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Splatt Gallery's History of Michigan Concert Posters
The Grande Ballroom Posters - Page Seven
The 99th weekend at The Grande Ballroom, August 23-25, 1968 featured Carl Lundgren’s 16th poster for the venue. Albert King headlined three nights, supported by the Rationals, Jagged Edge, Psychedelic Stooges, Toad, the Blues Confederation, Dharma, and Wilson Mower Pursuit.
This image was produced only as a postcard, but was printed on nine different color stocks to, in Lundgren’s words, “drive collectors crazy”. The colors were light rust, blue, yellow, bluish-green, light cream, orange, salmon, white, and pink.
The cards measure approximately 4″ x 7″.
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The 100th weekend at The Grande Ballroom, August 30-31, 1968 featured Carl Lundgren’s 17th poster for the venue. Howlin’ Wolf headlined both nights, with support by Chrysalis (both nights), Thyme, and the Charging Rhinoceros of Soul.
This image was produced only as a 4” x 7” postcard. No poster is known to exist for this event.
In addition, this card was produced as a double card with the Oakland Pop Festival postcard. These cards measure approximately 8″ x 7″.
With Albert King the week before, and BB King coming up next, it was a three-week run of Blue’s legends.
The opening band, Chrysalis from Ithaca, New York, made its only Detroit appearance, in fact, the farthest west that the band ever ventured according to band leader Spider Barbour. Hardcore Zappa fans know that Barbour became friends with Frank and appeared on early Mothers of Invention albums after Chrysalis expired after one ill-fated album in 1968.
Chrysalis – Piece of the Sun(1968)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzOVnIuoCBA
Carl Lundgren’s postcard for Howlin’ Wolf at the Grande Ballroom was also produced as a “double card” joined with his postcard for the Oakland Pop Festival at Oakland University on September 1, 1968.
The back side of the double card with the map to Oakland University on the back of the Oakland Pop Festival side. The line in the middle is perforated to allow separation into two individual cards.
Carl Lundgren was becoming overloaded with the poster work, so he went on Russ Gibb’s radio show and announced a search for local artists to help him out. One of the respondents, Chris Morton, got the job for the 101st weekend at the Grande Ballroom, September 6-9, 1968, with the third of the Blue’s legends show.
B.B. King headlined three nights, with support by Jagged Edge (two nights), Frost (two nights), Wilson Mower Pursuit, and Psychedelic Stooges.
This image was originally produced only as a postcard that measures approximately 4″ x 7.5″.
The 102nd weekend at the Grande Ballroom, September 13-15, 1968 saw the return of poster artist Donnie Dope, with his first Grande poster in exactly a year. The poster is co-credited to Carl Lundgren.
Procol Harum headlined three nights, with support by Children, Third Power, H. P. & the Grass Route Movement, and Thyme.
This image was originally produced only as an oversized postcard that measures approximately 5″ x 8″.
Procol Harum found a welcoming home at the farm in Ann Arbor where SRC lived and partied, and stayed in town for weeks at a time, spanning their appearance at the Oakland Pop Festival, these Grande shows, and a quick return a month later for a total of at least nine shows in Detroit in 1968. Supposedly, there is an album’s worth of material that Procol Harum recorded with SRC at the farm that has never been released.
Procol Harum – Shine On Brightly (1968)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E12YAuAYjLQ
A newspaper ad for Procol Harum (sic) at the Grande Ballroom, September 13-15, 1968, with adjacent movie ads. The ad also lists a Monday night show, September 16th, for Procol Harum with SRC at the Fifth Dimension club in Ann Arbor.
The 103rd weekend at The Grande Ballroom, September 20-22, 1968 featured Donnie Dope’s 17th poster for the venue. The Amboy Dukes headlined three nights, supported by the McKenna Mendleson Mainline, MC5, Rodney Knight & the Soul Sextet, UP, and Psychedelic Stooges.
This image was originally produced only as an oversized postcard that measures approximately 5.5″ x 8″.
It was the first time that the MC5 played the Grande since being banned after the Blue Cheer show in June, and Danny Fields from Elektra Records was in the audience to see The Five for the first time.
Donnie Dope’s poster for the Grande Ballroom, September 20-22, 1968, as it appeared in The Fifth Estate newspaper.
The 104th weekend at The Grande Ballroom, September 27-29, 1968 featured Carl Lundgren’s 19th poster for the venue. Spooky Tooth headlined three nights, with support by the McCoys (all three shows), the James Gang, Sabbath Opera, and the Wild Yam Rama Chuck Band.
This image was originally produced only as a postcard that measures approximately 4″ x 7″.
The British band Spooky Tooth made its first Detroit appearance. The band was formerly known as ART, which made one album in 1967 called “Supernatural Fairy Tales”, which also became the name for a 1996 Rhino Records box set of early prog rock.
ART – I Think I’m Going Weird (1967)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv7UXJ5NR18
Second Year Summary
By our count, there had been 263 shows to date, The MC5 had played 75 of them, with the second most going to Thyme with 35, followed by The Rationals with 26, Jagged Edge with 25, and SRC with 18. The Southbound Freeway played fifteen times, but those had all been in the first year, when they were second only to The MC5. UP was catching up with 15, as were the Stooges with 14.
The Grande had also become the venue for first Michigan performances by out-of-town acts, as was the case the next upcoming week with the first Detroit appearance by Ten Years After. Other bands that premiered in Michigan at the Grande included The Grateful Dead, Big Brother & the Holding Company, Tim Buckley, Canned Heat, The Youngbloods, The Troggs, Sly & the Family Stone, Procol Harum, Love, James Gang, Blue Cheer, John Mayall, Jeff Beck Group, Pink Floyd, Spirit, Steve Miller, Country Joe & the Fish, and Spooky Tooth.
There had been 107 posters up to this point after two years, with Gary Grimshaw’s fifty-seven, Donnie Dope’s return put him at seventeen, and a first-year total for Carl Lundgren was 19.
October 1968
The 105th weekend at the Grande Ballroom, October 4-6, 1968 featured Carl Lundgren’s 20th poster for the venue. It is also co-credited to Donnie Dope, making it his 18th. It was also the two-year anniversary for the Grande, although there doesn’t seem to have been much made of the occasion.
Ten Years After , in their first Michigan appearance, headlined three nights, supported by the Rationals (all three nights), Orange Fuzz, Stuart Avery Assemblage, and the Dave Workman Blues Band.
This image was originally produced only as a postcard that measures approximately 4″ x 7″.
A newspaper ad for Ten Years After at the Grande Ballroom, October 4-6, 1968, with an ad for an upcoming appearance by Cream at the Olympia Stadium.
The 106th weekend at the Grande Ballroom, October 11-13, 1968 featured Carl Lundgren’s 21st poster for the venue. John Mayall headlined for three nights, supported by the Psychedelic Stooges (all three nights), Frost, Third Power, the Mind Machine, and Mick Taylor.
It was originally produced only as a postcard form that measures approximately 4″ x 7″.
Carl Lundgren’s postcard for John Mayall at the Grande Ballroom was also issued as a “double card” with his postcard for the upcoming show by Big Brother & the Holding Company at the Grande on October 15th. The double card measures approximately 8″ x 7″.
A second poster was discovered for the October 11-13, 1968 weekend with John Mayall, made by artist Matt Rock. In a few weeks, Matt will produce one of the most iconic Grande posters, using his real name, Matthew Radofsky.
On Saturday, October 12, Cream was playing what would be their last Detroit show at the Olympia Stadium. Cream had performed at the Grande Ballroom eight times, the most recent being just four months prior in June. Following their show at the Olympia, Eric Clapton went over to the Grande to sit in with his old boss, John Mayall.
An ad for the “Grandee” in Detroit, Michigan, with John Mayall appearing October 11-13, 1968, and an upcoming appearance by Janis Joplin with Big Brother & the Holding Company on October 15th.
Another newspaper ad for John Mayall and the Psychedelic Stooges at the Grande Ballroom, October 11-13, 1968.
A mid-week show at the Grande Ballroom, Tuesday, October 15, 1968 featured Carl Lundgren’s 22nd poster for the venue. It is also co-credited to Donnie Dope, making it his 19th.
This image was originally produced only as a postcard form (and as the double card described before). The postcard measures approximately 4″ x 7″.
It would be the last time that Janis Joplin performed with Big Brother & the Holding Company in Detroit, although she and the band would return separately over the years.
This would also be the final appearance at the Grande Ballroom by the Ann Arbor band, the Thyme, the band second only to the MC5 in number of appearances at the Grande, this would be Number 35, which would keep them in second place for a while longer.
The 107th weekend at the Grande Ballroom, October 18-20, 1968, featured the first poster by artist Bonnie Green, one of the persons who took up Carl Ludgren’s call for new poster artists on Russ Gibb’s radio show. The poster lists the three dates, 18-20, but it appears that were only two shows by the Kensington Market, supported by Pacific Gas & Electric both nights, with MC5 and Renaissance Faire, one night each.
It was produced only as a postcard that measures approximately 4″ x 7″.
You can also add Kensington Market from Toronto, Canada and Pacific Gas & Electric from Los Angeles, California to the list of bands who made their Michigan debut at the Grande Ballroom.
The 108th weekend at The Grande Ballroom, October 25-26, 1968 featured Donnie Dope’s 20th poster for the venue, using one of his many aliases, he signed this one as “Dr. Mabuse”. This image was produced only in postcard form. No poster is known to exist for this event.
Procol Harum headlined both nights, supported by Carousel and Wilson Mower Pursuit.
There are two types of original postcards:
The Type A postcard was printed on white stock and measures approximately 4″ x 7⅜″. This card has a “Grande Ballroom” imprint on the back.
The Type B postcard was printed on white stock and measures approximately 4″ x 7⅜″. This card has a “Grande Ballroom” and a “Bulk Mail Permit” imprint on the back.
The seemingly ever-present Procol Harum headlined Friday and Saturday nights, if 1967 could be called the year of Cream in Detroit, 1968 could be called the year of Procol Harum, although whereas Cream would never appear again, Procol Harum remained very popular in Detroit with continuing frequent visits for years to come.
On Sunday night, October 27th, 1968, the Grande Ballroom held another benefit for State Senator Roger Craig, the pro-marijuana legalization legislator, with the Rationals and the MC5. playing their last show before the Elektra recording date in three more days. Here is a recording from Sunday night, October 27, 1968 of a free-form jam they called “I’m Mad like Eldrige Cleaver”.
MC5 – I’m Mad Like Eldrige Cleaver (live) (1968)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqvJto-X5yk
Carl Lundgren made this poster for Tuesday, October 29, 1968 with Quicksilver Messenger Service and Frost at the Grande Ballroom, the night before the first night of the MC5 live recordings, Some sources indicate this show may have been cancelled, but it is listed in the Concert Database, so we’ll include it.
This image was originally produced only as a postcard that measures approximately 4″ x 7.5″.
And finally, the nights had arrived, Devils Night and Halloween, October 30-31, 1968, just happening to coincide with the Zenta New Year in the Trans-Love’s newly adopted religion. Bruce Botnick and Wally Heider from Elektra Records were parked outside the Grande Ballroom in a recording truck, admission was free to friends and fans, and The MC5 were taking the show seriously enough that “instead of smoking 15 joints before the show, we probably only smoked 10”. The Psychedelic Stooges opened both nights.
Using Leni Sinclair’s photo of the band that had been published in the March 1968 issue of the SUN newspaper, Matthew Radofsky, aka Matt Rock, made this historic poster.
The original poster measures approximately 14″ x 22″. The top row of stars on the flag has six stars.
The second print poster measures approximately 14″ x 22″. The top row of stars on the flag has only five stars.
There is a forgery of this poster that was done by a British company listed as “NME.” The notation “NME PRESENTS VINTAGE ROCK AND ROLL POSTERS” appears in the lower right corner. This forgery measures approximately 10″ x 12″.
Russ Gibb continued trying to expand the Grande Ballroom franchise to other cities, partnering with the Agora Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio, to present a free concert featuring The Frost and The Pack on the same Halloween night that The MC5 were recording their first album at the Grande Ballroom back home. The British band Deep Purple performed the next three nights at the Cleveland Grande, a full month before they would come to Detroit.
This poster is co-credited Carl Lundgren and Donnie Dope, along with Mardi Forrester.
This is the first of two cards made for the Grande Cleveland at 5000 Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. Both Cleveland Grande Ballroom cards are quite scarce and the print runs must have been tiny.
This image was produced only in postcard form. No poster is known to exist for this event.
Deep Purple – Hush (1968)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4QBhC1uCP4
The 109th weekend at the Grande Ballroom, November 1-3, 1968 featured Carl Lundgren’s 24th poster for the venue. Jeff Beck headlined three nights, with support by Toad, McKenna Mendleson Mainline, and Joyful Wisdom.
It was produced only as a 4” x 7” postcard. No poster is known to exist for this event.
The central image on Carl Lundgren’s November 1, 1968 Grande Ballroom poster for Jeff Beck came from Thomas Edison’s 1910 film “Frankenstein”. Some interesting background on Edison’s pioneering film making, and a link to the twelve minute video of the film, are found here:
https://medium.com/writing-for-your-life/thomas-edisons-frankenstein-6d5608c4dc17
A newspaper ad for Jeff Beck at the Grande Ballroom, November 1-3, 1968.
The 110th weekend at The Grande Ballroom, November 8-10, 1968 featured Bonnie Green’s second poster for the venue. Bonnie, as you recall was one of the persons who answered Carl Lundgren’s call for artists that he made on Russ Gibb’s radio show.
This image was produced only as postcard form that measures approximately 4″ x 7″.
If you can expand this image to a decent size, you’ll find that she has all of the show information in the flowers, the top ones that extend down say “Buddy Guy” and “Nov 8 9 10”, the next two, extending up say “Grande” and “Ballroom”, the three smaller ones along the bottom give the names of the supporting bands for each of the nights, Charging Rhinoceros of Soul, Lawrence Blues Band, March Bros, and The Case of E.T. Hooley.
The 111th weekend at The Grande Ballroom, November 15-17, 1968 featured Donnie Dope’s twenty-first poster for the venue, it is also co-credited to Jerry Younkins.
This image was produced only as a 4” x 7” postcard. No poster is known to exist for this event.
This would have been the first Michigan appearance for the British group, The Move, however they were cancelled.
From Wikipedia:
“In October 1969 the Move made their only concert appearances in the US, opening two shows for the Stooges in Detroit (at the Grande Ballroom) and playing dates in Los Angeles and at the Fillmore West in San Francisco. When neither their US record company nor promoters showed any more interest—the band even had to make their own accommodation & travel arrangements—the remaining proposed tour dates in New York were cancelled and the group returned home.”
The Steve Miller Band picked up the extra night, performing two shows, November 15-16.
On Sunday, November 17, the Moody Blues made their first Michigan appearance.
For the Steve Miller Band, it was their second visit to Detroit in four months, with three nights at the Grande Ballroom in July. In the time between, they had released their second album, featuring their first hit single.
Steve Miller Band – Living in the USA (1968)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysbWMKrPZnw
Newspaper ad for the Steve Miller Band appearing at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, Michigan on November 15-16, 1968, along with a sale on their recently released second album.
A newspaper ad for the Steve Miller Band at the Grande Ballroom, with the correct dates, showing the band for two nights, with openers March Brothers and Third Power
The ad also lists the Moody Blues (sic) for two shows on Sunday, November 17, with Frost (sic) opening.
The Grande Ballroom squeezed a Thursday night show into the schedule with Blue Cheer and the Stooges (no longer “Psychedelic”) on November, 21, 1968.
Three artists, Carl Lundgren, Donnie Dope, and Jerry Younkins, all collaborated on the poster for the 112th weekend at the Grande Ballroom, November 22-24, 1968 that featured an array of stars from Tim Buckley and Terry Reid to the Frost and Jefferson Airplane.
Tim Buckey and Terry Reid performed two nights, supported by Wilson Mower Pursuit and Caste. Frost opened for the Jefferson Airplane on a Sunday night show.
This image was produced only as a 4” x 7” postcard. No original poster is known to exist for this event.
A long newspaper strip ad that is cut up due to space constraints for Tim Buckley, Terry Reid, and Jefferson Airplane at the Grande Ballroom, November 22-24, 1968. The Airplane performed two shows on Sunday.
Poster by Gary Grimshaw for Russ Gibb’s off-shoot Grande Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio. Jeff Beck performed on November 22-23, 1968, with the MC5 opening on the 23rd, and Blood Sweat & Tears performed on November 30th with the Stooges opening. There do not seem to be any shows afterwards at this short-lived venue.
This is the second of two cards made for the Grande Cleveland at 5000 Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. Both Cleveland Grande Ballroom cards are quite scarce and the print runs must have been tiny.
It was produced only in postcard form. No poster is known to exist for this event, except as a reprint.
The original postcard was printed on white stock and measures approximately 4″ x 7″. This card has a blank back.
The 113th weekend at the Grande Ballroom, November 27, 1968 through December 1st, featured Donnie Dope’s 23rd poster for the venue, which also included special Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday shows.
This image was produced only as a 4” x 7” postcard. No poster is known to exist for this event.
Here is a six-minute audio clip from The Rationals’ Saturday night show.
The Rationals – Live at the Grande Ballroom 11/30/1968
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE0PC0j33Fk
Newspaper version Donnie Dope’s poster for the Grande Ballroom, November 27, 1968 through December 1st. Being easier to read than the poster, we can determine the complicated schedule was:
Wednesday, November 27 – MC5, Frost and Stooges
Thursday, November 28 – MC5, Frost and Stooges
Friday, November 29 – Blood, Sweat &Tears and Stuart Avery Assemblage
Saturday, November 30 – Rationals and Dharma
Sunday, December 1 – Grateful Dead and Popcorn Blizzard
The 114th weekend at The Grande Ballroom, December 6-8, 1968 featured Donnie Dope’s 24th poster for the venue. Canned Heat headlined three shows with support by the Hamilton Face for two nights, and Teegarden & Van Winkle on the final night.
This image was produced only as a 4” x 7” postcard. No poster is known to exist for this event.
The Hamilton Face, from Long Island, New York, later included Zappa percussionist, Ruth Underwood, on drums.
The Hamilton Face – High Why and Die Company (1968)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4YOY_jvmcU
A newspaper ad for Canned Heat at the Grande Ballroom, December 6-8, 1968.
The 115th weekend at the Grande Ballroom, December 13-15, 1968 featured Donnie Dope’s 25th poster for the venue. This image was produced only as a 4” x 7” postcard. No poster is known to exist for this event.
It was the first Michigan appearances for both Lee Michaels and Deep Purple, who performed two shows together, with the March Brothers added on the second one.
On Sunday night, the Grande hosted a benefit show for the Salvation Army, with Lee Michaels, Frost, the James Gang, the Red, White & Blues Band, and Third Power.
A newsprint version of Donnie Dope’s poster for Deep Purple at the Grande Ballroom, December 13-15, 1968.
Another example of a record company making dual-use of an album release ad to also advertise a local concert, this one for Lee Michaels at the Grande Ballroom, December 13-15, 1968 (note the mis-spelling of Grande).
The 116th weekend at The Grande Ballroom, December 20-22, 1968 featured Carl Lundgren’s 26th poster for the venue, with Iron Butterfly’s follow-up to their Fountain Street Church show in Grand Rapids. They performed two nights at the Grande and SRC played the Sunday night show.
On Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24th, there was a show with the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, MC5, Poor Richard's Almanac, the Rationals, and SRC.
The New York Rock & Roll Ensemble, however, supposedly at the insistence of their wives who wanted them home for Christmas, cancelled their appearance, and Arthur Brown, who played at the Olympia Stadium the night before, stayed in town and filled in for them at the Grande.
This image was produced only as a 4” x 7” postcard. No poster is known to exist for this event.
An ad for Arthur Brown and the MC5 at Olympia Stadium in Detroit on December 23, 1968, the night before Brown filled in for the New York Rock & Roll Ensemble at the Grande Ballroom.
The Grande Ballroom Posters - continues - HERE
