An American aviator and former NASA astronaut best known as the first person to set foot on the Moon. The first Moon walk occurred exactly 42 years ago today. Armstrong served as commander of the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing mission, which fulfilled U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s goal of reaching the Moon before the Soviet Union by the end of the 1960s.
A Hong Kong American actor, martial arts instructor and founder of the Jeet Kune Do movement. He is widely considered the most influential martial artist, and a cultural icon. While doing work for the movie Enter the Dragon, he suffered a cerebral edema. Two months later, on this day in 1973, he died at age 32 from a mysterious allergic reaction to medication.
The first President of South Africa to be elected in a fully representative, multi-racial democratic election. Before his presidency, he was an anti-apartheid activist who served 27 years in prison and peacefully negotiated the termination of legal racial segregation in South Africa. He is 93 years old today (born in 1918) and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
P.S. “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” – Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
“Colonel” Sanders was an iconic American entrepreneur who first served his fried chicken at a gas station in 1930. In 1952, he founded the Kentucky Fried Chicken company, now re-branded as KFC. Despite his death in 1980, Sanders remains a key symbol of the company in its advertising and branding. My dad always referred to him as “Colonel Chicken.”
A Mexican painter born on this day in 1907. She claimed her birth date was July 7, 1910 because she allegedly wanted the year of her birth to coincide with the beginning of the Mexican Revolution. She is best known for her self-portraits and married fellow Mexican painter Diego Rivera.
A culturally influential German-language novelist born on this day in 1883. Kafka is most famous his 1915 novella “The Metamorphosis” featuring Gregor Samsa, who wakes up to find that he has been transformed into a giant insect-like creature. This 8-bit Kafka character is based on Samsa, who was the fictional alter ego of Kafka.
A singer-songwriter and guitarist from Chicago, Illinois. He is best known as the frontman (and sole permanent member) of The Smashing Pumpkins. I think “The Aeroplane Flies High” might be my favorite Pumpkins song. This is the final character of my eight-day Music Week.
I am in Chicago for the HOW Design Conference 2011 this week. In celebration, two more Chicago-related characters are next.
The King of Pop was the most successful entertainer of all time, from his beginnings with The Jackson 5 to his solo career. His 8-bit outfit is based on the “Smooth Criminal” video. He died on this day in 2009 at age 50. His personal physician was charged with involuntary manslaughter. This is character #7 of my eight-day Music Week.
I am in Chicago for the HOW Design Conference 2011 this week.
A musician from Aberdeen, Washington. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana, which destroyed 1980s hair metal and put the Seattle music scene on the map. He became famous, married Courtney Love and died at age 27 (of apparent suicide, though some evidence points to the possibility of homicide). Also, where did you sleep last night? This is character #6 of my eight-day Music Week.
I am in Chicago for the HOW Design Conference 2011 starting today.
An English musician and actor who has created a number of alter egos for himself, such as Ziggy Stardust and The Thin White Duke. This 8-bit version of him is based on the cover of his 1973 album Aladdin Sane, which Bowie described as “Ziggy goes to America.” This is character #5 of my eight-day Music Week.
Jimi Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. He is widely considered the greatest electric guitarist in music history. Jimi Hendrix died in London at age 27 from “barbiturate intoxication and inhalation of vomit.” Watch the original “All Along the Watchtower” music video. This is character #4 of my eight-day Music Week.
An English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame with The Beatles and later married Yoko Ono. Lennon was murdered in New York City in 1980. I have depicted him in his Abbey Road suit from 1969 (which recently sold for $46,000). This is character #3 of my eight-day Music Week. Yes, I work on this 8-bit character project eight days a week.
P.S. Happy Summer Solstice!
Charles Hardin Holley was an American singer-songwriter and influential pioneer of rock ‘n’ roll. He died in an airplane crash in Iowa at age 22, along with Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. February 3, 1959 is known as The Day the Music Died. Among his songs, “Everyday” might be my favorite. This is character #2 of my eight-day Music Week.
I am back in Iowa right now, not far from that 1959 plane crash site near Clear Lake. Also, the new Rave On Buddy Holly tribute album features some impressive cover artists.
The King is a cultural icon and one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. Elvis brought the sound of African-American music to a wider audience by interpreting black rhythm and blues. He died an overweight caricature of himself at age 42 and is buried at Graceland. Also, we’re caught in a trap.
Today I am starting Music Week. In addition to Elvis, the next seven 8-bit characters will be based on famous musicians. Happy Father’s Day!
A Chicago-based American film critic and screenwriter. Self-described on Twitter as a “film critic since time immemorial,” Ebert is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. He helped inspire and reinforce my love of cinema. Equally inspiring is how Ebert has publicly handled his post-cancer surgery appearance. Two thumbs up for this guy.
I will be in Chicago for the HOW Design Conference 2011 next week.
Edward Teach was a notorious English pirate with a thick black beard who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of the American colonies. He was killed in 1718 after two legendary years of plundering.
To maintain the delicate balance of the Internet, I had to post a pirate today after yesterday’s 8-bit ninja character.
A Mexican-American labor leader who dedicated his life to social justice and used nonviolent methods to fight for the rights of migrant farm workers in the southwestern United States. He founded and led the first successful farm workers’ union in U.S. history. In 1994, Chávez was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously.
I can’t help but think of Batman when I see the United Farm Workers logo (Aztec eagle) in 8-bit form. Oh well.
For Pentecost Sunday, here’s the pope. A native of Germany, Pope Benedict XVI is the 265th and current pope. His papacy began in 2005 following the death of Pope John Paul II. During his reign in Vatican City, he has restored the use of red leather papal shoes and other fancy papal fashions.
Oprah Winfrey – No. 123
A Chicago-based American television host, best known for her self-titled talk show, which became the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011. The Oprah Winfrey Show concluded one month ago, on May 25, 2011.
I am in Chicago for the HOW Design Conference 2011 this week. This is the second of three Chicago-related characters.