Let's talk about that Eason Chan album cover with the Raf Simons Riot Bomber

While going through some old CDs in my collection, I came across The Easy Ride by Eason Chan (陳奕迅). Released in 2001, this was his third album with EEG. One of the most striking features of the album is its cover—Eason wearing a bold camouflage bomber jacket with multiple patches on it.

At the time, the jacket wasn’t instantly recognizable, but with hindsight, it’s clear that this is the Riot Bomber Jacket from Belgian designer Raf Simons’ renowned AW2001 "Riot! Riot! Riot!"collection. Eason is also seen wearing the sleeveless Riot hoodie from the same collection. This is the same iconic bomber that artists like Kanye West, Travis Scott, and Drake have popularized extensively over the past decade.

So, why all the hype around this jacket? For those unfamiliar with fashion, might have heard about it when one sold for a record-breaking $47,000 on the resale platform Grailed in 2018—the most expensive item sold there at the time. But beyond the price tag, the collection itself holds significant cultural weight. It marked a pivotal moment for Simons as he moved away from slim tailoring towards oversized silhouettes, drawing inspiration from music, film, and youth counterculture. This collection captured the mood of a post-9/11 world and laid the foundation for the blending of streetwear and high fashion that defines today’s style landscape.

The person responsible for bringing this bold look to Eason was Titi Kwan (關榮恩), longtime stylist to Faye Wong (王菲). Along with makeup artist Zing, Kwan had been styling Wong since the mid-1990s, dressing her in cutting-edge designers like Yohji Yamamoto, Ann Demeulemeester, Helmut Lang, and of course, Raf Simons. It’s likely that Kwan, familiar with these cultural currents, saw the Riot Bomber as a perfect fit for the aesthetic Eason was aiming for on this album.

There’s also a clear concept behind the album cover itself. The entire design centers on Eason photographed on a horse saddle in various poses—likely a reference to the Chinese idiom 上馬, meaning “mounting a horse” or advancing in status. This ties in neatly with the crown he wears on the cover.

Musically, The Easy Ride is an eclectic album. From the energetic rock of the opening track “Aspirin” (阿士匹靈) to the genre-blending “Blurt Out” (衝口而出), and ballads like “Eyes Wide Open” (大開眼戒/打回原形), the album offers a wide range of styles. What unites these diverse sounds are the lyrics, all written by Wyman Wong (黃偉文). Alongside Albert Leung (林夕), Wong is one of Hong Kong’s most respected lyricists, known for his playful wordplay and dark humor.

“Eyes Wide Open” is the first part of what would later be known as the Pathological Love Trilogy (病態三部曲), all penned by Wyman Wong. The trilogy also includes “Unavoidable” (防不勝防) and “Ambush” (十面埋伏) from subsequent Eason albums. Together, these tracks explore the arc of a twisted relationship—from insecurity, through obsession, to loss.

Ultimately, The Easy Ride was a pivotal step for Eason Chan, helping cement his place as one of Cantopop’s biggest stars. While it may not be remembered with the same fashion-world reverence as Raf Simons’ Riot Bomber or AW2001 runway show, it definitely left its mark on Chinese pop in its own way.