Aaron Tanner

Aaron Tanner is an American graphic designer, author, archivist, and musician who creates coffee table books on underground bands and artists.

Career Raised in the Midwest, Tanner drew inspiration from everyday visuals including the logos on railroad cars, matchbook advertisements, and other regional imagery. His design work gained recognition within the underground music scene, leading to him becoming Ween's resident designer in 2002, a role he has held for more than two decades.

In 2014, while compiling a book on the Pixies, Tanner discovered that the visual archives of many underground bands had not been formally published. He subsequently founded Melodic Virtue, an independent publisher “dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacies of underground bands through limited-run coffee table books.” Through Melodic Virtue, he has curated and released visual histories featuring rare photographs, artwork, and memorabilia. His publications include books on The Residents, Butthole Surfers, Ministry, Face to Face, and Cardiacs.

Tanner was a founding member of the instrumental group Stationary Odyssey alongside Brett Siler. The band released four albums before disbanding. Their final release was a split 7" single with Joey Santiago and David Lovering of the Pixies. He later formed the noise rock group Off-Ox and has collaborated musically with Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran), Rob Crow (Pinback), and Spencer Seim (Hella).

Achievements His work in publishing has been added to the libraries and permanent collections of the Smithsonian, The Museum of Modern Art, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and The Punk Rock Museum.