Music Map Blogs

I’m a designer based in Lewes, East Sussex. Initially (and still occasionally), I was a show designer who shifted my focus during lockdown, when most of my 3d set and show design work for events evaporated, to start my new venture - Mike Bell Maps.

It was a full circle for me coming to the maps - a return to my early career of live sound - experiences of loading trucks with flight cases, cleaning cumbersome Midas desks, and climbing PA stacks to adjust the 'bullets' (you had to be there).

I was born to perfectly load a dancefloor (again, you had to..) and get the carnet out. Carnets are back for touring bands, and my full circle found me back in that chaos of live music, but this time loading my tube maps of bands with facts.

I produced my first music map a few years ago, based on The Fall's album line-ups' tube-inspired format. Sixteen attempts later, I thought I had it right—although a nudge from band member (and producer) Simon Rodgers, who noted, "The credits on Fall albums are pretty random, to say the least," meant another minor update.

Map design was never an exercise in money-making, but a way to keep my brain engaged as an exercise, whilst lockdown shut down my work and social life, to help combat my long-term diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. It still helps!

I now combine my love for storytelling with my passion for design, crafting unique tube-style maps that chart bands' histories, films' plots, and much more as beautiful art prints - selling them globally (tariffs and Brexit barriers permitting). 

In 2024, Sam Knowles interviewed me on the Data Malarkey Podcast. We discussed data, bands, maps, and digital art.

".. IT'S A BRILLIANT IDEA.. REALLY LIKE WHAT YOU'VE DONE, MIKE.." BILLY BRAGG

In a world overflowing with information, it’s easy to lose track of the connections that make stories rich and meaningful. Whether you’re a music lover trying to understand the evolution of a band, a film buff exploring the intricate web of characters and plots, or someone keen on deciphering the complex interplay of politics or sports, traditional ways of presenting information can often feel overwhelming and disjointed.

My maps solve that problem by distilling vast, intricate histories into something visually engaging and easy to navigate. They bring clarity to chaos.

"IT IS TRULY AMAZING” THE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ARCHIVE

Each map I create under my Mike Bell Maps brand helps you trace the history of your favourite band, as though you were following a tube line—each stop representing an album, and each musician a tube line, making the story easy to follow and engaging.

For film enthusiasts, my maps transform sprawling plots into a visual journey, where each character and event is connected intuitively and insightfully.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to expand my collection of maps and explore new genres, topics, and formats. Whether charting the intricate world of classic literature, exploring the evolution of a sports team, or mapping out the influences in political history, I’m always looking for new stories to tell.

"YOUR WORK IS VERY COOL AND SMART. I'D LOVE TO HAVE A COPY OF THE PRINCE MAP, ONCE YOU’VE COMPLETED IT." SUSAN ROGERS, PRODUCER

With greater availability through my online shop and global shipping, I’m thrilled to share these maps with an even wider audience. New ventures and avenues now include:

• A book deal for a map series in negotiation, and
• A licensing agreement to offer the maps in other formats through an international manufacturer

So, if you’re ready to see the world and its stories in a new light, I invite you to join my journey and explore the world of culture through my maps.