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Splatt Gallery's History of Michigan Concert Posters
Volume Six - 1970 - Page Sixteen
The front and back outside covers of the October 1970 issue of CREEM magazine (there had been no September issue).
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The inside cover of the October 1970 issue of CREEM magazine with a feature story on Parliament Funkadelic with shots from the group’s appearance at Edgewater Park in Detroit, Michigan.
An ambiguous ad for Alice Cooper in the October 1970 issue of CREEM magazine, coincidentally on the facing page was a photo of their soon to be ex-boss, Frank Zappa. Recording sessions for the group’s third album in their three-album contract with Zappa’s Straight Records label would soon commence with first-time producer Bob Ezrin. “Love It To Death” would originally be released on Straight, and Warner Brothers would buy out their contract soon after.
A five-page story on Parliament Funkadelic in the October 1970 issue of CREEM magazine, packed with photos.
A full-page ad for Artie Field Productions recording studio in Detroit, Michigan in the October 1970 issue of CREEM magazine.
Iggy Stooge on the cover of the October 1970 issue of Crawdaddy magazine, possibly his first national magazine cover other than CREEM, on which he had graced the June 1970 cover. This same photo, by Kurt Ingham, on the Crawdaddy magazine will also be used for Iggy’s second CREEM magazine cover, for their December 1970 issue.
A full-page illustration by Gary Grimshaw in the October 1970 issue of Other Scenes magazine in New York City.
Cover art by Tom Sincavitch on the October 1, 1970 issue of the Fifth Estate newspaper in Detroit, Michigan.
The cover of the second issue of Sun/Dance was issued on October 1, 1970, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The second issue of Sun/Dance was issued on October 1, 1970, three months after the first issue, another large, forty-page publication packed with art and color. Here is an article illustration by Gary Grimshaw in collaboration with an artist named Carlson.
On the left, a poster from the October 1, 1970 issue of Sun/Dance by Leni Sinclair.
On the right, a mini poster on the subscription page of the October 1, 1970 issue of Sun/Dance with photo by Detroit Annie.
On October 2, 1970, the doors of the Grande Ballroom were re-opened for the first time since the end of February, for a John Sinclair Birthday Celebration. It was Sinclair’s 29th birthday, he’d been imprisoned for fifteen months at this point. It is unknown who provided the music. Poster by J.P.S. Stoddard.
Poster by Dennis Preston, for Plain Brown Wrapper at Shaw Hall in East Lansing, Michigan, October 2, 1970.
An ad for the MC5 at the Action House in Long Island, New York, opening for Rhinoceros on October 2, 1970, a new image for the MC5 gateway timeline. With “Continuous Shows from 9 PM till 3 AM” – not sure what that means.
While opening for Lee Michaels at the Eastown Theater in Detroit, October 2-3, 1970, Catfish recorded their second album from their live set. Album cover artwork by New York artist James Grashow, perhaps best known for the cover artwork for Jethro Tull's 1969 album "Stand Up".
The story of Bob Hodge and Catfish is well-told here:
https://dereksmusicblog.com/2018/02/14/catfish-get-down-and-live-catfish/
Catfish – Live Catfish (album) (1970)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aqivzsN3Fs
Poster/handbill for Teegarden & Van Winkle with Plain Brown Wrapper and Springwell at the Palladium in Birmingham, Michigan, October 3, 1970, by an unknown artist.
On October 4, 1970, just sixteen days after Jimi Hendrix had died from a drug overdose, Janis Joplin did the same damn thing. And like Jimi, Janis was 27 years old.
Poster from the Chicago Seed newspaper, commemorating Janis Joplin’s passing on October 4, 1970. The Seed had become the most consistently colorful publication in the underground press.
Photo by David Fenton used for a full-page tribute to Janis Joplin’s passing on October 4, 1970 in the Nola Express newspaper in New Orleans.
One more poster that appeared in many of the underground press newspapers commemorating the death of Janis Joplin on October 4, 1970.
The front cover of the October 5, 1970 issue of the Second Coming newspaper in Ypsilanti, Michigan by “LaRon”, an homage to Chicago cartoonist Skip Williamson.
A poster by cartoonist Trina Robbins in the October 5, 1970 issue of the Second Coming newspaper in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Robbins had just relocated from New York to San Francisco and would later become the first woman to draw Wonder Woman for DC comics.
Poster/flyer for Alice Cooper at the Dearborn Gym at the University Of Maine in Farmington, Maine on October 6, 1970.
Poster by Mozip with Cactus opening for Delaney & Bonnie in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on October 6, 1970.
A full-page ad for the “Cruisin’” record series in the October 6, 1970 edition of the Michigan Daily newspaper in Ann Arbor (color embellished). Each album was tied to a particular radio DJ around the country and featured the hit songs from the year. The first volume, “Cruisin’ 1956”, honored one of Detrioit’s favorites, Robin Seymour.
The “Cruisin’” series of records consisted of sixteen albums, one for each of the years from 1955 through 1970, that featured the hits of that year, along with contemporary ads and radio jingles, each one presented by a selected DJ of the period. We featured one earlier since the second one, 1956, was made for Detroit’s own Robin Seymour. The final volume, 1970, was also made for a Michigan (born) DJ, Kris Eric Stevens, who began his career in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, eventually ending up at WLS in Chicago, which because of its strong signal, just happened to be the rock radio station most listened to by the kids in U.P.
If you’re interested, details of each of these records can be found here, where you’ll also see the excellent cover art by Mike Royer that tells the story of teenage sweethearts Eddie and Peg throughout the years.
https://web.archive.org/web/20131016172827/http://leemichaelwithers.tripod.com/cruisin.htm
And, because it will be another three years before the band Sugarloaf will perform in Michigan (at Sherwood Forest in 1973), we’ll add their 1970 hit, from the “Cruisin’ 1970” list of hits, to our soundtrack here.
Sugarloaf – Green-Eyed Lady (1970)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_i7PKdQJU4
Near the end of 1970, Kenny Cox of the Contemporary Jazz Quintet embarked on a project that, true to the nature of the group, would emphasize artistic freedom over profit and started the Strata Records label. To go along with the label, he opened the Strata Gallery as a counterpart live music venue. We will see in the years to come, studio albums, such as Lyman Woodard’s “Saturday Night Special”, and live recordings by the likes of Charles Mingus.
This poster, by an unknown artist, is from the opening weekend at its first location, October 9-11, 1970.
Here’s a short introductory video for a project that noted DJ Amir Abdullah assembled for his 2012 exhibit and promotion of his re-issue efforts for the unreleased treasures, as the label only had six official releases during its tenure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nD1Qt4CaN0
An ad for Pop Entertainment at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan by Robert Daniels for upcoming shows, starting with Pacific Gas & Electric with Sweetwater on October 10, 1970, followed by shows with Richie Havens and Melanie, and Jethro Tull with Catfish. The ad also mentions shows that Pop Entertainment presented in 1969-1970.
Best surviving copy (?) of this poster by an unknown artist for Pacific Gas & Electric with Sweetwater at the Jenison Fieldhouse in East Lansing, Michigan, October 10, 1970.
Another Lansing-area poster artist, Doug Huston, for a show by Pacific Gas & Electric with Sweetwater on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing, October 10, 1970.
Artwork by Robert Daniel for Pacific Gas & Electric with Sweetwater at Michigan State University in East Lansing, October 10, 1970.
Ad from Discount Records in East Lansing, Michigan, with tie-in to the Pacific Gas & electric concert on October 10, 1970.
Poster by Chad Hines for “Iggy and the Incredible Stooges” with the Bob Seger System and Julius Victor at the Palladium in Birmingham, Michigan, October 10, 1970. This was the final show for saxophonist Steve Mackay who was “gratefully fired” by Iggy. Mackay went back to working at Discount Records in Ann Arbor and playing with his band Carnal Kitchen, and as we’ll see, continued a fascinating career.
Poster for Grand Funk Railroad in Seattle, Washington, October 10, 1970.
When we last saw Stanley Mouse, he had received a call from Eric Clapton to come to London to paint Clapton’s Rolls Royce in late 1968. Clapton, however, had not sent a check so Mouse returned to Detroit to raise funds through his perennial gig painting t-shirts at the Michigan State Fair. By the time Mouse arrived in London, unfortunately Clapton had wrecked the car in a crash. His arrival also coincided with a drug bust at Clapton’s estate.
Although Mouse had some amazing experiences in London, such as attending George Harrison’s birthday party, he was basically adrift in a strange land with no source of income. He survived there for about a year taking on freelance jobs, including work for Blind Faith and the Beatles, and then returned to the states, joining his partner Alton Kelley who had landed a job in New York producing signage for the Woodstock festival.
Mouse and Kelley were working on an album cover for Jimi Hendrix which came to an abrupt halt when the guitarist passed away. That artwork was later used for a series of album covers by the band Journey.
He returned to Detroit when the Detroit Institute of Arts of offered a solo exhibition of his work that opened on October 13, 1970. When the exhibit ended, Mouse moved to Toronto, Canada and worked at a waterbed store for a couple of years.
Poster by Stanley Mouse for the exhibit of his work at the Detroit Institute of Arts from October 13, 1970 through November 8th.
An ad for a “Hot Dog Holocaust” at the Lawyers Club Lounge in Ann Arbor, Michigan with the Whiz Kids on October 15, 1970.
Capitol Records ad with illustration by California poster artist John Van Hammersveld, and a description of Bob Seger’s Mongrel album, published October 15, 1970.
A full-page Motown Records ad for the song “Stoned Love” by the Supremes, released on October 15, 1970. Written by Detroit teenager Kenny Thomas, who came to the attention of Motown producer Frank Wilson on a radio talent show, the song was originally written and recorded as “Stone Love”, but mistakenly got released mislabeled as “Stoned Love”, which caused some problems as it was interpreted as a drug reference.
It was the Supremes’ second Top Ten hit with Jean Terrell in place of Diana Ross, it would be their last one in the US although they would continue to have top ten hits in the UK into 1972.
The Supremes – Stoned Love (1970)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2ce7FWOAM8
The “missing issue” #31, October 15, 1970 of the Ann Arbor Argus newspaper, with a tribute to Janis Joplin who passed away on October 4th.
A center-page poster in the October 15, 1970 issue of the Ann Arbor Argus newspaper in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Some sources say that a poster exists for this show at the Grand Valley Armory near Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 16, 1970, but we can’t find it. It perhaps would have also listed the opening band, Danny Hernandez & The Ones. The Lansing band that had a single released on Motown in 1968 that received no promotion were given another shot on the Rare Earth label with this single that was released in September 1970;
Danny Hernandez & The Ones – As Long As I’ve Got You (1970)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzLeH--4UX0
A tour itinerary for Rod Stewart (although billing was as the Faces, or even, the Small Faces) with four Michigan shows, the first two at the Eastown Theater in Detroit October 16-17, 1970, then at the Birmingham Palladium on October 27th, and finally, at the Olympia Stadium in Detroit on November 7th, the Olympia being ten times the size of the Birmingham Palladium.
We are not certain, but this small ad for Pink Floyd at Pepperland in San Rafael, California, October 16-17, 1970 may be the work of Carl Lundgren.
A couple of gems come out of this as well. First, there is the bootleg recording of this complete show from the Atom Heart Mother tour, held in high regard by collectors, and then there is this link to probably the best archive of Pink Floyd concert posters that we’ve ever found:
http://www.pinkfloydarchives.com/posters/PostInd.htm
Pink Floyd – Live at Pepperland, San Rafael, California (10/16/70)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maUlHAyt-Bw&t=2812s
The Four Tops were a late replacement for Dave Mason & Cass Elliot at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, California, October 16-18, 1970. Poster artist Randy Tuten had made a beauty of a poster for the original booking.
An ad for Doctor Ross with Buddies In The Saddle at the Union Ballroom in Ann Arbor, Michigan on October 17, 1970.
The line-up for a show in Galesburg, Illinois on October 17, 1970, featuring three Michigan bands, SRC, Frijid Pink, and Alice Cooper.
Two-page spread in the October 17, 1970 issue of Billboard magazine, celebrating Grand Funk Railroad’s accomplishment of “three Gold albums in less than three months”. It was only a slight exaggeration, it was three months and six days, still a remarkable feat.
The way it happened was that their second album, released in December 1969, was the first to reach Gold, hitting the mark about three weeks after the release of their third album. That third album reached Gold quickly, hitting the mark about a month after its release, and the momentum finally pulled their first album, released in August 1969, over the mark just prior to this issue of Billboard. (a Gold album certification in these pre-1976 days meant one million dollars in sales).
And the streak was extended with the release of their fourth album, a live album, that hit Gold amazingly just one week after its release. Band manager Terry Knight took out a five-page ad in Billboard magazine for that one.
First album – released August 25, 1969 – certified Gold on October 12, 1970
Second album – released December 29, 1969 – certified Gold on July 6, 1970
Third album – released June 15, 1970 – certified Gold on August 12, 1970
Live album – released November 16, 1970 – certified Gold on November 23, 1970
Poster/ad with Parliament, Last Poets, and the Unifics at Boston University on October 17, 1970.
Carolyn Heines presented her eighth rock concert at the Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 18, 1970.
A nice half-page ad in a student newspaper with Frijid Pink in Des Moines, Iowa on October 18, 1970.
The front cover of the October 19, 1970 issue of the 2nd Coming newspaper in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The illustration is signed by Dave Stopke, whom we are reasonably certain is the son of Ann Arbor artist Edward Alexander Stopke, and will be the older brother of Mark Stopke. Mark, born in 1975, will become a tattoo artist, co-founder of Lucky Monkey Tattoo in Ann Arbor and a designer of concert posters and flyers.
Volume Six - 1970 - continues - HERE
