Jimi Hendrix Experience 1968 Fillmore East Poster Signed by David Byrd, Graded 8.5 (AOR-2.90). ...

Description

Jimi Hendrix Experience 1968 Fillmore East Poster Signed by David Byrd, Graded 8.5 (AOR-2.90). An original first-printing concert poster for the Jimi Hendrix Experience playing two shows at Bill Graham's Fillmore East auditorium on Friday, May 10, 1968. One of the most iconic psychedelic concert posters of the 1960's, it is often considered the finest work created by the recently passed graphic designer David Edward Byrd, who delightfully has signed this specimen. Known as FE-7 in collector's parlance, this poster has been graded to 8.5 Very Fine Plus by the Certified Guarantee Company (CGC). Measures 14 1/4" x 22". 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.157 (illus.).

More Information: Byrd, of course, is famous for designing many important concert posters of the 1960's, among them: the original "Woodstock - An Aquarian Exposition" poster in Wallkill, NY, before it changed locations; the Rolling Stones' 1969 American comeback 'tour blank' poster; other Fillmore East concert posters for The Who and the Jefferson Airplane; the Grateful Dead at Nassau Coliseum in 1973; and the only 'tour blank' that Hendrix himself ever used, over many shows in early 1969.

The way Byrd meticulously created the hundreds of little circles all over this poster, especially in the blending of Jimi's, Noel's and Mitch's afros, is spellbinding. And its purple and orange coloring gives it almost a unique appearance amongst psychedelic concert posters.

A lot of people don't realize that Jimi wasn't on tour at this time, even though he seemingly spent all of 1968 playing gigs. No, it was studio time for Hendrix and he was in the middle of recording his classic Electric Ladyland album at Electric Lady studios just a stone's throw from the Fillmore East.

Want to know exactly what the Experience sounded like for these two shows? Well, in the previous 10 days Jimi had recorded both "Voodoo Chile" and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)," a pair of masterpieces from his upcoming double album. That's what Jimi sounded like at the time of this poster.

And there's fun added value in the fact that a new & upcoming group called Sly & the Family Stone opened the two shows, although not famous enough yet to be mentioned on the poster. They had one hit to their credit so far, the infectious "Dance to the Music," which had just slipped out of the national Top 10. Their next single would completely stiff, but after that, in the fall? "Everyday People." So attendees to these shows, you might say, got experienced twice.

Notice how the second show on this night started at 11:30 PM. Another wow. So you had the always-tardy Sly opening the show – wonder if he made it by midnight – and then Jimi starting his set at what, one in the morning? Nothing like a little live Hendrix music from 1:00-3:00 AM on a Friday night.


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