Dirty Donny Must Be Destroyed: The Art of Donny Gillies

Dirty Donny Must Be Destroyed celebrates the renegade spirit and art of Donny Gillies, better known as Dirty Donny—a singular force in punk, rock-and-roll, and heavy-metal visual culture.

For decades, Donny’s visceral, blacklight-charged style has leapt off skate decks, album covers, hot rods, posters, and full-scale pinball machines, earning him collaborations with major brands and bands and a reputation as a go-to artist for anything that needs attitude and heat. 

This volume opens Donny’s studio door wider than ever: unpublished pieces, rare rock posters, prints, custom and production pinball machines, as well as automotive finishes on drums, helmets, cars, and guitars sit alongside candid essays and interview-style narration that read like a straight-up conversation with the man himself. Diving into the last decade while also curating the best work of his career, Dirty Donny Must Be Destroyed functions as both an art-book treasure trove and an oral history—“the big book of Donny,” as he calls it—giving fans new context for the images they’ve loved and collectors the kind of behind-the-scenes detail they crave. This is truly a must-have for both Dirty Donny and art fans alike.Born in Ottawa, Canada, in 1974, Donny Gillies is a highly influential artist in the punk, rock ’n’ roll and heavy metal scenes. He is known for his art across various mediums, such as skate decks, pinball machines, and album covers. His artistic style, kustom kulture, was born out of the hot rod movement, blending monster themes with heavily modified automobiles and motorcycles. Early in his career, he worked with Metallica on murals, merchandise, and pinball machines, creating the iconic character “Sparky.” Donny’s work with Metallica led him to a commission from Stern Pinball for an Aerosmith game, thanks to his reputation and Metallica’s recommendation. His recognizable hand-drawn designs have promoted kustom kulture to a wider audience than ever before.