UPDATING MY TUBE-STYLE MUSIC MAPS
Updating my music maps is a dynamic and ongoing process, much like the music industry. These maps intricately detail the recording histories of bands and musicians as interconnected lines and stations, and they are never truly set in stone. There are several reasons why updates are not only common but necessary.
One primary reason for updates is the release of new albums. As artists continue to create and release new music, the discography maps must be revised to include these latest offerings. This ensures that the map accurately reflects the current landscape of the artist’s musical journey.
Additionally, changes in band line-ups or collaborations with other musicians can add new lines or paths to the map, symbolising the evolving nature of music creation and partnership.
Another significant source of updates is fans and the artists themselves. With their keen attention to detail and dedication, fans often provide corrections or insights that can enhance the accuracy and depth of the maps.
Artists like Billy Bragg and Simon Rogers (The Fall) have shared new (and corrected) information that sheds light on previously unmet connections, enriching the narrative captured by the maps.
Updating and revising the maps highlights an essential truth about music and its history: it is fluid, not fixed. Just as new albums can reshape an artist's discography, so too can new interpretations or discoveries alter our understanding of music history.
The maps represent what is known at a given time but are open to reinterpretation and revision. The idea that "no matter what is written down, someone else can rewrite it with hindsight" speaks to the heart of these maps. They are about presenting an agreed-upon history and capturing a moment, knowing that future revelations or perspectives might change the landscape.
It's a metaphor for our modern world, where the only constant is change, and our understanding of the past and the present is constantly evolving.
In summary, Album Discography Tubes and underground Maps are living documents that reflect the ongoing story of music. They celebrate the richness of musical histories while acknowledging that these narratives are never truly complete.
As I update and refine these maps, I pay homage to the ever-changing nature of art, culture, and knowledge in our interconnected world.
ABOUT MIKE BELL
Mike Bell Maps is my expanding collection of art prints of music maps, film plots line maps and other subjects - from politics to places and F1 too.
Each art print transforms the rich, complex history of bands, films, and more into beautifully designed art prints that combine storytelling, research, and design.
From Live Design to Visual Storytelling Art print Design
I spent years designing live experiences for major brands and cultural events. When the live events industry paused during lockdown, I channelled my creative energy into something new - visualising the music I love. What began as a personal experiment quickly evolved into a full-time project uniting design, research, and cultural storytelling.
Roots in Live Music
Before show design took over, I worked in live sound - hauling flight cases, climbing PA stacks, and working with some very interesting cliche roadies. Those early years gave me an insider’s perspective on music and collaboration. Now, instead of loading speakers, I load up maps of bands and albums, each filled with the same spirit of energy, history, and connection.
The First Music Map Art Print
My first music map, charting The Fall’s album line-ups, went through sixteen versions before it felt complete - refined with input from band member and producer Simon Rodgers. That dedication to accuracy and detail still defines everything I make. Every map blends primary research, fan archives, liner notes, and interviews to uncover stories that even die-hard fans might have missed.
Turning Data into Art
Each Mike Bell Map transforms this research into a tube-style visual journey: albums become stations, musicians form connecting lines, and stories unfold across decades. Whether it’s a band’s discography, a film’s plot, or a political history, my maps turn complexity into clarity - transforming information into art that invites discovery.
A Global Creative Project
What began as a lockdown brain exercise to manage a minor neurological condition has evolved into an international art print business, shipping worldwide. Each piece is made to spark curiosity, inspire conversation, and celebrate legacy - helping people explore the stories behind the music, movies, and cultural moments that shape our lives.
Mike Bell Maps is where research meets design, and every map tells a story worth tracing.
