Psychedelic Art/Rock Art

Art as well as music was another medium that was transformed by the psychedelic scene and none more so than the posters and handbills created to promote dances and concerts.

Until the mid 60's these were often conventional and functional, but with the obvious influence of the spread of LSD and a radically different lifestyle this gave birth to an explosion of colourful and mind-blowing artwork that was to change the face of Rock Posters forever.

This kicked off on the West Coast of the USA as a result of one man, George Hunter of The Charlatans, the rock band who arguably started the entire SF scene.

George Hunter was an influential and inspirational character who dressed with a style that was half Wild West and half Edwardian Gentleman.

George (and Mike Ferguson, also from The Charlatans) was also responsible for the first psychedelic rock poster, a piece of artwork that now holds legendary status and became known as 'The Seed' , a title given to it in The Great Poster Trip: Art Eureka by Cummings G. Walker, an early book on Rock Posters.

The event was The Charlatans first gig, the venue was Virginia's Red Dog Saloon and the date was 21st June 1965.

The rest, as they say is history...

Please read on, as the next set of pages are dedicated to the many hundreds of Rock Posters and other High Art that emerged from this period in history.

Jim Ford

John Van Hammersveld

Mark T. Behrens

Steve Catron

Tom Weller

Many of these artists produced posters and handbills for legendary clubs and dance halls such as The Family Dog, The Fillmore, The Avalon, The Matrix Club, The Firehouse, Saville Theatre, UFO, The Roundhouse, The Vulcan Gas Company, The Straight Theatre, Fillmore East, Armadillo World Headquarters, Winterland, Grande Ballroom, Longshoremens Hall, Carousel Ballroom, Retinal Circus and the California Hall.

Others are listed here for their contribution to what has become known as High Art.

A special mention is due here to San Francisco's Professor Poster, Art Historian, Long Distance Friend, Official Archivist and long standing member of The Family Dog.

Check out the Prof's site: Posterville at https://www.facebook.com/Posterville1966/

Rusty Goldman AKA Professor Poster 2018 (Credit - Glen Beebe)

Please note that where possible full permission has been given for the use of the artwork and images in this section.

We would like in time to contact all the artists represented here to obtain permission for use of their artwork and have made a start on this.

As you can imagine this is a HUGE task, but there is no intention to rip anyone off.

Since Jan 3rd 2000