Grafix Jam - John Rios

mia97.1 logo

Back in the day, I used to do a pile of graphics for WRIF radio in Detroit. At the time, their art/marketing director was Nikki VanDoran. Nikki and I created some of the coolest graphics that ever came out of Detroit radio or Rock and Roll radio anywhere period. We did posters, Tshirts, vehicle graphics, stickers, Mobile billboards and created art years ago, that is still used to this day on WRIF.

Nikki has since moved on to AZ working for Clear Channel (I miss her, she is top shelf). The other day, Nikki called looking for a new logo for a New Spanish formatt radio station called Mia 97.1. Of course, I jumped to work with her again. Final logo posted above.

I wish her much success with Mia.  (CLICK HERE FOR MIA WEB LINK)

Small WRIF sample below.

Rios WRIF sample

zombie boy

rocker girl

I love to draw “Just for me” as much as I can. The illustrations in this post are the result of some time I took to draw just for my own enjoyment. They started out with no real direction, purpose or goal. I was hanging out after a long day of making things happen for the rest of the world, usually after 10:00pm and just stated pencil sketches. 

Rocker girl and Zombie boy, LOL, are the result. Hope you enjoy. Don’t read too much into them. They’re just fun.

crue fest 2 stage art

I’ve been waiting for the right time to write this post. I received one of the best gigs I’ve ever had this past June. I was contacted by someone I’d worked for in the past, while creating the back drops for “Ted Nugents last two tours”, Megan, the president of  ”THE” production house for all things stage and show, contacted me because she liked the way I had prepped and illustrated the digital files for Ted’s shows. She got the contract to produce that backdrops for Crue Fest 2, but they needed an artist to pull off the project correctly, in a timely manner, so she called me.

I worked with a technical and creative genius named Scott to design and illustrate his vision. The result is the set of crue fest 2. The green “Dr. Feel Good” hospital tiles. The peeling paint, grungy, dirty graphics. The Steam Punk second set, etc.. I did the math and all together there are nearly enough graphics to reach from one end of a football field to the other. 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I grew up in a small town before the days of MTV, the internet, etc. We had to wait for magazines or the midnight special to “maybe” play something that rocked once a week. Rock stars like Motley Crue, Kiss, Nugent, aerosmith etc.. had an almost mythical persona that to me, still carries on today. Long story short… I am honored to have had the chance to do this project. Rock shows like Crue Fest 2 live on in the memories of their fans forever. To be a small part of that experience is truley mind blowing.

Les Paul

If you’ve ever dreamed of taking the stage and shredding 20 thousand screaming fans ears with your electric guitar, you owe Les Paul a debt of gratitude. I just heard Les Paul passed away. It’s a sad day for every rock fan and rock star around the globe. Thank you for making life better Les.

Download a wallpaper version of this illustration, in the Hall of Fame at chopshopradio.com