How My Music Maps Tell a Story, Not Just Show the Way-MikeBellMaps

How My Music Maps Tell a Story, Not Just Show the Way

by Mike Bell

When I design one of my music maps, I’m not merely plotting out who played on which album. I’m constructing a visual story.

mike bell muisc map tube maps of bands

Every album serves as a station, reflecting a point on the band’s timeline, and every musician represents a thread woven through the band’s history. The outcome functions on two levels: it aids in navigating a complex discography while also narrating the band’s evolution throughout time.

A Story You Can Follow

Every map is created from thorough research. I record every credited musician and guest artist, album by album. That data then transforms into a visual narrative:

Albums serve as chapters in the band’s narrative.
• Lineups evolve, musicians come and go — and you can witness it all unfold.
• Guest artists underscore pivotal creative moments.
• The entire journey progresses through time, from early releases to the latest work.

It’s a way of reliving the band’s legacy — not just reading about it, but seeing how it took shape.

A Map for Music Fans

At the same time, these are practical reference tools. Want to know who played bass on that third album? Or which records a particular drummer appears on? It’s all there. The maps are structured so you can instantly spot:

• Where each album sits in the band’s timeline
• Which musicians were involved at each stage
• How the sound and lineup evolved over the years.

Just like a tube map helps you navigate a city, mine enables you to find your bearings in a band’s discography.

Telling the Full Story

The power of these maps lies in how they unite storytelling and structure. Knowing a band’s discography is one thing; witnessing it unfold in a way that connects the music, the people, and the journey is another. That’s what I strive for in every print I create.

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