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This rare first edition poster from 1966 advertises several dance concerts coming the day after LSD was made illegal in California. Not sure that stopped anybody but it’s a historical reference. The concerts, featuring the red hot (Paul) Butterfield Blues Band, Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead were actually cancelled at Winterland (a substantially larger venue) and moved to the Fillmore where they added a date, October 9. Promoter Bill Graham had just run some shows at Winterland, advertised in the iconic, “The Sound” poster, and perhaps they didn’t sell enough tickets.
Indeed, the world was moving quite fast in those days and artist Wes Wilson said back then the bands were only signed a few days before the poster art had to be submitted – which was just a few days before the concert. Many a great work has been forged in the crucible of a hard deadline and the psychedelic posters of 1966-1968 are proof of that. This piece, a first edition in Near Mint minus condition, features a terrific op-art pinwheel plus the amazing lineup of bands.