BG-25 13th Floor Elevators, Great Society 1966 Fillmore Poster Signed by Wes Wilson, Graded 5.0. ...

Description

BG-25 13th Floor Elevators, Great Society 1966 Fillmore Poster Signed by Wes Wilson, Graded 5.0. First-printing San Francisco concert poster for the 13th Floor Elevators, Great Society with Grace Slick and the Sopwith Camel playing at the Fillmore Auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights, August 26 & 27, 1966. Known as BG-25 in the Bill Graham numbered series, this poster was designed by Wes Wilson and signed by him in the lower right edge. This title has always been very elusive for collectors to find. Eric King's authoritative poster guide takes three entire pages to explain the backstory behind BG-25, of which there are many twists and turns. This example has been graded to 5.0 Very Good/Fine by CGC (the Certified Guaranty Company). Measures 13 3/4" x 21". From the David Swartz Concert Poster Collection. COA from Heritage Auctions.

More Information: This weekend marked the absolute debut in the Bay-Area music scene for Roky Erickson's 13th Floor Elevators, in from Austin, Texas. So designer Wilson can be forgiven for leaving the "S" off their name, a common omission back in the day. (Mouse & Kelley got it correct the next weekend on their FD-24 "Tree House" poster.)

It's interesting to note that Great Society lead singer Grace Slick was already prominent, charismatic and attractive enough to carry a poster like this even as the second-billed act, two months before she joined Jefferson Airplane. It's a bit deceiving because she certainly looks like the Airplane-era Grace. And whether by coincidence or not, we do love the way she's glancing sideways at her own band's name.

Third-billed Sopwith Camel were just a few months away from enjoying their only national Top 40 hit, "Hello, Hello." They're best remembered for being just the second San Francisco band to land a recording contract with a national, established record label (Kama Sutra), and the first to have a Top 40 hit (with "Hello"). Their record producer, Erik Jacobsen, also produced the Lovin' Spoonful, whom their sound was reminiscent of. But the Camel couldn't sustain, and had broken up by the end of 1967.


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