Jimi Hendrix Experience 1968 "Red Man on a Barrel" Day-Glo Concert Poster...

Description

Jimi Hendrix Experience 1968 "Red Man on a Barrel" Day-Glo Concert Poster An original "1968 Pop Festival" poster advertising two days' worth of shows in Hallandale, Florida (outside of Miami) in May of that year, featuring The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Mothers of Invention (with Frank Zappa), Blue Cheer and John Lee Hooker.

This poster impresses everyone who sees it. Somehow, the red Day-Glo coloring remains startling in its richness and intensity half a century later; that stuff just simply never seems to fade or grow old. A terrifically charismatic poster that was reportedly used for both advertising and merchandising, not an uncommon occurrence in the late 1960's. That somehow doesn't affect its rarity... the fact that a hundred or two or whatever were sold at the show... they still never turn up 50 years later. This is the very first time Heritage has ever had the pleasure of offering this beautiful, riveting poster.

Its provenance is terrific because our consignor attended the show as a 15-year-old, sitting in the front row. He recalls the audience being wow'ed when Jimi and the Experience arrived by helicopter. Afterwards he brought the poster home, initially put it up on his wall, but then took it down, put it in a tube and saved it for all these decades, and is now ready to part with it.

To avoid confusion, it should be pointed out that this event was not initially known as "The Miami Pop Festival." As you can see, the poster doesn't use the word "Miami." It was just a "1968 pop festival" almost a year after the Monterey Pop Festival in California the previous summer. It was held at Gulfstream Park racetrack in Hallandale, Florida, about a half-hour north of Miami. And it was produced by a local Miami entrepreneur named Michael Lang, who would go on to create Woodstock 15 months later.

Then in December of 1968, the official "Miami Pop Festival" took place, advertised as such, and featured a huge array of artists over a three-day weekend, from the Grateful Dead to Fleetwood Mac, Marvin Gaye and Joni Mitchell - but no Hendrix. In our auction last July, we sold that cardboard advertising poster. It, too, was held at Gulfstream in Hallandale.

So in the ensuing decades, both events have come to be referred to as the "Miami Pop Festival" or just "Miami Pop." There was even an official CD release of Hendrix's evening show on May 18 called "Miami Pop Festival." The two festivals, although held seven months apart in 1968, have become quite blurred and synonymous in the public's perception.

It should also be noted that after playing two shows on the Saturday - May 18 - the Experience did not perform on Sunday as a torrential thunderstorm ended the day early. That occurrence was supposedly the inspiration for Hendrix to write the song "Rainy Day, Dream Away" for his upcoming album Electric Ladyland.

The entire lettering on the poster reads as such: "1968 Pop Festival, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Mothers of Invention, The Blue Cheer, John Lee Hooker. May 18, May 19, Gulfstream Park." In these innocent days, poster artists often didn't sign their work, let alone give their posters a name. So the graphic artist is unknown, and the poster-collecting community usually refers to this as "Red Man on a Barrel" or a close derivation, although none of it is official.

Also, the Day-Glo inks used by some printers in the 60's really come to life on this poster, already looking great in normal light and then taking on new life under a purple-tube blacklight. Check out our additional photo to see how 90% of this poster was printed using that dynamic orange Day-Glo coloring. Crazy, and great!

Poster measures 20 3/4 x 27 3/4" and grades to Very Good Minus condition. It is distressed around all the edges and corners with significant creasing, tears, small paper loss, dirt and grime. Such damage goes into the image area in all four corner areas. The poster remains visually arresting in person, however, with the Day-Glo orange ink looking as bright and compelling as the day it was printed. We will eventually include a photo of this poster under a purple blacklight, which really sends it to the moon. COA from Heritage Auctions.

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.