Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin 1967 "Angry Arts" Concert Poster w/Sticker (AOR-2.193). ...

Description

Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin 1967 "Angry Arts" Concert Poster w/Sticker (AOR-2.193). An original first-printing psychedelic concert poster for a war-protest concert at Longshoremen's Hall in San Francisco on Sunday night, April 9, 1967. Performers included the Grateful Dead, Big Brother & the Holding Company with Janis Joplin, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Sopwith Camel and Country Joe & the Fish during a "Week of the Angry Arts - West Mobilization" event.

The Grateful Dead were probably not booked yet when the poster was designed (artist unknown), so they're absent from the original red artwork. Their participation was made known by an added-on sticker in the upper right corner, which is thankfully present on this specimen, but absent from many others. Poster measures 17 1/2 x 22 1/2" and grades to restored Very Good condition. From the David Swartz Concert Poster Collection. COA from Heritage Auctions.

Literature: See Grushkin, Paul, The Art of Rock: Posters from Presley to Punk, Abbeville Press, New York, 1987, p.188 (illus.).

More Information: You seldom see this poster for sale... it's just terrifically scarce because it was made in tiny quantities, printed on very thin paper and pre-dates the Summer of Love, so the poster-saving hobby in the Bay Area was in nowhere near full force yet.

Besides two monsters of psychedelic rock - the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin with Big Brother - and two Bay-Area legends below them - Quicksilver Messenger Service and Country Joe & the Fish - this poster has the additional cache of advertising the anti-war protest movement in its early stages, before they started turning violent. It also took place at a legendary San Francisco venue... Longshoremen's Hall, where the early Family Dog "tribute" concerts had occurred 18 months earlier.

Condition details: Chameleon Restoration addressed a few edge and corner issues, fixing tears, touching up any printing or color where necessary, mending pinholes, eradicating surface blemishes and greatly reducing any creasing it might have had. The result is a fully satisfying piece that barely looks repaired at all. It should also be noted that the blue "Plus: The Grateful Dead" sticker is a little faded.


Heritage Auctions provides as much information as possible but strongly encourages in-person inspection. Condition statements are offered as general guidance only, not as complete representations of fact, and do not constitute a warranty or assumption of liability by Heritage. Some condition issues may not be noted but may be visible in the photos, which are considered part of the condition report. Lots estimated at $1,000 or less are not de-framed for inspection, and we may be unable to provide additional details for lots valued under $500. Heritage does not guarantee the condition of frames and is not liable for damage to frames, glass/acrylic coverings, original boxes, display accessories, or artwork that has shifted in the frame. All lots are sold "AS IS" under our Terms & Conditions of Auction.