Yardbirds 1966 S.F. Concert Poster, Jimmy Page's First Show as Lead Guitarist (AOR-2.293). ...

Description

JIMMY PAGE TAKES A BIG STEP TOWARD THE FUTURE

Yardbirds 1966 S.F. Concert Poster, Jimmy Page's First Show as Lead Guitarist (AOR-2.293). An original red, white & blue window card advertising England's Yardbirds appearing at two Bay-Area venues in the summer of 1966: August 25 at San Francisco's Carousel Ballroom and the next night across the bay at the "Rollarena" skating rink in San Leandro, CA.

According to Martin Power's book Hot Wired Guitar: The Life of Jeff Beck, new Yardbird Jimmy Page had been playing bass after Paul Samwell-Smith (pictured on the poster) quit the band, with Beck on lead guitar as usual. Beck fell ill late in this tour, however, and was hospitalized in San Francisco. "Page took over as lead guitarist at the Carousel Ballroom (San Francisco) on 25 August and Chris Dreja switched to bass," Power writes. This should really get the juices flowing for Led Zeppelin fans and collectors.

Graphic artist Don Ryder, who worked closely with promoter Bill Quarry on his "Teens 'N Twenties" dance-concerts, came up with this very unusual and compelling design, using lots of shapes, angles and fonts to catch the eye. The Yardbirds logo was their own, of course, but the rest of the design presents the band members (but not new member Page) and all the information in a style that's anything but boring. The Art of Rock book gave this poster a very large image. Measures 18" x 24" and grades to Very Good Plus 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.219 (illus.).

More Information: There's a pair of staple holes in each corner, all far away from the artwork. The lower right corner has multiple diagonal stress creases going just a little bit into the blue, and even reaching "12:30" in one little place, but not crossing into it. The rest of the poster also has a few other light handling creases. General toning throughout.


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