'Make War Not Love'
The story behind the iconic cover art of the Smiths' Meat Is Murder Studio Album
Interviewer: “Where did the image come from on the cover of the LP [Meat Is Murder]? That makes a link between war and, well, meat is murder.”
Morrissey: "Yes, it does. And the link is that I feel animal rights groups aren't making any dramatic headway because most of their methods are quite peaceable, excluding one or two things. It seems to me now that when you try to change things in a peaceable manner, you're actually wasting your time and you're laughed out of court. And it seems to me now that as the image of the LP hopefully illustrates, the only way that we can get rid of such things as the meat industry, and other things like nuclear weapons, is by really giving people a taste of their own medicine.” - Morrissey, Melody Maker, March 16 , 1985
A still photograph from the documentary film In the Year of the Pig featuring Marine Corporal Michael Wynn was used for the cover of the Smiths' second studio album, Meat Is Murder (1985). The graffiti on Wynn's helmet was changed from “make war not love” to "meat is murder" for the album cover.
An American film directed by Emile de Antonio1 about American involvement in the Vietnam War, In the Year of the Pig was released in early 1969 while the U.S. was at the height of its military engagement in southeast Asia, and was politically controversial. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1969; however, the award went to Arthur Rubinstein – The Love of Life, a 1969 documentary about the Polish-American pianist Arthur Rubinstein.
The film, which was shot in black and white, contains much historical footage and many interviews. The film was greeted with hostility by many audiences, with bomb threats and vandalism directed at theaters that showed it. When confronted with the charge that In the Year of the Pig had a leftist perspective, Emile de Antonio conceded the point, replying: “Only God is objective, and he doesn’t make films.”
Watch In the Year of the Pig here:
While the practice of decorating military helmets dates back centuries, it was particularly common among US troops deployed to southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. While decorating or defacing military gear was technically prohibited, most commanding officers of soldiers in the field turned a blind eye to the practice as long as it did not reflect negatively upon the unit. The nature of the helmet graffiti in Vietnam began to develop antiwar sentiments as America's involvement dragged on.
The designs and slogans on helmets varied widely; from simple initials and insignia to elaborate illustrations and slogans. Some soldiers painted scenes of home or loved ones, while others depicted violent or provocative imagery. One of the most famous examples of helmet art from the Vietnam War is the “Death Card” design, popularized by the 1st Cavalry Division.
.
Some unit commanders deemed the practice as a distraction at best, while others saw it as a blatant violation of military protocol, ordering soldiers to remove their helmet art or face disciplinary action.
The cover star of the Meat Is Murder album was born on January 17, 1947 and grew up in Marion, Ohio. Michael Wynn enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1966. Wynn has stated that his motivation to join was a mixture of patriotism and a desire for excitement and adventure.
Michael Wynn served in the First Battalion, Third Marines, earning three Purple Heart medals for wounds received in combat. He rose to the role of Sergeant by the time he left the Marine Corps in 1970.
After his time in the Marine Corps, Wynn went to college and got a Bachelors Degree. He then worked as a fireman in southern California for nearly 10 years before moving to Australia in 1982. Wynn is now retired and lives a quiet life near a small rural town in Queensland.
The photograph of Wynn that appears on the cover of Meat Is Murder was taken in Da Nang, South Vietnam on September 21, 1967 during Operation Ballistic Charge2. Needless to say, Wynn’s slogan on his helmet was intended as a dig towards the antiwar hippie counter-culture of the 1960s.
In 2019 Wynn stated:
"I am proud of being a Marine and my service in Vietnam… It took me longer than it should
