1967 - Doors Byrds Jefferson Airplane - KFRC Fantasy Fair Concert Program - First Rock Festival

A four page program for the June 10 & 11, 1967 KFRC Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival, considered to be the real start of the Bay Area’s “summer of love” and the world’s first rock festival.  The concert, presented by San Francisco AM Radio station KFRC, was a benefit for the Hunter’s Point Child Care Centers.

Taking place one week before the better known Monterey International Pop Festival, 36,000 fans gathered on the south face of Mt. Tamalpais in Marin, California to see 25 acts including The Doors, The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band, Kaleidoscope, Canned Heat, The Charlatans, the Chocolate Watchband, The Seeds, Tim Buckley, Country Joe & The Fish, The Steve Miller Blues Band and many more (despite the lineup printed here, Moby Grape, Wilson Pickett, 13th Floor Elevators and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, who did not appear.

The 8 1/2″ x 11″ program folds open to 17″ x 11″, and includes a band schedule, information about the fair and child care centers, and a map of the fair grounds.

Van Morrison & Them - 1965 Band-Signed Autograph Book Page

Page from an autograph book signed by the classic lineup of Them, with Van Morrison (who has added the band name above his signature), Billy Harrison, Alan Henderson and John (Jackie) McAuley.  According to a notation on the page, these autographs were obtained at the English television show Gadzooks! on April 19, 1965, a mere six weeks after Them released their third single “Here Comes The Night” (the follow up to their extraordinary first two 45’s–“Don’t Stop Crying Now/One Two Brown Eyes” and “Baby Please Don’t Go/Gloria”).

On the back of the page is the autograph of Marianne Faithful, according to a notation signed at ‘The Rolling Stones Show’ on January 10, 1965. Measures  5 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches.

The Beatles - 1980 A Hard Day’s Night 16 x 20 Photograph

A B&W 16 x 20 production photograph of John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Star taking during the filming of A Hard Day’s Night, and printed from the original negative.
This print was made circa 1980 by celebrated photographer Jim McCrary, who’s photographs graced the covers of many famed albums including Carole King’s Tapestry, Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen, and albums by Cat Stevens, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and B.B. King.

Print comes from legendary music business executive Jeff Ayeroff, who signed the back of the print, below the legend. A Hard Day’s Night production photograph printed from the original negative by Jim McCrary.  I oversaw the design of the poster and visual materials for the 1981 theatrical re-release, and this photograph was printed during the design process.

Jefferson Airplane -1966 - Loves You - Promo Poster Signe Anderson - Fillmore Era

A rare 1966 Jefferson Airplane Loves You promo poster, reportedly made by the band’s management and used to promote the band probably before the release of their debut album.  It features the band’s original lineup, with their first singer Signe Anderson (prior to Grace Slick’s joining).  Measures 22 1/2″ x 17 1/2″. 

Beatles & Rolling Stones NME Poll Winners All Star Concert Program from 4/11/1965

This is a very rare program for the 1964-1965 New Music Express Poll Winners All-Star Concert, held April 11, 1965 at the Empire Pool, Wembley, London. Remarkably, the Beatles and Stones only performed on the same bill twice, this was the first time, the second was at the next year’s New Musical Express Poll Winners show, on May 1, 1966.

NME was one of the most important music papers in England, and both bands were in their prime.  The Beatles bio in the program notes “today’s concert coincides with the boy’s latest single release in this country, “Ticket to Ride”…and the world now eagerly waits their second picture, which is now nearing completion, “Eight Arms to Hold You”, that was the original title for their movie next movie, which was eventually named HELP!.  

The Stones bio mentions that heir disc sales have rocketed and towards the end of 1964, they finally secured their long-awaited first No 1 hit, “Little Red Rooster”, soon to be followed by another chart-topping success with “The Last Time.”

Also on the incredible bill were the Animals, Kinks, Moody Blues, Them, Searchers, Cilla Black, Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, Freddie and the Dreamers, Herman’s Hermits, Tom Jones, the Rockin’ Berries, Dusty Springfield and more.  What an amazing night that must have been. 

The program has 20 pages, filled photos and bios for each act, and vintage ads.  Program was  5 5/8″ x 8 3/4″ inches. An incredible piece of musical history, highlighting the first British Invasion that ran from 1964-1968...

1961 Beatles Aldershot Concert Poster For An Audience of 18 People

In 1961, one of the earliest Beatles concert posters ever, from their December 9 show at the, “Battle of the Bands” in Aldershot, 30 miles outside London.  This show was The Beatles’ first live performance in the south of England and took place the same night as their informal London debut. But this date was legendary as this was the night the Beatles performed for an audience of only 18 people.

Promoter Sam Leach’s advertisement failed to run in the local paper, and the Beatles arrived, after a nine hour bus journey from Liverpool, to an empty hall.  Leach ran around to local pubs offering free admission and was eventually able to round up 18 people for The Beatles performance.

The Beatles, with original drummer Pete Best, were as the poster read, “Direct from their German Tour”  playing in Hamburg for one night, along with Ivor Jay & the Jaywalkers, billed as “One of London’s Top Beat Groups” they were virtually unknown, and adding to the confusion, they never showed up. While this was billed as the first in a series of “Big Beat Sessions,” it was the Beatles’ first and last performance in this series.

There are only two examples of this poster known to exist, a third copy surfaced some years ago, but it is missing much of its right edge. A truly extraordinary Beatles collectible from their earliest days.

 

The Beatles Historical Documents Fully Signed NEMS & Tony Barrow Letter To Paul Drew

An extremely rare typed and signed letter sent by The Beatles to Atlanta DJ Paul Drew, who traveled with them during their 1964 and 1965 U.S. Tours; along with a typed and signed letter from Beatles press officer Tony Barrow, confirming details for the 1965 tour.

On both the ’64 and ’65 tours, Drew accompanied The Beatles on their chartered plane, interviewing the group many times, and introducing them at their August 18, 1965 concert at Atlanta Stadium. Drew went on to become one of the most important radio programmers in the America, and interviewed the individual Beatles numerous times after the group split 

Tony Barrow’s letter, also on NEMS stationery, is dated August 5, 1965 and gives Drew details for the upcoming tour. The Beatles also wrote to Drew on September 6, 1965, six days after the end of their second U.S. Tour, and only six days before beginning recording sessions for Rubber Soul.

On NEMS stationery The Beatles write “Dear Paul, We just thought that we would like to write to you all and say thanks very much for your help on the tour.  We enjoyed it and appreciated your patience and co-operation.  Hope to see You Next Year.”  John Lennon, Paul McCartney and John Lennon each sign with their first names, reflecting their then close relationship with Drew.  George Harrison signs with his first and last names.

Any official NEMS correspondence having to do with The Beatles is rare and highly collectible.  These two pieces are truly extraordinary; the first one of a very few signed letters from The Beatles, and the second, a letter regarding their second U.S. Tour from their legendary publicist to a Beatles insider.