DAVID BOWIE - Discography Music Map - Studio Album Maps - MikeBellMaps

ART that EXPLAINS

YOU OWN THE ALBUMS, NOW OWN THEIR STORY | BEAUTIFUL ART PRINTS | A4 FROM £12.00

Reconnect with music | Track EVERY artist, across EVERY studio album.

MUSIC MAPS | FILM PLOT MAPS

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I’m Mike Bell, & I turn music histories, film plots & cultural stories into data-driven tube-style maps. Born from my live music & show design background during lockdown, this one-person project blends storytelling, facts, & design - Every line laid by me, & every map telling a story.

".. IT'S A BRILLIANT IDEA.." BILLY BRAGG

 

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Framed print showcasing Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' album and lineup history.

"IT IS TRULY AMAZING.."

The Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music

EXPLORE THE MUSIC MAPS

THREE PRINTS for the PRICE OF TWO

 
Wall-mounted framed print tracking James Bond movies and recurring characters across decades.

"AWESOME.."

Warren Ellis - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

EXPLORE THE PLOT LINE MAPS

 
 

ABOUT MIKE BELL - CREATOR OF MUSIC MAPS & MORE

ABOUT MIKE BELL

I’m a data designer, based in Lewes, East Sussex: initially, (and still occasionally) a show designer who shifted my work focus during lockdown, when most of my 3D set design work for events evaporated, to the creation of music maps.

A few years ago, I produced my first music map—the tube-inspired format of The Fall's album line-ups. Sixteen attempts later, I thought I had it right - although a nudge from band member and producer Simon Rodgers, who noted, "The credits on Fall albums are pretty random, to say the least," meant another minor update.

Mike Bell creator of MikeBellMaps at Olympia Top Drawer Trade Show 2025

Map design was never an exercise in money-making, but a way to keep my brain engaged as an exercise, whilst lockdown shut down my work and social life, to help combat my long-term diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. It still helps!

I now combine my love for storytelling with my passion for design, crafting unique tube-style maps that chart bands' histories, films' plots, and much more as beautiful art prints - selling them globally (tariffs and Brexit barriers permitting). 

".. IT'S A BRILLIANT IDEA.. REALLY LIKE WHAT YOU'VE DONE, MIKE.." BILLY BRAGG

In a world overflowing with information, it’s easy to lose track of the connections that make stories rich and meaningful. Whether you’re a music lover trying to understand the evolution of a band, a film buff exploring the intricate web of characters and plots, or someone keen on deciphering the complex interplay of politics or sports, traditional ways of presenting information can often feel overwhelming and disjointed.

My maps solve that problem by distilling vast, intricate histories into something visually engaging and easy to navigate. They bring clarity to chaos.

"IT IS TRULY AMAZING” THE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ARCHIVE

Each map I create under my MikeBellMaps brand helps you trace the history of your favourite band, as though you were following a tube line—each stop representing an album, and each musician a tube line, making the story easy to follow and engaging.

For film enthusiasts, my maps transform sprawling plots into a visual journey, where each character and event is connected in a way that is both intuitive and insightful.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to expand my collection of maps, exploring new genres, topics, and formats. Whether it’s charting the intricate world of classic literature, exploring the evolution of a sports team, or mapping out the influences in political history, I’m always looking for new stories to tell.

"YOUR WORK IS VERY COOL AND SMART. I'D LOVE TO HAVE A COPY OF THE PRINCE MAP, ONCE YOU’VE COMPLETED IT." SUSAN ROGERS, PRODUCER

With greater availability through my online shop and global shipping, I’m thrilled to share these maps with an even wider audience. New ventures and avenues now include:

  • A book deal for a map series in negotiation, and
  • A licensing agreement to offer the maps as jigsaws through an international manufacturer

So, if you’re ready to see the world—and the stories within it—in a whole new light, I invite you to join my journey and explore the world of culture through my maps.

Collapsible content

MAKING THE MAPS

I work from my studio in East Sussex, where I am constantly creating music maps and plot line maps that represent the musical journeys of bands and solo artists, film narratives, and political events.

Each map results from meticulous research and careful planning, combining precision with creativity to produce something visually striking and data-driven.

Close-up of a music map illustrating Nick Cave’s bands and side projects.

Selecting the Subject: From Music Icons to Cultural Narratives

When thinking about making music maps I choose artists with extensive discographies and significant influence on music and culture for my music maps. Often, fans or family members of the artists request these maps, adding a personal connection layer. I focus on plots and historical moments for films and political events that lend themselves well to visual representation.

Close-up of a Jaws movie timeline poster, mapping character arcs and major plot points.

Making Music Maps & More: Gathering and Organizing Data

Research is a key part of the process. I begin by compiling a list of the artist’s studio albums for music maps. I then researched the credits for each album to identify the musicians involved. This often requires sifting through multiple sources and cross-referencing to ensure accuracy. Once I have the necessary data, I begin correlating it to lay the groundwork for the map.

For films, the process involves breaking down the plot into key points, characters, and their relationships. For political maps, I track major events, alliances, and shifts in power, organizing the data to create a logical and visually coherent design.

The Design Phase: Precision and CAD Software

Once the research is complete, I begin plotting the map using 2D CAD software. This approach is uncommon in art but allows for the precision required in my maps. Each line represents a connection between musicians, plot points, or political events—while intersections mark significant moments like album releases, character interactions, or key political shifts. Every element is individually drawn to ensure accuracy, and the layout is designed for both visual appeal and clarity.

Close-up of the Lewes Tube Map, featuring fictional transport lines and flood risk areas.

Mapping Film Plots: Translating Stories into Visual Form

When mapping movie plots, I focus on translating the story structure into a visual format. Characters often have their own “lines,” with major plot points or twists becoming intersections. This method ensures the narrative remains clear, even when dealing with complex or non-linear plots. The challenge lies in maintaining simplicity without losing the key elements of the story.

Wall-mounted framed print tracking James Bond movies and recurring characters across decades.

Political Maps: Charting the Complexity of Power Dynamics

I track the evolution of political events, figures, and alliances for political maps. This involves organizing the often complex and shifting data into an easy-to-follow format. The maps allow a visual understanding of political movements, highlighting key turning points and connections between influential figures or events.

Lying Boris Johnson Map in Frame

Final Output: High-Quality Art Prints

After completing the design, I offer the maps as high-quality art prints in a range of sizes. Each print is created with attention to detail, ensuring that it meets the highest standards of quality.

Great feedback from customers keeps me motivated, along with knowledgeable input! 


About Me: From Event Designer to Data Visualization Specialist

Hi, I’m Mike Bell, a UK-based show and event designer. I started creating these tube-style maps during the lockdown when my work in event design was temporarily put on hold. The first map combined my past experience in live music with a growing interest in data visualization. Since then, I’ve continued to create maps alongside my work in event design, and the two disciplines now form the core of my creative output.

PRINT SIZE GUIDES

Paper Size Dimensions (mm) Dimensions (inches)
A4 210 x 297 8.27 x 11.69
A3 297 x 420 11.69 x 16.54
A2 420 x 594 16.54 x 23.39
MIKEBELLMAPS TUBE MAPS

FEEDBACK - ARTISTS/ORGS

Some of the musician feedback and a few other related organisations have engaged with my music maps.

"IT IS TRULY AMAZING” THE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ARCHIVE

"AWESOME!!" WARREN ELLIS

".. IT'S A BRILLIANT IDEA.. REALLY LIKE WHAT YOU'VE DONE, MIKE.." BILLY BRAGG

"BRILLIANT SERIES.." SIMON ROGERS

"YOUR WORK IS VERY COOL AND SMART. I'D LOVE TO HAVE A COPY OF THE PRINCE MAP, ONCE YOU’VE COMPLETED IT." SUSAN ROGERS, PRODUCER

"THE PERFECT GIFT FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO SHOW OFF THEIR MUSIC KNOWLEDGE" RESIDENT MUSIC, BRIGHTON