Past icons such as actor James Dean, journalist Hunter S Thompson and Sex Pistols punk rocker Sid Vicious are connected to icons from today including Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong, basketball player Dwyane Wade and Yeah Yeah Yeah’s lead singer Karen O.

The global advertising campaign will be unveiled throughout spring 2008 in over 75 countries via print, outdoor, digital and integrated brand marketing executions.

Regional adaptations featuring country specific icons will include editor of Dazed and Confused magazine Jefferson Hack and Ian Curtis, whose life was recently profiled in film Control.

Television ads are likely to be rolled out later in the year.

Geoff Cottrill, chief marketing officer at Converse, said: “Converse is the footwear company that was first in sports and first in rock ‘n’ roll… 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 brands.”