Nike recently sponsored a “Major Threat” skateboard tour and promoted it with an homage to 80s-punk band Minor Threat. To some in the skating community, this is an unconscionable Minor Threat Ripoff:
In some sort of ill-begotten attempt to curry favor with skateboarders and show them that ‘Nike is keepin’ it real and hardcore!’ Nike has blatantly ripped off the cover of the album.
I thought it was pretty clever. Naturally, Nike had to apologize:
June 27, 2005To: Minor Threat, Dischord Records and fans of both
Re: Major Threat East Coast Tour PosterNike Skateboarding sincerely apologizes for the creation of a tour poster inspired by Minor Threat’s album cover. Despite rumors being circulated, Wieden & Kennedy and Odopod had nothing to do with the creation of this tour poster and should not be held accountable. To set the record straight, Nike Skateboarding’s “Major Threat” Tour poster was designed, executed and promoted by skateboarders, for skateboarders. All of Nike employees responsible for the creation of the tour flyer are fans of both Minor Threat and Dischord Records and have nothing but respect for both.
Minor Threat’s music and iconographic album cover have been an inspiration to countless skateboarders since the album came out in 1984. And for members of the Nike Skateboarding staff, this is no different. Because of the album’s strong imagery and because our East Coast tour ends in Washington, DC, we felt that it was a perfect fit. This was a poor judgment call and should not have been executed without consulting Minor Threat and Dischord Records.
We apologize for any problems this may have caused, and want to make very clear that we have no relationship with the members of Minor Threat, Dischord Records and they have not endorsed our products.
Every effort has been made to remove and dispose of all flyers (both print and digital). Again, Nike Skateboarding sincerely apologizes to Minor Threat and Dischord Records.
Sincerely,
Nike Skateboarding