Mexican Mural: A Journey Through Rock and Roll

The week is past, the contest is finished, and it's time to reveal the answers and honor the winners... or more correctly the winner! Because, if it hadn't been for @trincowski, the ONLY participant to give it a try, this whole post would sound completely different, and I would feel like an utter fool for even posting it. For this he deserves my fullest gratitude!

A Word About the Mural

But before we look at the details, and the identities of these famous faces in the picture, I'd like to say a few words about the mural itself. A small plaque at the two ends of the wall inform us that the artist, who we can thank for creating this massive work (3.8 x 17.65 meters or 12.5 x 57.9 feet in total), is Jorge Flores Manjarrez. He created this painting in 2013, using acrylic on wood and canvas, and it can be visited in the metro station Auditorio, in Polanco, right by the National Auditorium.

Who is Who?

So without further ado, let's take a look at the people in this picture. This time I only posted the big overview shots. To get a closer look, please visit the original contest post.

Starting out with number 1 in the top left corner is Janis Joplin, flying on a broomstick. Right under her, the sculpture of the head in the fountain is 2 Peter Gabriel. On the side of a van is the face of 3 Elvis Presley, and standing in front of it is 4 Slash from Guns'n Roses.

To the left is a city bus, in classic green, as all public transports in Mexico City used to be until a couple years ago, when they were changed to pink. In the back of the bus we can see 5 Ray Charles, followed by 6 James Brown, and 7 Bob Dylan. The driver of the bus is no other than 9 Neil Young. Above the bus, sitting in a flying saucer is 8 David Bowie. In the background we can see the two famous volcanoes, the Popocatepetl and the Iztaccíhuatl, which are also featured in my profile background.

In the foreground we can see the entrance to the metro station Auditorio, just in case anyone is wondering where we are. Standing next to the entrance is a character 11 who I was certain looked like Iggy Pop. Both me and my keen contestant were wrong in this, however, as it depicts the punk poet laureate Patti Smith. Sitting on her shoulder is a little bird 10 with the face of Sinead O'Connor. In front of them is a small statue (grave?) of 12 Jim Morrison.

On the other side of the entrance to the metro, standing above the vent in the famous Marilyn Monroe pose, is 13 Madonna. In front of her 15 Kurt Cobain and 16 Courtney Love. On Kurt's finger is another little bird, who is 14 Amy Winehouse. Behind them, crossing the street in their unmistakable Abby Road style are The Beatles. Though unlike on the cover of their famous album, here they changed their order a bit: 17 Ringo Starr, 18 George Harrison, 19 Paul McCartney, and 20 John Lennon.

Next to the pedestrian crossing stands 21, the unlikable Noel Gallagher from Oasis. Behind him is another giant head statue of 22 Mick Jagger. In the window on the right side of the picture we can see 23 Elton John. Outside, right under him, is 24 Jimmy Hendrix, and in the bottom right-hand corner we can see 26 Alice Cooper, leading 27 Gene Simmons from Kiss on a leash. A bit further back we can see another dog 25, with a distinct looking face. It almost seems like Lemmy from Motörhead, but in fact it is Australian multi-talent, Nick Cave.

Looking out from the window next to Elton John is 28 Ozzy Osbourne. Just outside, 29 Roger Waters is tagging The Wall, and the two little birds by his feet are 30 Lady Gaga and 31 Björk.

Moving around the corner we can see 32 Bob Marley on a bicycle. In front of him are 33 Eric Clapton with 34 Pattie Boyd, the inspiration for Layla. Behind the couple is an old VW beetle taxi, which the city was full of up until recently. Its driver is a classic smiley face. In the forefront stands 35 Pete Townshend from The Who, and the big-mouthed bird on his shoulder is Aerosmith front-man 36 Steven Tyler. Flying above them with a jet-pack is 37 Michael Jackson and his monkey Bubbles. Between them and Bob Marley we can see the Monument to the Revolution, a famous landmark in Mexico City.

Further to the right is a hot-rod, driven by 40 Freddy Mercury. Riding in the passenger seat is 38 Lou Reed, and in the back seat 39 Sting. The wight angel to their right 41 is German singer Christa Päffingen, a.k.a. Nico. The dark angel in the foreground, riding a unicycle while playing an accordion is 42 Robert Smith from The Cure. Sitting on the floor of the bus-stop next to him is 43 Thom Yorke from Radiohead, with 47 Elvis Costello standing next to him. Going back to the top of the picture is a fish flying through the sky, 44 Roy Orbison. Riding the motorcycle just below is 45 Tom Waits with 46 Malcolm Young from AC/DC behind him. Another statue of a giant head in the background is 48 Carlos Santana.

Moving further to the right, we can see a third dog, 49 Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones. Under him is a red tour-bus, driven by 51 Frank Zappa. The passengers are old-timers 52 Buddy Holly, 53 Diana Ross, 54 Bill Haley, 55 Chuck Berry, and 56 Johnny Cash. Standing in the background we can see 50 Rod Stewart, 57 Joey Ramone, and 58 "The Boss" Bruce Springsteen. The lady on the scooter next to the bus is 59 Joan Jett. Behind the bus is 60 Lemmy, this time for real. Further up behind him is 62 Joe Elliott from Def Leppard and 61 Tina Turner with exaggerated legs.

In the right extreme of the mural we can see 63 Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page with his double guitar. The flute-playing centaur is 66 Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull, with 67 Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane sitting on his back. On the balcony in the background 64 Bono is having a drink with 65 Blondie vocalist, Debbie Harry. Finally, the guy on the right side is 68 Leonard Cohen.