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Splatt Gallery's History of Michigan Concert Posters
Volume Thirteen - 1977 - Page Eight
A full-page Westbound Records ad in the June 18, 1977 issue of Billboard magazine with the label’s latest album releases. We covered the Detroit Emeralds’ “Feel The Need” LP in a previous post. The other albums include “Early Years” compilations from the Ohio Players and Funkadelic, and two Dennis Coffey-related releases, his fourth proper solo album and a disco group called C.J. & Co. that Coffey and Mike Theodore put together and produced. The title track from that album called “Devil’s Gun” went to #1 on the Hot Dance/Disco chart and has the distinction of being the very first record played at the opening of Studio 54 in New York City on April 26, 1977.
C.J. & Co. – Devil’s Gun (1977)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFyWHWcWPsI
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A closer look at three of the albums in the June 18, 1977 Westbound Records ad, cover art on C.J. & Co.’s “Devil's Gun” album by John Gabbara, cover art on Funkadelic’s “The Best Of The Early Years Volume One” by Ronald "Stozo" Edwards, who also did the cover art for Fred Wesley & the Horny Horns album seen earlier.
Dennis Coffey was ably supported by a stellar group of )-Funk and Funk Brothers musicians on his fourth album “Back Home”.
Dennis Coffey – Back Home (album) (1977)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgdEdTcnIDA&list=PLV07Cg7XEX4iMIvNSKwHeVy9j4QKDpRg0
Full-page ad/poster for Alice Cooper’s Summer 1977 tour, also known as the “King of the Silver Screen” tour, his first US shows in 18 months. Guitarist Steve Hunter rejoined the band, reuniting the classic “Welcome to My Nightmare” touring unit with Dick Wagner on guitar, Prakash John on bass, and Penti 'Whitey' Glan on drums, joined by keyboardist Fred Mandel. The tour kicked off with a show in Anaheim, California on June 19, 1977.
A nice photo-collage that was the centerpiece of the tour book for Alice Cooper’s “King of the Silver Screen Tour”, also known as the “Guilty Tour”, which began on June 19, 1977 at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California and ended on August 30, 1977 at McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado.
Poster/ad by artist Roger Shepherd for the first show of Alice Cooper’s “King of the Silver Screen” tour, in Anaheim, California on June 19, 1977, joined by the Kinks, the Tubes, Nazareth, Sha-Na-Na and Flo & Eddie.
The show was filmed for the television special “Alice Cooper and Friends” which was broadcast in September 1977. Here is complete show, about half of the time is on Alice, noticeably drunk in spots, the Tubes, Sha-Na-Na and Nazareth turn in spirited performances.
Alice Cooper & Friends – Live in Anaheim, California (6/19/77)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eJmxkQeWIY
Poster/flyer, presumably by Freddie Books, for Sonic’s Rendezvous Band at the Red Carpet in Detroit, June 22-25, 1977.
Poster/ad for three Canadian shows, June 23-26, 1977 on Alice Cooper’s “King of the Silver Screen” tour.
Poster/flyer, presumably by Freddie Books, for the Ramones’ third Michigan show, on June 26, 1977, back at the Second Chance in Ann Arbor, Michigan for the second time, with Sonic’s Rendezvous Band opening again (the “Rock & Roll Rematch”), but also with the addition of Destroy All Monsters.
Poster for Destroy All Monsters opening for Sonic’s Rendezvous Band and the Ramones at the Second Chance in Ann Arbor, Michigan on June 26, 1977. This was two weeks after the Monster’s “Phase Three” debut, also at Second Chance, opening for SRB. We are not aware of any shows in-between, likely making this the Monster’s “Phase Three” second appearance. It is probable that Mike Davis had now joined on bass, making this his first gig with the band.
There is a photo of Cary Loren on the poster, who may have designed the poster, but it is uncertain if he performed with the band. Some reports are that he froze on stage during the band’s first performance, citing that as his only time performing on stage with Ron Asheton.
We know that it was after Loren’s return from his fateful trip to New York City that he was kicked out of the band, Loren has put that trip as occurring in August 1977.
A second poster by Destroy All Monsters for Destroy All Monsters opening for Sonic’s Rendezvous Band and the Ramones at the Second Chance in Ann Arbor, Michigan on June 26, 1977.
A third poster for Destroy All Monsters opening for Sonic’s Rendezvous Band and the Ramones at the Second Chance in Ann Arbor, Michigan on June 26, 1977.
An ad for Alice Cooper in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on June 26, 1977.
Front and back covers of the program book for Bryan Ferry’s first Michigan appearance as a solo artist, at the Masonic Auditorium in Detroit on June 28, 1977. It would be eleven years until his follow-up Michigan appearance, in 1988.
Poster for Bryan Ferry at the Masonic Auditorium in Detroit on June 28, 1977, possibly by Richard B. Kelley.
A clipping from the Summer 1977 issue of Punk magazine in New York City, with a short write-up on Destroy All Monsters, and a note regarding Rob Tyner and Fred Smith.
Sometime in the Spring/Summer of 1977, the band Cinecyde from Clawson, Michigan released their first single on their own Tremor Records label.
The release of “Gutless Radio” marks the beginning of another era in Detroit/Michigan music. Some call it Detroit’s “first punk single”, while others might point to “96 Tears”, or the Dogs, or the Stooges, or Death, so it’s a loaded term, some might label it “new wave”, many did at the time, but whatever the label, it was different and vibrant, a ferocity of creativity with a Do-It-Yourself attitude, it was the start of something that would be prevalent for the next two to ten years distinct from the hardcore punk which would follow.
The best source for this period is Rob St. Mary’s “Detroit Punk Archive” website, where, along with invaluable, nicely organized, information you’ll also find many of the posters and flyers that are coming up. You can get to it here:
http://detroitpunkarchive.com/about-us/
Cinecyde - Gutless Radio / My Doll (1977)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhDiJlphXQM
The cover of Issue #11, July 1977, of Big John’s Cowabunga magazine. Founded by John M. Koenig in Midland, Michigan, this may be one of the final issues as Koenig soon after this joined Goldmine magazine, which had been founded by Brian Bukantis of Fraser, Michigan in September 1974. Koenig would move to Wisconsin with most of the Goldmine staff when the magazine was sold to new owners there in 1983.
The cover of Issue #12, July 1977, of Back Door Man magazine out of Los Angeles, California.
A large poster, 39” x 14”, by an unknown artist, and a long ad, for the “Michigan Jam” in Martin, Michigan, between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, on July 2, 1977, headlined by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, with Heart, Nazareth, Spirit and Wolfman Jack.
An interesting eyewitness report comes from The Seger File website:
“The live shows of that era always featured Alto Reed in some surprising way on "Let It Rock." He'd sneak off stage and reappear atop a huge tower of amps...or the spot would swing up to the upper deck, or down in the crowd and there he'd be. Jesse and I learned to keep an eye on Alto, and we'd often nudge each other during "Let It Rock" when he slyly left the stage. For a number of shows, they rigged up a harness and he did his solo suspended over the fans. I never saw that. But the topper was at a show I did see -- The Michigan Jam, an outdoor concert in the summer of 1976 (sic) at Martin, Michigan.
“Heart played a killer warm-up set, and then Seger and the Silver Bullet Band burned up the stage, doing a terrific set. Seger did an amazing version of "Ship of Fools," a song that never shined much for me as an album cut. "Mainstreet" took on a country flavor and came across re-energized. As the band swung into Let It Rock, a full-size hot air balloon started to grow from behind the stage,
“When it came time for Reed's solo, sure enough, the spotlight swung up...and there he was, high in the cupola, rocking out for all he was worth, sending the crowd into ecstasy. What a sight it was...and what a night. I remember The Michigan Jam as one of Seger's best shows...”
A close-up of the poster for the “Michigan Jam” on July 2, 1977, “Starring the Michigan Man”.
A second poster/flyer for the “Michigan Jam” on July 2, 1977, headlined by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, with Heart, Nazareth, Spirit and Wolfman Jack.
A collage of the “Michigan Jam” on July 2, 1977, with an Ann Arbor record store ad promoting the latest album by supporting group Heart, a newspaper strip ad, a T-shirt, and a photo showing Alto Reed rising into the sky to perform his solo.
A poster/flyer for Alice Cooper in Houston, Texas on July 2, 1977, the sixth show of the “King of the Silver Screen Tour”. Guitarist Steve Hunter, having toured in the Spring with Peter Gabriel, rejoined the touring unit of Dick Wagner on guitar, Prakash John on bass, Penti 'Whitey' Glan on drums and Fred Mandel on keyboards.
Poster/ad by Roger Shepherd for Alice Cooper in San Antonio, Texas on July 5, 1977, the eighth show of the “King of the Silver Screen Tour”.
The first of only four performances by the band Billion Dollar Babies, in Flint Michigan on July 6, 1977. We cannot find the other three shows yet, and the Flint venue is unknown. For those who missed our previous post, here’s the story of the band:
https://www.sickthingsuk.co.uk/01-discography/battle-axe.php
Here is the complete Flint show (audio only):
Billion Dollar Babies – Live in Flint, Michigan (7/6/77)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1qEYmfOooU&list=PLz5uTVVm1_TJFB0cR78H71L0EvTxqVWUx
Poster by Noxon for “The Great Fair Rock Explosion” at the Pontiac Silverdome on July 9, 1977, featuring Black Oak Arkansas, Billion Dollar Babies (either cancelled or one of their only four performances), Brownsville Station, Rex, Michael Stanley, Leslie West, Salem Witchcraft, Frijid Pink and Bogart.
Poster for “SuperJam ‘77” at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri on July 9, 1977, featuring an appearance by Ted Nugent. The British heavy metal band Judas Priest were on their first US tour, although it would be three more years before their first Michigan show.
A newspaper ad for the CBGB club in New York City with an appearance by the Romantics, opening for the Shirts, on July 13, 1977.
An ad for Suzi Quatro at Festival Hall in Melbourne, Australia on July 14, 1977.
A newspaper ad for the Second Chance in Ann Arbor, Michigan with Rob Tyner’s version of the MC5 and the Rockets on July 15, 1977.
George Clinton on the cover of the July 18, 1977 issue of Soul newspaper.
Poster by an unknown artist for Sun Ra at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on July 22, 1977. There are images of three standing musicians hidden in his robe.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer returned to Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan for their third time in two months on July 22, 1977. Like the other two shows (on May 31st and June 1st), a full concert recording of the show was released as a bootleg, but unlike those two, we have not yet found the recording online.
A flyer/ad for the 47th Annual Eaton County Fair in Charlotte, Michigan, with a “sensational rock group”, no mention of the band name except in the fine print of the schedule which lists Brownsville Station on July 26, 1977. The photos are the band members of Brownsville Station.
The ninth studio album by the Grateful Dead, “Terrapin Station” was released on July 27, 1977, featuring album cover art by Stanley Mouse & Alton Kelley taking the album title literally with dancing terrapins on the front cover and on the back cover, a new adaptation of the skull and roses with a one-eyed Cyclops skull.
The album included a cover version of the Martha & the Vandellas’ hit “Dancing in the Streets”. The audio linked below is from a live performance just prior to the album release, at Barton Hall at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York on May 8, 1977. Judging by the comments, this recording is held in high regard as one of the Dead’s finest performances.
Grateful Dead – Dancin’ in the Streets (live 5/8/77)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVRPW3RAQXY
Poster/full-page ad from the Pine Knob Music Theater in Clarkston, Michigan celebrating eight sold-out shows by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band. The first two shows took place July 27-28, 1977, the next two were July 30-31. The next two were August 8-9, and the final two were August 16-17.
A full-page Warner Bros. Records ad in the July 28, 1977 issue of Rolling Stone magazine for the single “Cat Scratch Fever” from the album of the same name by Ted Nugent.
A solo album by Funkadelic guitarist Eddie Hazel was released on July 29, 1977. Cover illustration by Lou Beach with art direction by Mike Doud.
Eddie Hazel - Game, Dames and Guitar Thangs (album) (1977)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SveXC_yabVI&list=PLX66jEixZe1wkUUguKVHlXEJ2RKm47l0M
The front cover of the August 1977 issue of CREEM magazine with illustration of KISS by Gary Ciccarelli.
The calendar of events for August 1977 at the Second Chance in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Newspaper ad for the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio with Commander Cody appearing on August 1, 1977.
Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band performed eight shows at the Pine Knob Music Theater in Clarkston, Michigan over the course of twenty-two nights, from July 27 through August 17, 1977. On the “off nights” in between the eight shows, the band squeezed in four shows out of state, including “Game 3 of the World Series of Rock” at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio on August 6, 1977.
An ad from Record Land record store in Cleveland, Ohio with a sale on Bob Seger albums as a tie-in to his appearance at “Game 3 of the World Series of Rock” at Cleveland Stadium on August 6, 1977.
Seals & Crofts passed through Michigan for the second time in the year, with a show in Kalamazoo on August 6, 1977, an appearance at the Jackson County Fair on August 13, and two shows at Pine Knob in Clarkston, August 14-15.
A full-page Prodigal Records ad in the August 6, 1977 issue of Billboard magazine for the 10th studio album by Rare Earth. In late 1976, former Motown vice president, Barney Ales, an earlier champion of Rare Earth, returned to the company to head up one of their new offshoot labels, Prodigal Records. He made an offer to the group to reunite with Peter Hoorelbeke. The 1972–74 membership of the band (Hoorelbeke, Gil Bridges, Mike Urso, Mark Olson, Ray Monette and Eddie Guzman) were scheduled to record a new album on Prodigal. However, Monette and Olson did not agree to the terms and session players Dan Ferguson (guitar) and Ron Fransen (keyboards) were brought in to record the album.
The highest quality image we’ve found of Roger Shepherd’s television-style poster for Alice Cooper’s “King of the Silver Screen” tour, for the show in Nashville, Tennessee on August 6, 1977. Notice the eyes of something hiding under the TV.
An ad for the Spaghetti Bender in Ypsilanti, Michigan with No Dice appearing August 6-7, 1977.
A poster for the Music Inn in Lenox, Massachusetts with Commander Cody appearing on August 7, 1977, and John Lee Hooker opening for Bonnie Raitt on August 20.
A full-page Warner Bros. Records ad for Alice Cooper’s “Summer ’77 Tour” with two Michigan shows, at Cobo Arena in Detroit, August 8-9, 1977, a third show was also added for August 10th.
Newspaper ads for Alice Cooper’s three shows at Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan, August 8-10, 1977.
A couple of backstage passes for the Alice Cooper Show ’77.
An ad by Jeff Yerkey for Pat Metheny at Michigan State University in East Lansing on August 9, 1977.
Movie poster and soundtrack album for the movie “Big Time”, produced by Motown Records with the debut premier on August 9, 1977. It was Smokey Robinson’s lone venture into film production and screenwriting. He also, naturally, composed the film’s soundtrack.
Smokey Robinson - Theme from Big Time (1977)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzUl3hovlgA
A full-page Motown Records ad for the single “Big Time” by Smokey Robinson, from the soundtrack to the film of the same name, released on August 9, 1977.
Volume Thirteen - 1977 - continues - HERE
A poster for Ted Nugent headlining the “Super Bowl of Rock Game 3” at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois on July 10, 1977.
