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BG-169 The Band 1969 S.F. Winterland Concert Poster Graded 9.9. ...
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Description
BG-169 The Band 1969 S.F. Winterland Concert Poster Graded 9.9. First-printing San Francisco concert poster for The Band, Sons of Champlin and Ace of Cups playing at Winterland on the weekend of April 17-19, 1969. Designed by Randy Tuten, this poster is known as BG-169 in the Bill Graham numbered series and was graded to an amazing 9.9 Mint by CGC (the Certified Guaranty Company).Even though it's a high number, this is a key poster in the Bill Graham series due to the enduring popularity of The Band, their scarcity on concert poster, the fact it was the group's first-ever concerts together, and the poster's compelling design. Let's not forget that Graham presented The Band's star-studded farewell concert at this very venue seven years later, dubbed The Last Waltz.
This is very early for The Band, coming after their landmark debut LP, Music from Big Pink. It would be almost half a year after this before the group released their second waxing, called just The Band, which cemented their lofty status and earned them the coveted cover of Time magazine.
In Bill Graham's autobiography, Bill Graham Presents, the master promoter talks about how he went to the ends of the earth to book The Band, who had never played an organized live concert together, and how it was a major coup when he finally landed them to kick off their first-ever tour on the heels of Big Pink. Graham was just so proud to be able to present the first-ever concerts by The Band. (This is all not counting their earlier time together as The Hawks, backing up Bob Dylan.)
Randy Tuten's compelling graphics feature almost Superman-like lettering for the three acts, in bright red & yellow, and everything else in B&W for contrast. Band members Richard Manuel, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Rick Danko and Robbie Robertson are pictured L-R. Tuten's design seemed to sidestep the psychedelic trends of the day and present this poster as a straightforward advertising alert, easy to read and understand. As down-to-earth as The Band themselves.
The Sons of Champlin were from Marin County just north of San Francisco, and featured front man Bill Champlin. Rather than a psychedelic band, they fit right into the Band concert because they were more straight-ahead rock which featured horns and R&B influences. Early on they appeared on a few Marin County concert posters under their original name, The Opposite Six. Champlin would eventually turn solo 10 years later and then join the huge rock group Chicago in 1981.
The Ace of Cups are a whole story unto themselves. Formed right there in San Francisco during the Summer of Love, they were one of the first all-female rock bands. They caught the eye of no less than Jimi Hendrix, who told England's Melody Maker magazine once he returned back home from the Bay Area, "I heard some groovy sounds last time in the States, like this girl group Ace of Cups, who write their own songs. And the lead guitarist [Mary Ellen Simpson] is hell, really great."
The Ace of Cups shared their manager with Quicksilver Messenger Service. But the girls were generally concerned about the constraints and demands that a recording contract would bring, so they never signed with a label. But they did contribute vocals to Jefferson Airplane's Volunteers and Mike Bloomfield's It's Not Killing Me albums.
But wait, there's more: In 2011 the group reunited for Wavy Gravy's 75th birthday party. Encouraged by their reception, they eventually decided to record that long-absent album they never did. Did they have a few friends? Players on the 2016 self-titled release (on High Moon Records) included members of the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Country Joe & the Fish, Hot Tuna, Rat Dog, Sons of Champlin and Sopwith Camel.
Note: We feel this poster is actually a Signature-auction item (live auctioneer, catalog placement) that we appraise at being generally worth over $1,000, as evidenced by results in the last couple of years here at Heritage. However, we're including this poster now in our Showcase auctions sometimes because we wanted to satisfy our consignors and offer our customers more than just three chances a year to win one. And of course the CGC grade, or no grading at all, could affect this placement as well. At any rate, good luck!
Measures 13 5/8" x 20 3/4" and graded 9.9 Mint. COA from Heritage Auctions.
Auction Info
2023 September 23 Music Memorabilia & Concert Posters Showcase Auction #41180 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
September, 2023
23rd
Saturday
Internet/Mail Bids: 26
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 323
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% on the first $300,000 (minimum $49), plus 20% of any amount between $300,000 and $3,000,000, plus 15% of any amount over $3,000,000 per lot.
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