Underground comix legend R CRUMB still churns out incredible work at breakneck speed but few of his modern images are as compelling as his incomparable vintage work. Case in point: This phenomenal faux rock poster Crumb created in 1967 as a sort of “calling card” to drum up work on the local San Francisco psychedelic concert circuit, particularly with the legendary (and late) CHET HELMS who hosted epic rock shows at the AVALON BALLROOM. As a tongue-in-cheek homage to Helms’ FAMILY DOG production company, Crumb created this piece promoting a show called the “Cat’s Meow” featuring the fictional lineup of Fess Williams, The Royal Flush Orchestra, Butterbeans & Susie, The Midnight Airdales, and Pegleg Howell & His Gang, all scheduled to appear at The Avalon for a three nite run (customary in the day) from May 9th-11th in the real summer of love. Hidden away in private collections for years, this may be the first time this piece (painted on a board approximating the size of a Family Dog poster) has been publicly exposed and one can only imagine a young R Crumb showing it around to Helms and Bill Graham only to be passed over in favor of more established psychedelic artists like Rick Griffin and Stanley Mouse who ruled the circuit. FEAST YER EYEBALLS:
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