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Splatt Gallery's History of Michigan Concert Posters
Volume Five - 1969 - Page Eleven
The First Annual Detroit Rock & Roll Revival at the Michigan State Fairgrounds on May 30-31, 1969 was Michigan’s biggest rock show to date. Perhaps not in terms of attendance, but in the number of acts (around 35) and in being a multi-day, outdoor event.
And it was a success. Russ Gibb achieved another accomplishment in producing an event of this scope, and indeed, the line-up reflected the aesthetic of the Grande Ballroom, with Sun Ra and Dr. John having just come off recent performances at the ballroom, and with Grande regulars, MC5, Stooges, Frost, SRC, Rationals, Lyman Woodard, Third Power, Savage Grace, James Gang, Amboy Dukes.
It was the first Michigan appearances for Johnny Winter and David Peel & the Lower East Side, and although not listed on the poster, it was the premier appearance of the new band under Terry Knight’s management, the core of the former Pack, now a trio called Grand Funk Railroad.
The Grande Ballroom was, in fact closed for this weekend, the first weekend that the doors had been shut since the opening in October, 1966. On Sunday night, after the conclusion of the State Fairground show, Gibb held a private party and jam session at the ballroom for “the press, participants, and “other beautiful people” of the Detroit Rock and Roll Revival”.
Gary Grimshaw’s poster is also a milestone. This was his first poster that looked dramatically different from his Grande Ballroom posters, or the work he’d done for The Fifth Estate, The Oracle, and other publications. Like his friend, Carl Lundgren, Grimshaw had spent a large portion of early 1969 working in the underground comics medium, and the clean line, cartoon style is evident here. And the colors! From the rainbow inner frame to the bleed from yellow to orange, starkly contrasted by the blue outer border, to the elegant hand-lettering, it was the most eye-pleasingly beautiful concert poster of any we’ve seen before.
Grimshaw has said that he felt his best work was during the 1970’s and the poster for the First Annual Detroit Rock & Roll Revival sets the style for the posters to come.
Johnny Winter – Highway 61 Revisited (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yclRjptWlW8
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This is a close-up of a detail from Gary Grimshaw's First Annual Detroit Rock & Roll Revival poster. As described in the previous post, we see this one as a milestone, the first of the many "Grimshaws" to come. This may be our all-time favorite Grimshaw, and possibly our favorite rock poster all together.
The Grande Ballroom posters were ground-breaking, an integral component of the ground-breaking model that Bill Graham had imparted to Russ Gibb, a component that Graham himself had adopted from a bunch of Detroit artists who had relocated to San Francisco and called themselves the Family Dog. The posters didn't merely advertise the event to attract an attendance, they embodied the event, evoking the elements of the music and the lights and the LSD.
Gary Grimshaw with the right talent, at the right place, at the right time, created a body of work for the Grande Ballroom that equaled the work of the San Francisco Fillmore artists, but with his own imprimatur, one that could only come from living and working and playing in the city of Detroit.
And yet, the Grande Ballroom posters were always subservient to the legend and the cache of Grande Ballroom itself, Grimshaw's posters were identifiably separate from the other Grande artists, but were not radically different from them. The words "Grande Ballroom" tended to ultimately supersede anything else on the piece of paper.
The First Annual Detroit Rock & Roll Revival poster finally unveiled the aesthetic and the technique that on immediate recognition could be called "a Grimshaw".
An alternate color version, perhaps a flyer, of Gary Grimshaw’s poster for the First Annual Detroit Rock & Roll Revival at the Michigan State Fairgrounds on May 30-31, 1969.
A handbill version of Gary Grimshaw’s poster for the First Annual Detroit Rock & Roll Revival at the Michigan State Fairgrounds on May 30-31, 1969.
Full-page newspaper ad for the May 30-31, 1969 Detroit Rock and Roll Revival at the Michigan State Fairgrounds, with Leni Sinclair’s classic photo of MC5 guitarist Fred Smith. This photo was also used for the cover of David Carson’s book, “Grit, Noise and Revolution”.
Dennis Frawley, who with his partner Bob Rudnick had brought their Kokaine Karma radio from WFMU in New Jersey to WABX in Detroit, wrote a glowing review of the Revival in The Fifth Estate, pointing out that this had been a rock and roll festival, not a pop festival, and attributed it to only being able to come out of Detroit, which he lovingly referred to as “the crotch of the nation”.
Small ad from The Ann Arbor Argus newspaper in the build-up to the Rock & Roll Revival, likely by Argus artist Dave Baker.
Early version of the poster ad, by an unknown artist, for the Detroit Rock and Roll Revival, May 30-31, 1969, published in the Ann Arbor Argus newspaper without the famous picture of MC5 guitarist Fred Smith, and with a cool little eyeball instead. “First Annual” is misspelled as “Firt Annual”, Johnny Winter’s name is also misspelled.
An MC5 poster published by Pandora Publications in Wayzata, Minnesota, photo credited to Mike Barich, taken at the Rock & Roll Revival at the Michigan State Fairgrounds, May 30-31, 1969.
Newspaper ad for the 1969 Detroit Rock and Roll Revival with the line-ups for both days.
A guest pass for First Annual Detroit Rock & Roll Revival at the Michigan State Fairgrounds on May 30-31, 1969, unmistakably by poster artist Carl Lundgren.
In the legends of Grand Funk Railroad, the band made its first-ever appearance at the 1969 Detroit Rock and Roll Revival at the Michigan State Fairgrounds, where further to the legend, they blew away the main act, Chuck Berry, and were invited back to headline the second night. We had remained skeptical since their name does not appear on any of the posters or other published line-ups, and are they never mentioned in any reviews of the shows that we could find (as they certainly would be had their reception been as manager Terry Knight described it). On top of that, Chuck Berry was the headliner on the second night and not the first.
But this contract, which we recently discovered, is proof that they were indeed signed on for the event, it is signed by promoter Russ Gibb and by Mark Farner, and the band is still so new that the contract has the band name simply as “Funk”.
So we have to agree that GFR’s debut was at the Rock & Roll Revival, May 30, 1969, but the Chuck Berry story remains in the realm of Terry Knight’s over-active hype.
Here are two separate issues of CREEM magazine, both designated as Vol 2. No. 1. Here is a description of the two from an auction website:
“Both say Volume 1, # 2 on the covers, but are totally different. The issue on the left with Pete Townsend on the cover has a masthead (see photo), but the other one does not. The issue on the left is mostly devoted to artists who will appearing at the 1st Annual Detroit Rock & Roll Revival on May 31st, 1969. It also has the schedule on the inside front page.
The other issue is mostly record company ads (like the Straight Records and Velvet Underground ads shown), and local Detroit events and businesses. One of these businesses is Full Circle records, owned by Barry Kramer, but Kramer's name doesn't appear on the masthead in the other issue. These magazines are very intriguing to a Creem fan. Why is Barry Kramer not on the masthead of the "official" issue? Is the other issue an in house and/or local issue? Any insight would be appreciated.”
Our guess is that the second Vol 2. No. 1 “issue” was probably an insert into the other.
Here are the back covers of the two issues of CREEM magazine, Vol. 2 No. 1. The Tim Buckley ad is the back cover for the issue with the Who front cover. The back cover with the poster for the opening of the Eastown Theater that we saw earlier is on the back of the issue with the Rock & Revival poster on the front.
Better images of the two issues of CREEM magazine, Vol 2 No. 1. The issue with the Who on the cover is newly added to the CREEM Magazine archive, they label this issue as June 1969, the entire issue is essentially a program for the Detroit Rock & Roll Revival on May 30-31, 1969, even though neither the Who, nor the Mothers, appeared at that event.
The one with the Rock & Rock Revival poster is not found in the archive.
The first two inside pages of CREEM magazine Vol 2 No. 1 with the Who on the cover.
Each page of the Vol 2 No. 1 issue of CREEM magazine, with the Who on the cover, has a feature story on the acts that appeared at the Rock & Roll Revival. Here are Chuck Berry and the MC5. The other pages follow:
An ad in the Detroit Rock & Roll Revival program/issue of CREEM magazine that looks like an intended follow-up to the Rock & Roll Revival, but had no chance of happening.
The Who had performed at the Grande Ballroom in early May and would return in October, Dr. John, who was at the Rock & Roll Revival, would not return until June 1970, and It’s A Beautiful Day had performed at the Grande Ballroom in late May and would not return until May 1972.
Illustration by Linz for the Village Pub in Birmingham, Michigan that appeared in the Volume 2, Number 1 issue of CREEM magazine with the Rock & Roll Revival poster cover. Ironically, by the time of publication, the Village Pub may have already ended operations, the concert database shows the final show as being the James Gang with the Warlocks on May 3, 1969.
The history of the address of 136 Brownell begins in 1964, when the Raven Gallery in Detroit relocated to the location. That arrangement only lasted ten months, with the last known show being Josh White in April 1965. Following that, it became known as the Birmingham-Bloomfield Teen Center, and although there must have been a number of shows that took place at the BBTC, there is only one, a show by SRC in April 1967, that is listed in the concert database.
The first show at the location, as the Village Pub, was on April 27, 1968 with the Seven Sounds and the Bottle Company. The concert database has 45 shows up through the James Gang’s show in early May 1969. The facility appears to have been dormant for the next seven months, until Punch Andrews, possibly with the help of Russ Gibb, re-opened it as the Birmingham Palladium with a show by Bob Seger, with Cactus, Third Power and Johnny & the Hurricanes on November 7, 1969.
An ad in in the Volume 2, Number 1 issue of CREEM magazine with the Rock & Roll Revival poster cover for a special edition single by the MC5, released on AMG Records. AMG, founded by Arnold Mark Geller had released the first MC5 single, in 1967, “I Can Only Give You Everything” backed with “One of The Guys.” This 1969 release substituted “One of The Guys” with a different original track called “I Just Don’t Know”.
The MC5 – I Just Don’t Know (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa0Pf7yLND0
During the Detroit Rock & Roll Revival weekend, May 30-31, 1969, Carnal Kitchen performed at the Canterbury House in Ann Arbor. We’ve been informed that band member and saxophonist Steve Mackay made these flyers for his band’s shows.
Not included as part of the First Annual Detroit Rock & Roll Revival, Bob Seger appeared that weekend in the familiar confines of the Clawson Hideout club. There seems to have been a schism between Russ Gibb and the Grande bands, and Punch Andrews and the Hideout bands, each with separate fan bases. It may come as a surprise that Bob Seger never played the Grande Ballroom.
Poster by an unknown artist for Bob Seger System with Tea at Punch Andrews’ Clawson Hideout on May 30, 1969.
“Tales of Lucy Blue” was the B-side to the single “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” and it was meant to be the title of Seger’s first album, hence the album cover art, but the album title was changed at the last minute to capitalize on the hit A-side of the single.
The Bob Seger System- Tales of Lucy Blue (1968)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9KkhwqZ6AI
The Magnificent Men formed in Pennsylvania in 1964, in 1966 they became the first all-white group to headline the Apollo Theatre in New York City, and by 1969 they were headlining the Motown Revues and this “Biggest Show of 1969” at Cobo Arena in Detroit, May 31, 1969. Notice that by this point, George Clinton had established the Parliaments and Funkadelic as two separate groups that could co-share a billing.
The Magnificent Men – Peace of Mind (1966)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgDUjUAORr4
A totally incredibly awesome Globe Poster for “The Biggest Show 1969” at the Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan, May 31, 1969. This one has got it all – Parliaments, Funkadelics, Dennis Coffey & the (Lyman Woodard) Trio, The Originals, Carolyn Franklin, Belita Woods, The Detroit Emeralds, Al Perkins, and even Mad Dog & the Pups and Bobby Franklin’s Insanity. A million-dollar poster!
Let’s check out the show:
The Originals – Baby I’m For Real (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dcHGP8_9p0
Carolyn Franklin – It’s True I’m Gonna Miss You (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ChBwpAC_PM
Dennis Coffey & the Lyman Woodard Trio – It’s Your Thing (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMsY1wP_k5o
The Funkadelics – I’ll Bet You (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m794e9Z-4aw
The Parliaments – Good Old Music (1968)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YccUAOtBAGw
Al Perkins – Yes, My Goodness, Yes (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMHpcQfFglg
Mad Dog & the Pups – Hip Squeeze (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0dZP-ZsoNc
Bobby Franklin’s Insanity – Bring It On Down (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lcsJwitcpA
The Detroit Emeralds – Show Time (1967)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_KfWwZxB8o
Belita Woods – Grounded/Magic Corner (1967)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyr0T5uw57A
Dennis Coffey’s debut album, released in 1969, as the Dennis Coffey Trio with drummer Andrew Smith and keyboardist Lyman Woodard. Drummer Melvin Davis and bassists Bob Babbitt and Tony Newton also contributed to the recording. Titled “Hair and Thangs” the first side featured cover versions of songs from the musical “Hair”, and the songs on side two had “Thangs” in the titles, such as “Do Your Thang”, “Electric Thang”, “Iceberg Thang” and a cover of the Isley Brothers’ “It’s Your Thang”. A couple of Beatles’ songs rounded out the set. Cover art by Ted Friesen and Mike Theodore, who also produced the album.
“It’s Your Thing” was released as a single, credited to the Dennis Coffey & Lyman Woodard Trio, with a non-LP track “River Rouge” on the flip side.
Dennis Coffey Trio – Hair and Thangs (album) (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7TPuh6uaIM
Terry Sharbach poster for one-night stand by the Amboy Dukes at Grandmother’s in East Lansing, June 1, 1969, and the only known appearance of the band Octopuss.
The gateway timeline has an odd show for The MC5 at a place called Mildred’s Electric Malt Shop in Russell’s Point, Ohio, with The Flea Circus on June 1, 1969, and here we’ve found a great Tribune Press poster for that show.
A full-page Motown records ad for the single “Abraham, Martin & John”, a cover of Dion’s 1968 hit by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. The clip below is from the group’s performance of the song on the June 1, 1969 broadcast of the Ed Sullivan TV show.
Marvin Gaye also recorded a version of the song shortly after that reach #9 in the UK but was not released as a single in the US.
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles – Abraham, Martin & John (Ed Sullivan show 6/1/69)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW0QJMlu3-w
Marvin Gaye - Abraham, Martin & John (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfYPmibldQg
Call for support to attend John Sinclair’s hearing at Recorders Court in Detroit, Michigan, June 3, 1969.
Ungano’s in New York City with the Amboy Dukes on June 4-11, 1969 and The MC5 on June 19-22. John Braden was assigned to open for both of these Detroit groups.
Newspaper ad for the Amboy Dukes at Ungano’s in New York City, June 4-8, 1969. And, by the way, the Who were also in town.
Two posters for the opening weekend at Wampler’s Lake Pavillion, May 30-31, 1969. The concert database has a slightly adjusted line-up, with Orpheus, the Litter, and Wilson Mower Pursuit on the first night, and the Bob Seger System with Wilson Mower Pursuit on the second night, which also resolves any conflict with the previous poster for Bob Seger at the Clawson Hideout on the 30th. There is no mention of the James Gang in the database.
The poster also highlights Stoney & the Wilson Mower Pursuit and “their hit record”, or perhaps it is Orpheus with the hit record.
A very favorable review of the Rock & Roll Revival at the Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit in the June 1969 issue of the Chicago Seed newspaper.
Poster by Randy Tuten with Jr. Walker & the All Stars opening for the Grateful Dead at the Fillmore in San Francisco, California, for four nights, from June 5, 1969 through June 8th.
Flyer/handbill for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles at the Copacabana in New York City on June 5, 1969, with Dick Lord.
The second weekend at the Eastown Theatre, June 6-7, 1969 featured Carl Lundgren’s second poster for the venue, with MC5, Illinois Speed Press, Stooges, and UP. Also, an alternative color version.
An ad in the May 24, 1969 issue of the Ann Arbor Argus newspaper for a “Festival After the Festival” at the Michigan State Fairgrounds on June 6-7, 1969, the same unlikely event that was advertised in CREEM magazine’s Rock & Roll Revival issue. Nice use, though, of the Grande Ballroom “lightning bulb” logo by Dave Baker.
Two posters for E.T. Hooley, with drummer K.J. Knight, opening for Joe Cocker at the Rose Palace in Pasadena, California, June 6-7, 1969 (not 1968). And here is the second of three tracks that the band recorded with Slim Harpo while in California.
Slim Harpo with The Case of E.T. Hooley – Jody Man (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HAl1jybj84
Poster/ad with Alice Cooper joining the Platters, the McCoys and Ten Wheel Drive at the Felt Forum in New York City, June 6-7, 1969.
A colorized (by us) version of the ad for Alice Cooper joining the Platters, the McCoys and Ten Wheel Drive at the Felt Forum in New York City, June 6-7, 1969.
Volume Five - 1969 - continues - HERE
