Jimi Hendrix: Are You Experienced

Today is the anniversary of the death of one of rock's great legends - Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix died at the age of 27 on September 18, 1970. He was born Johnny Allen Hendrix on November 27, 1942. "Are You Experienced" was released in the UK on May 12, 1967 and soon afterwords in the U.S. and Canada. The cover was designed by photographer Carl Ferris.

Are You Experienced

I read an interesting interview this morning on MusicDish.com with photographer Karl Ferris who designed the first Jimi Hendrix album release, "Are You Experienced." If you haven't listened to this album, do yourself a favor and purchase it. It's one of the most creative albums that was released during the 60s in my opinion.

Ferris mentions in the interview the frustration he had with the Reprise record label in getting his vision into print. Things didn't go quite the way he hoped they'd go. Here's the link, and it's well worth your time reading about this bit of graphic design pop history.

Gary Grimshaw

Gary Grimshaw, legendary rock poster artist is still wowing collectors. His current exhibit, Gary Grimshaw Music Art at Woods Gallery in Huntington Woods, MI is said to be a chronicle of the rock music scene in the Metro Detroit Area from the 60’s to the present. It features original art and printed posters. The exhibit will run from February 25-April 17, 2008. The Gallery is located in the lower level of the Huntington Woods Library.

Aficionados of rock history and memorabilia will have the opportunity to mingle with Grimshaw at the exhibit’s opening reception from 6:30 - 8:30pm on Thursday, March 6, 2008. Woods Gallery is located at 26415 Scotia, Huntington Woods, MI. For information about the exhibit call (248) 581- 2696 or visit www.woodsgallery.org.

The exhibit shows part of the evolution of Gary’s body of work. It is a treat for those seeking to remember the psychedelic era and the pursuit of freedom of expression among Detroit’s counter-culture artists. Grimshaw is the guru of the rock poster genre in Michigan.

In 1999, Gary was named one of Michigan's 100 Greatest Artists and Entertainers of the Twentieth Century by the Detroit Free Press. His work is on view at Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Grimshaw created posters and light shows fo
February 25-April 17, 2008r Detroit’s GrandeBallroom in the late 60s, and he has worked with major promoters such as Bill Graham Presents. His collection of rock posters includes work for artists such as Jimi Hendrix, MC5, The Doors, Cream, Iggy Pop, The Who, and The Yardbirds. He is featured in the bible book of posters called The Art of Rock: Posters From Presley to Punk by Paul Grushkin.


Exhibit: Gary Grimshaw Music Art
Reception: Thursday, March 6, 2008 6:30- 8:30pm

http://www.garygrimshaw.com/

John Van Hamersveld

John Van Hamersveld was born in 1941 in Baltimore, MD. He both attended and taught at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and California Institute of the Arts. From earliest positions of art director of Surfer Magazine and Capitol Records. John's experience has spanned album cover, poster, packaging, industrial, magazine and book design.

John has designed over 300 album covers for groups like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Blondie, Kiss, Public Image and many others, including… Exile on Main Street and Magical Mystery Tour.

His 360° mural at the Los Angeles Coliseum, executed for the 1984 Olympic Games won him national recognition by the American Institute of Architects. He is also well known for his poster design for the movie, The Endless Summer, which is one of the most popular and recognizable poster images of all time. His work as part of the concert promotion company Pinnacle resulted in one of John’s most enduring body of posters, including what is widely considered one of the greatest rock posters ever made, for Jimi Hendrix at LA’s Shrine Auditorium.

More recently, John designed the posters for the Cream 2005 Reunion Concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall and Madison Square Gardens and the packaging for the Warner Brothers CD and DVD releases.