Woman pictured on Converge 'Jane Doe' album cover reveals herself (updated)
French model Audrey Marnay says she is 'Jane Doe' and she's undoubtedly correct.
"Jane Doe" and her doppelgänger (Audrey Marnay) as she originally appeared in Mary Claire magazine (as photographed by Jan Welters)
If you're unfamiliar with the cover artwork of Converge's landmark album Jane Doe, you're likely new to the hardcore and metalcore scene. To summarize, the highly regarded album was released in 2001, and its iconic artwork, created by Converge frontman Jacob Bannon, remains one of the most recognizable album covers to exist in the underground metal world. Myriad posters, prints, tattoos, knock-offs, etc. bearing the intriguing visage of the anonymous woman ("Jane Doe") have permeated the scene for two decades.
Part of the intrigue was not knowing the identity of this woman, not only her figurative identity, but the actual, human muse for Bannon's creation, if she even ever existed.
Over the years, Bannon has been very vague when describing the anonymous woman, intimating that she was not based upon any actual model. In 2013, Bannon said, "I sketched the basic cover and started building it in layers, using acrylic, ink, and spray paint."
For better or for worse, however, the mystery now appears to have been solved, and by none other than "Jane Doe" herself. Several days ago 40-year-old French actress and model Audrey Marnay took to Instagram (see below), ostensibly introducing herself to Converge as "Jane Doe," and asking, "Shall we talk!?"
Marnay also shared the original photo from which she asserts Jane Doe was derived, specifically a photo of Marnay that appeared in a May 2001 issue of Mary Claire Italy magazine. It would be extremely difficult to deny that said photo is indeed the basis for "Jane Doe," from the matching lips, nose and facial structure, to the identical coif.
Case closed. (For the record, Converge have yet to comment on the development.)
UPDATE: Converge vocalist and cover artist Jacob Bannon has now responded to the revelation, issuing the following statement:
"Just to be clear: This is definitely one of the sources for the original stencil/mixed media piece for the 'Jane Doe' album. Most of my work always been collaged cut/paste based (and still is). Hundreds of images were xeroxed and repainted/inked in a loose style to create the release artwork. This process is similar to everyone from Shepard Fairey to Francis Bacon. Over time my work has evolved into something more much more refined, but the roots will always be in this style. I wonder if folks will still insist that it is actually from the cover of Slayer's 'Reign In Blood'?
"The original goal was to create ghost-like forms that embodied the concept of 'Jane Doe'. In recreation identifiers are removed from physical forms, making all humans become relatable and stoic. We see what we want to see in them, and often times, it's a reflection back onto our own life experiences, etc."
[via Metal Injection]
148 comments
Post Commentjacob brandon here from the band converge. i sketched this from memory. from deep within my spank bank. it's not based on an actual model, or maybe it is. i just got it from my spank bank
If he got permission from the magazine or photographer or purchased the photo from the photographer then she can't really sue. But then again….it was 20 years, the Wild West back then so 🤣 who f*cken knows. I hope he has receipts
Just goes to show you that no band in the scene will ever be original even back then lololol
Jake bannon would have an Italian issue of Marie Claire lol
Okay. Now reveal who the model is on the cover of Integrity's To Die For.
They better hire Lionel Hutz, attorney at law to protect them from the inevitable lawsuit they will get. "NO, money down"
How about the chick on the deftones around the fur album???
Yep…that's her. Jane doe has been found. Case closed!
Homeboy literally threw it into Photoshop and thresholded it. lol
Next thing we know, Icepick Johnny's gonna claim he is the guy on the Minor Threat EP cover.
"Converge II" would be a good band name. Also "Converged Was Taken" would be good as well.
How desperate are you for money when you are shaking down a hardcore band, long past their prime? I hope you are ready to settle for a couple of McDonald's gift cards and a copy of Bloodmoon.
My new band is all the Converge recordings run through an effects pedal but they're all our songs, all original. Can't really say where our inspirations come from, we're just that creative so who knows?
Well, just like this album, she has not aged well. Don't lie to yourself - Jane Doe is not that great of an album.
"How desperate are you for money when you are shaking down a hardcore band, long past their prime?" Past their prime? They're a bigger draw now than they've ever been. Easily do 1000 a night in bigger cities in the US and more in others. That said, Jake's a dirtball and of course he just stole a photo and tweaked it.
" Jake's a dirtball and of course he just stole a photo and tweaked it. " You're a moron.
sorry Jake you can spin it any way you want but you acted for 20 years like that face was original artwork. You had 20 years to say 'yeah it came from this photo' but you didn't because it would have tarnished the thing. And its insincere to say "this is definitely one of the sources for the original stencil/mixed media piece for the Jane Doe album"...no it IS the source. Nobody gives a shit about the paint splatter or beige background...the face and neck are the centerpiece and you didnt create them. You got exposed and you should be embarrassed.
*sits laughing uncontrollably at people thinking anything in the realm of "hardcore" is original.* Enjoy your custodial jobs...nice work with that zambonie Carl.
nice work with that zambonie, Carl. nice work with that zambonie, Carl.
It's graphic design...Which is notoriously 80% stolen imagery. Not news. Would it be different if this were a collage and not an altered photo? Everyone shut the f*ck up.
Bannon's update is hilarious. He spends 20 years acting like the creation of this was some stroke of brilliance from the depths of his great artistic mind. Then the model comes forward and he decides to evade any explanation of the last 20 years and instead thinks he needs to 1) discuss how he creates his mixed media art (no one cares), 2) talk about how his art style has been refined (this is some self-fappy nonsense) and 3) try and justify not giving credit to the original model or photographer in the last paragraph. This band sucks and always has.
Jacob Bannon you are not that artistic. You took a picture and editied for personal taste.
A model looking for money who either kept his in her back pocket for 20 years waiting for her blow addiction to render her broke or she just saw this cover for the first time and needs money as her addiction to blow has rendered her broke. Either way, don't get addicted to blow. And why didn't bannon just say "ya, I stole this shit"? His statement couldn't be more obvious to see through. And who the hell thought this was stolen from Reign in Blood?
He won't let people leave him comments on his statement lol
Looking forward to the Eternal Champion Ravening Iron muse to surface
Mystery solved. Now onto finding out who's hand was used on the cover of you fail me…once this is discovered I'll finally be able to get some much needed rest.
Anyone else relieved this officially confirmed this is a female they've been releasing knuckle children to all these years?
You think this image looks cool? We'll it's because it's a photo of a professional model taken by a professional photographer with a professional lighting director, a professional make up artist, in a professional studio. A lot of effort, experience, time and money went into getting this shot and Jacob is claiming credit because he applied a photoshop filter? A filter that he did not make either. Need to give credit where it's due.
I'm an artist! Yeah, a bullshit artist! - Stigma
Is she vaccinated? ^^^^ Exactly what I was thinking
"" Jake's a dirtball and of course he just stole a photo and tweaked it. " You're a moron." Hi Jake!
shriveled lime green dingus and sheetrock carrier aficionados are NOT stoked
wonder if she just now found out. or has been sitting on the knowledge for years
theyve sold a ton of merch with her likeness. ut oh
theres gotta be some lawyer somewhere thinking he can turn this into a few bucks
You guys are gonna lose it over the Man is the Bastard skull origin…
Also those Black Flag bars? Ripped off from geometry, how unoriginal!!!
I kinda wanna look through interviews where they ask him if the artwork was based on anybody he knew but I dunno if I care that much
Wikipedia says "art not based on real person"
Wasn't it always obvious that it was an altered photo?
NOOOOOO DON'T START SAYING YOU DIDN'T DO IT CUZ YOU DID YOU THIEF!!!
He scanned the photo, imported it into Flash and then hit "vectorize" like every other untalented hack was doing back in the late 90's, early 00's
I hope this model is making t-shirts. I'd buy one.
Jane Doe was wearing a pineapple shirt all these years.
I can't unsee the clavicle in the real photo. Makes the album look so dumb how it's her head and neck put onto a different body
I found this to be funny: In 2013 Revolver did a piece about this album cover (https://www.revolvermag.com/culture/converges-jane-doe-story-behind-cover-art). In it the article states, "... a handful of clothing companies have actually appropriated the Jane Doe image without permission (all have been served with cease-and-desist letters)..." So Converge and/or its label thought other people ripping off this image merited a cease-and-desist letter, but Bannon himself didn't see any issue ripping off the image in the first place. Fvcking LOL.
I bet in 2001 bannon thought this photo is so random and so obscure no hardcore kid would ever find out. He was half right
Hey bannon maybe ur girl left you cause you have french model magazines
Converge isin't even a hardcore band tho #cancelconverge
Plot twist her next shoot is gonna have a backdrop of a converge promo
If I were her I'd take the royalty they owe her for the $12.73 worth of album sales they've had #cancelconverge
firs the zodiac killer has been found now this???? did not have either on my bingo card dang :/
^^@12.73 guy..... They've done like 300 pressings of this album
Her pic was probably his random spank material while Converge was out on tour in the late 90s/early 00s then he decided to turn his concubine into Jane Doe. I still like her though.
Nice to finally know who I have actually been wanking off to these past 20 years. Now I am regretting it and finally gonna have permanent erectile dysfunction
and in a year there will be a sexual assault allegation against the band once that dumb feminist bitch finds out nobody in this world cared about any of this and she is as irrelevant as she has always been #cancelConverge
It's hilarious to see all these fools on here thinking Converge owes her something. Relax. It's heavily modified, enough so that it's protected as art. So as much as you want to tear down Converge or Jacob for this, you're simply wrong, and you're getting worked up into a lather about a non-issue.
Francis Bacon's art is straight nightmare fuel
Now we wait to find out how many other artists he's ripped off with his "original" paintings.
Jake looks like Ugg from Salute Your Shorts.
It's hilarious to see all these fools on here thinking Converge owes her something. Relax. It's heavily modified, enough so that it's protected as art. So as much as you want to tear down Converge or Jacob for this, you're simply wrong, and you're getting worked up into a lather about a non-issue. already filed a lawsuit, see you in court soy boy
^It's heavily modified so it is protected from legal action Are you dumb ? Blind? Both? It is not heavily modified. They are making money on this woman's likeness and they will pay out
LOL at sissies trying to take shots at the woman as if she has done anything wrong. Imagine waking up and finding out that some band has been profiting off your likeness (bassist caught in interview saying it is their best selling shirt to this day) for 20 years and your face is on everything from mugs to air fresheners. You would be a straight cuck to not demand some $$$. It's not her fault that Bannon was j*rking off to obscure European magazines in the first place
weird he mentions Shepard Fairey when he had to settle out of court with an AP photographer for his iconic HOPE poster...
First off Converge does not pull in 1000 paid people a show or certainly average that. Second Jacob Bannon ripping off a photographer & lying about is no surprise when lies about when he was first around. Case in point: he says he saw Burn the first time around (Burn existed 1989-92.) Jake was only 14 in 1991 too young to hit let alone travel to a show in Boston then. Try you got into hardcore in 91-92 & you didn't hit shows til 93-94 which is fine but stop lying about when you were around. I never saw your face at or outside or BHC shows 90-92 & have nothing to gain by lying. Oh yeah - you were a "hardcore" band for maybe two years (92-94.) Fronter.
That last post was so obviously written by Kris Mission.
Not like this album sold enough for her to make any money on it anyway
Kris Mission hahaha now that's a name I haven't seen in many years...whatever happened to him?
His response lol "I used hundreds of images"! literally just looks like the one photo exactly.
that's a good amount of scratch to track down early and mid 00s. even now their merch section is chalk full of this likeness. these revival nerd bands keep being posted and their likewise buy all that sh it up to front
Bannon with his smeagol methy looking a$$. He could have given a straight response but instead provides a legaleze response to cover his rear. Yawn.
Bottom line Jacob Bannon used a photograph and a model's likeness in it without permission from the photographer or the model. F uck his "filter." If they sue him they will win.
Lol at the Poser marks defending this shitty bands legitimacy amongst the greats in the scene. Band sucks, fans are posers, the end.
Sue their ass. I hate scum like this that doesn't pay someone for their likeness/work and makes money off it themselves.
Seems appropriate that their grandstanding about proper treatment of women is backed by photo plagiarism of one woman and the unauthorized use and mass duplication of the image of another, with her head detached from her body.
Lol at the guy doing forensics about whether or not Jake saw Burn
I always thought the photo he used for Jane Doe was of some scene girl or art student friend. Turns out he's so untalented and uncreative that he can't even set up and take his own photographs. People who "create collages" are people who desperately want to be true artists but absolutely cannot draw to save themselves. Jordan Buckley from ETID, for example, is a great artist and illustrator. He can take a character, person, or scene and draw it from his own angle with his own style. The only thing Bannon can draw from scratch is a love heart that he put on the front of Killing the Dream's sh*tty artwork... and that was probably just an .svg he downloaded from Google Images
anonymous 16 hours ago I can't unsee the clavicle in the real photo. Makes the album look so dumb how it's her head and neck put onto a different body dude, right?
Shepard Fairey used an AP photograph of Barack Obama as the core of his HOPE poster and denied it until evidence was found on one of his hard drives. He had to settle out of court and do community service. This seems similar, but it's not this model who has any sort of recourse, it's the photographer Jan Welters and the magazine Marie Claire.
Dude designed an iconic album cover that has endured in the minds of people for the passed 20 years, and he no-dount did it before any of you do-nothings had hair on your balls. Even with all the technology you have available to you now, none of you could create something that perseveres as long as this album and image has.
Jake Bannon shouldn't be worried about looking like a thief, he should be worried about looking lazy. Open Photoshop, take the original photograph and rotate slightly, then set the threshold effect to 72. In 30 seconds, you have 90% of the Jane Doe cover.
Hope their taxes are in order when the audit starts.
The image is striking because of the model and the photographer. 100%. Anyone other than those two people trying to claim this image is straight up fraud.
Dude designed an iconic album cover that has endured in the minds of people for the passed 20 years, and he no-dount did it before any of you do-nothings had hair on your balls. Even with all the technology you have available to you now, none of you could create something that perseveres as long as this album and image has. ***** Hes not gonna bang you or give you backstage passes, chill.
We still haven't received conformation of their vaccine status. Please update.
Honestly, I don't know why any of you are surprised. Bannon did so much shady stuff in the WH and he's still trying to get his fingers in the pie when it comes to the rise of white nationalism. Plagiarism is the least of our concerns here.
Jake should get some tattoos to commemorate this sorrow and heartache, it won't help anyone to think he is talented, but the show of commitment will help with marketing his brand
"Dude designed an iconic album cover that has endured in the minds of people for the passed 20 years, and he no-dount did it before any of you do-nothings had hair on your balls. Even with all the technology you have available to you now, none of you could create something that perseveres as long as this album and image has." No. A team of professionals including a model, photographer, lighting engineer, makeup artist, and so forth created a picture which Bannon then stole and threw into Photoshop. The fact that Bannon's version is "iconic" is irrelevant. The issue at hand is that he plagiarized the work of someone else, acted like it was entirely original (and even that the woman in the photo was not a real person), issued cease-and-desist letters to anyone who copied the album cover onto shirts or posters or whatever, and then failed to own up to the fact that he stole and lied about it for the last 20 years after being called out. Bannon is an idiot and so are you.
Some of y'all have way too much time on your hands
No. A team of professionals including a model, photographer, lighting engineer, makeup artist, and so forth created a picture which Bannon then stole and threw into Photoshop. The fact that Bannon's version is "iconic" is irrelevant. The issue at hand is that he plagiarized the work of someone else, acted like it was entirely original (and even that the woman in the photo was not a real person), issued cease-and-desist letters to anyone who copied the album cover onto shirts or posters or whatever, and then failed to own up to the fact that he stole and lied about it for the last 20 years after being called out. Bannon is an idiot and so are you. -hammer hits nail on head.
"They've done like 300 pressings of this album" Yeah, back in 05 or 06, the record had already sold something like 50,000. I wouldn't be totally shocked if with all the represses and shit it was closer to 100k by now.
"First off Converge does not pull in 1000 paid people a show or certainly average that." Then why do they sell out 1000+ venues in major markets, "Fronter?" And whoever said, "sue Epitaph, too;" album came out on EVR.
Anybody who likes or dislikes an album based on the artwork, or origin thereof, was never a fan of this band or music in general
So…is this going to increase or decrease the value of all my Jane Doe collectibles? I was hoping to sell that stuff off to other likeminded nerds and pay for my kids college tuition when the time was right. Did I wait to long?
college is overrated. send them to a trade school
But college is where I honed the skills necessary to participate and creatively hang out in chat rooms like this. I want my spawn to have similar skills. This is way off topic…is my merch gonna go up or down in value?
The headline made me think she had posted n00dz
So who has made more money stealing other artist art? Rick ta life or Jacob bannon?
"I never saw your face at or outside or BHC shows 90-92 & have nothing to gain by lying. " I don't doubt he may be rewriting history, but I always find shit like this weird. Like, you absolutely recognize and remember every face at shows from 30 years ago? Especially when it's a literal kid who you've never seen before? I can KIND of get that if you're in a really small scene, but Mass's wasn't back then. This isn't like Burlington VT where I bet one would have a good idea of everyone. There's 500 people at the mideast and you knew all of them? I see this with people retroactively gatekeeping places like CBGBs all the day. It's so weird. Also, not sure why a 14 year old couldn't have gone to a show in Boston? There's public transportation, parents to drive, older friends. I went to my first "real shows" at 14.
Would pay big money for a reaction video of her the first time she saw a picture of the culprit. The utter disdain in her french eyes would be priceless
"It's hilarious to see all these fools on here thinking Converge owes her something. Relax. It's heavily modified, enough so that it's protected as art. So as much as you want to tear down Converge or Jacob for this, you're simply wrong, and you're getting worked up into a lather about a non-issue" You get your legal degree online while stocking shelves at walmart?
f*ck plagiarism, f*ck cancel culture, f*ck Jacob Bannon. And f*ck all you
B Watkins from YOTF here to type out my worthless opinion.
Jake -Smeagol- Bannon be like.........Jane Doe.......my precious.....you cants have it
I am outraged at the lack of any updates on vaccination status.
Run the vocalist of the band Birdflesh through a distortion pedal and you'll hear Erie similarities to Jacob Bannon.
^ I can't believe it took this long but that is beautiful.
He should have pasted a ski mask on her face too just to avoid any suspicion…
Jake went to art school. He knows about fair use and copyright violation. He clearly would have known at the time that this is not transformative enough to be legal. And all the merch that is just her face? That truly is just taking someone's art (the photographer) stealing it. He is one of the many scene kids who in the early 2000s decided to become a graphic designer. Boston was full of them. None of them could actually draw and would just combine images together.
I knew him many many years ago. Once an asshole always an asshole. Full of shit!
f*ck all of you c*ntS. You clearly care so much and have nothing better to do. Lmao. You're all pathetic.
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lol