ben Shepherd‘s brother), who had previously co-directed the My Wave music video for the band.
Frank Kozik (January 9, 1962 – May 6, 2023)
