In collaboration with Jeroen Hamelink - Vinyl and Record Expert
Have you ever been more enticed by the poster artwork than the advertisement for the concert itself? The culture of concert posters has transformed through the ages, from originally having the sole purpose to advertise, to becoming iconic influential pieces of art. The simple early Sixties Beatles prints, followed by the psychedelia of the seventies and the attention-grabbing posters of today emphasise how volatile the concert poster culture has been over time. Read on to find out about the most unique work-of-art posters ever created.
1. Jimi Hendrix by Bob Masee
Jimi Hendrix Experience not only dominated the music scene during the 1960s, but also helped revolutionise the culture of concert posters. The psychedelic poster art culture was born. Bob Masee who designed posters for bands such as Fleetwood Mac and Jefferson Airplane was responsible for the creation of the gig poster promoting Jimi Hendrix live in the Saville Theatre, London in 1967. This poster encapsulates this new culture of poster, as it embraces Bob Masse’s signature style of a vibrant colour palette, unique lettering style, and bold compositions. Jimi Hendrix continued to influence the world of concert posters, reflecting a sense of movement and innovation with every design.
Source Image: bmasse.com
2. Billy Idol by Chris Shaw
Billy Idol also influenced the poster culture with his poster from 30th August 2001 designed by Chris Shaw whose amazing talents have inspired so many artists in the field. Shaw has created thousands of rock posters and is known for turning concert advertising into works of art. He has been featured in several books, and published in newspapers and magazines. The German Rolling Stone magazine even named him ‘Artist of the Year’ in 2001. This is why Billy Idol’s poster for his concert at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco is still one of the most sought after posters today.
Source Image: picclick.com
3. Pearl Jam by Ames Bros
When we think of bands that revolutionised the poster industry, Pearl Jam is up there with the best. They helped re-energize the culture with the help of Ames Bros. Pearl Jam posters have since become a highly valued commodity, most notably the Pearl Jam 1998 Brisbane, Australia Concert Poster. Each Pearl Jam poster contains a thought provoking image to entice a potential audience. The typical dark-humour style with a hint of comedy makes Pearl Jam concert posters collectable works of art that still have people talking today.
4. Oasis and Rex Ray
Oasis had an immense cultural impact on Britain in 1990s and still remain one of the most influential bands in Britain to date. During their reign, Oasis teamed up with graphic artist, Rex Ray whose daring and stimulating style of art also became influential during the 1990s. One of the most famous gig posters was for their concert on 13th April at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, which featured a plane engine, a sunset and a palm tree. Ray manages to combine images that would not necessarily fit naturally together in the real world. This electric explosion of retro colliding with the modern attitude manages to grab people’s attention, whilst capturing their imagination.
Source Image: sfmoma.org
5. Radiohead by Jermaine Rogers
Radiohead are known for their experimental albums and their groundbreaking use of electronics, so it is no surprise that they teamed up with Jermaine Rogers to design their concert posters. Rogers is a raw expressive artist that makes you enter deep into your imagination. Each concert piece of artwork created by Rogers manages to excite senses, whilst captivating a dark beauty. The famous Radiohead poster for their concert on May 8th 2008 at the Cruzan Amphitheatre created waves and has since become a hot commodity.
Source Image: omgposters.com
Whether you are into Rogers’ dark beauty that will make your senses tingle or are looking to reminisce back to the revolutionary 60s with Jimi Hendrix by Bob Masee, there is a poster waiting for you. With every poster offering not only a story but a work of art, you are not only investing in the band, but a time capsule of the concert poster culture at the time. Head straight to our auction page now where you can find a whole range of unique concert posters and more.