Connecting Dead & Alive Icons - Converse Centennial 'Connectivity' (GALLERY)

As a celebration of 100 years in the footwear business Converse is launching a year-long global centennial “Connectivity” campaign. The campaign pairs up legendary dead icons across the worlds of music, art, sports and fashion, with emerging (and alive) ones. The sneaker company features “cultural heroes” like James Dean, Sid Viscious and Hunter S. Thompson “connecting” via infused feet with today’s influential stars like Joan Jett, M.I.A, Billie Joe Armstrong and Dwyane Wade.

Geoff Cottrill, Chief Marketing Officer, Converse said: “Converse is the footwear company that was first in sports and first in rock ‘n’ roll. We are extremely proud of our history and excited about our journey into the next century. “Connectivity is an exceptional global campaign that fully captures our spirit and brand ethos celebrating true originals. The campaign is bold and iconic saluting those people - past and present - who push the boundaries of creativity, who inspire originality and who embody the values of the brand.”

The complete uninterrupted ad (see below) features from left to right: Hunter S. Thompson, Dwyane Wade, Sid Vicious, M.I.A., James Dean, Karen O, Common, Joan Jett and Billie Joe Armstrong.

Dead stars are pretty hot these days, see another campaign that uses dead icons in new ad compaigns:

Dead Stars in New Ads - Morrison, Joplin & Elvis in ‘Vinyl Never Dies’ (GALLERY)

Fnac Stores play on the emotional ‘music idols never die’ to promote their new vinyl section by using vinyl records of three iconic musical legends, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley and Janis Joplin. The models pose behind the album sleeve in a way that makes it look like the dead star is actually posing… [More]