Birmingham / Michigan Posters
and Concert Memories
1968-1971
*** by Vernon Fitch ***
and Concert Memories
1968-1971
I grew up in Birmingham, Michigan and was fortunate enough to have a number of the Detroit music promoters bring concerts to local venues in my area. I lived about a mile from The Village Pub / Something Different / The Palladium, and attended concerts there almost every weekend. I witnessed Spirit around the time their first album was released, The Frost with Dick Wagner, the MC5 (are you ready to testify!!!), The Nice, and Family with Roger Chapman.
When I went to concerts, I would collect posters for the shows, as well as posters for upcoming shows, that were handed out at the ticket counter. Many of these posters have tape marks at the top and bottom. This was due to the fact that when I brought them home, I taped them to my bedroom walls, one next to the other, to make entire walls of posters (the folly of youth). I loved looking at my poster wall, and adding to it every weekend.
Not every show has a poster (likely I couldn't find them), but I have added concert memories for some of the shows that do not have posters, and pictures of the posters that have survived.
* This is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all Birmingham, Michigan posters. It is just a look back at some of the concerts that I attended, and posters that I picked up. *
April 1968
Bands: The Seven Sounds, The Bottle Company, coming May 4th the MC5
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, April 27, 1968.
Notes: This is the earliest known poster for the Village Pub.
May 1968
Bands: MC5, The Up // House of Josef, Panik and the Pack
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, May 4, 1968.
Notes: A handbill for the Village Pub.
June 1968
Bands: MC5, The Xue
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, June 15, 1968.
Notes: A handbill for the Village Pub.
July 1968
Bands: MC5, Gray Fog
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, July 27, 1968.
Notes: A handbill for the Village Pub.
Band: Spirit
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, July 1968.
Notes: I remember seeing Spirit at the Village Pub shortly after their first album was released. I am not sure of the exact date, but think it must have been in mid-July as they were in Michigan at the time.
They made an in-store appearance at a local Birmingham, Michigan record store in the afternoon before the concert to promote their first album.
The show was excellent. I already had their album, so I remember the songs very well.
Highlights of the set were Fresh Garbage, Uncle Jack, and Mechanical World, the last being one of my favorites. They also played a song not on the album called I'm Jealous.
This was the first of many times I saw the band live, and it remains a favorite memory of the late 1960s.
September 1968
Bands: Procol Harum, Pink Floyd (did not play), Howlin Wolf (did not play), Chrysalis (did not play), Rationals, SRC, Thyme, MC5, Jagged Edge, Psychedelic Stooges, Frost, Children.
Venue & Date: Baldwin Pavilion, Rochester, Michigan, September 1, 1968.
Notes: A handbill for the 1968 Oakland Pop Festival. The acts were divided into two separate shows. 1-6 p.m. and 7-12 p.m.
October 1968
November 1968
- - - - - - - WKNR radio guide, November 21, 1968 - - - - - - -
I used to listen to WKNR AM radio on my car radio all the time. They put out weekly top 30 lists, and this is one that I picked up for the week of November 21, 1968. It gives a good idea of what we were listening to on the radio back in 1968.
Bands: Bob Seger System, Wilson Mower Pursuit
Venue & Date: Something Different, Southfield, Michigan, December 1, 1968.
Notes: A poster for Something Different in Southfield.
December 1968
Bands: H.P. Movement, The Cast // SRC
Venue & Date: The Hideout, Silverbell, Clarkston, Michigan, December 13-14, 1968.
Notes: A handbill for The Hideout.
Bands: Teegarden & Van Winkle
Venue & Date: Something Different, Southfield, Michigan, December 13-15, 1968.
Notes: A poster for Something Different in Southfield.
Bands: Frost, Dharma // Frost, Madrigal // Red White & Blues Band
Venue & Date: Something Different, Southfield, Michigan, December 20-22, 1968.
Notes: A poster for Something Different in Southfield.
Miami Pop Festival poster
Bands:
Saturday, December 28: Jose Feliciano, Procol Harum, Buffy Sainte Marie, Country Joe & the Fish with Jack Cassady, Chuck Berry, The Infinite McCoys (did not play), Booker T. & the M.G.'s (did not play), Fleetwood Mac, Pacific Gas & Electric, The Blues Image.
Sunday, December 29: Steppenwolf, Marvin Gaye, Grateful Dead, Hugh Masekela, Flatt & Scruggs, Butterfield Blues Band, Joni Mitchell with Graham Nash & Richie Havens, Procol Harum, James Cotton Blues Band, Richie Havens, The Boxtops.
Monday, December 30:
- Side stage: Jr. Walker & the All Stars, Ian & Sylvia, Charles Lloyd Quartet, Sweet Inspirations, Sweetwater, The Turtles.
- Grandstand stage: The Grassroots, Canned Heat, Iron Butterfly, Jose Feliciano.
Date & Venue: Gulfstream Park, Hallandale, Florida, December 28-30, 1968
Notes: At the entrance to the Miami Pop Festival, I remember them making us open the trunk of our car to check that we weren't smuggling in people who did not want to pay admission!
It was at a racetrack and they had two stages, The Flower Stage, and the Flying Stage. Bands performed simultaneously on both stages. We decided to go to the main stage and sat up in the grandstand looking down on the stage.
We caught the evening performances, and the first act that was on was The Grassroots. They were quite good and played their hits.
Next up was Canned Heat. This was their classic lineup. They had the album, Boogie with Canned Heat out and they appropriately played their Boogie for what seemed like an hour. I loved it.
Then Iron Butterfly took the stage and they were loud, with lots of feedback. I got to see them perform their latest hit, In A Gadda Da Vida, for about 45 minutes (for just that one song). It was great! At one point they laid their guitars up against their amps, and just let them feed back. It was heaven.
The night ended with Jose Feliciano solo on the stage. Not really my thing at the time, but he was OK (his version of Light My Fire was big at the time).
All in all, another great musical experience.
January 1969
Bands: MC5, Rats // Pleasure Seekers, World
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, January 17-18, 1969.
Notes: The MC5 were a great live band. I saw them numerous times in the 1960s. American flags draped over their amplifiers.
John Sinclair used to come on stage to introduce them, and he would stir up the audience with a rant very similar to what appeared on their first album.
Are you ready to testify? I give you a testimonial ... the MC5!
Bands: Mandala, Electric Blues Band // Amboy Dukes, Phenomenon
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, January 24-25, 1969.
Handbill Size: 8" X 5 1/16"
Notes: A handbill for the Village Pub.
February 1969
Bands: Frost, Train // Wicked Religion, Grey Fogg
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, February 7-8, 1969.
Handbill Size: 8 1/2" X 5 1/2"
Notes: I attended the Friday show. The Frost were my favorite local Michigan band. At this show, they performed excellent versions of Mystery Man, Rock and Roll Music, Sunshine, and an extended version of We Gotta Get Out of This Place, with Dick Wagner performing tricks with his guitar while playing.
Bands: Wilson Mower Pursuit, Soul Sextet, Mandella, All the Lonely People, Now and Then, Red White and Blues Band, Shaggs, Stuart Avery Assemblage, 3rd Power, Train
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, February 9, 1969.
Handbill Size: 8 1/2" X 5 1/2"
Notes: An all-day benefit concert at the Village Pub for the Birmingham Youth Assistance Program.
Bands: Mandala, Red, White and Blues Band // Rationals, Tea
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, February 14-15, 1969.
Notes: A handbill for the Village Pub.
Bands: White and Blues Phenomena, Train, Plum Wine
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, February 21-22, 1969.
Handbill Size: 8 1/2" X 5 1/2"
Notes: A handbill for the Village Pub.
Bands: SRC, Lawrance Blues Band // James Gang , Cast
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, February 28 & March 1, 1969.
Handbill Size: 8 1/2" X 5 1/2"
Notes: I went to the Friday show to see the SRC. The SRC were one of my favorite Michigan bands (the band members went to the same high school as I did) and they always put on a great show.
I think they played their entire first album, but the songs I remember most from this show are Black Sheep, Exile, Marionette, and Onesimpletask.
March 1969
Bands: Woolies, Fruit of the Loom // Frigid Pink, Plain Brown Wrapper
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, March 7 & 8, 1969.
Handbill Size: 8 1/2" X 5"
Notes: I went to the Saturday show and saw Frigid Pink live. Lots of fuzz based guitar. I remember enjoying them alot.
Bands: Procol Harum, Stuart Avery Assemblage, Tea (two shows)
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, March 23, 1969.
Handbill Size: 8" X 5"
Notes: What can one say about Procol Harum that hasn't been said before? Procol Harum were a great band!
This was the first of three or four times that I saw them live. At this performance, their rendition of Whiter Shade of Pale was an extended version with an additional verse that wasn't on the album. A great show.
Bands: Shaggs, Poor Richard's Almanac // Bubble Puppy, Stuart Avery Assemblage
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, March 28 & 29, 1969.
Handbill Size: 8" X 5"
Notes: I do not remember being at this show.
April 1969
Bands: Tea, Electric Blues Band // 3rd Power, Savage Grace
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, April 4 & 5, 1969.
Handbill Size: 8" X 5"
Notes: I went to the Saturday show. Savage Grace were terrific.
This was right around the time of their album release. Their keyboard player, John Seanor, was really excellent. I really liked Lady Rain, and Dear Lenore.
I also remember the 3rd Power performance from this show. They were a three piece power trio, and were fun to listen to.
Bands: MC5, SRC, Sweetwater, Amboy Dukes, Bob Seger, Frost, Frigid Pink, Mandala, Plain Brown Wrapper, Train, Fruit of the Loom, H.P. and the Grass Route Movement, Caste, The Unrelated Segments, Up, Rationals, Wilson Mower Pursuit, Savage Grace, Red White & Blues Band, Third Power
Venue & Date: Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, April 7, 1969.
Notes: A handbill for the Detroit Pop Festival.
Bands: Rationals, Head Over Heels // Savage Grace, Prof. Cain Experiment
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, April 18-19, 1969.
Handbill Size: 8" X 5 1/16"
Notes: Savage Grace were excellent live. I loved watching Ron Koss, their guitarist, perform. This was before they had an album out.
I also was a fan of the Rationals, another good Michigan band.
Bands: Head Over Heels, Licorice Philosophy // Red White and Blues Band, 21st Century
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, April 25-26, 1969.
Handbill Size: 8" X 5"
Notes: I went on Saturday, and the Red White & Blues Band put on a good show.
May 1969
Bands: Poor Richards Almanac, Fat Cat, Candle // James Gang, Warlocks
Venue & Date: Village Pub, 136 Brownell, Birmingham,, Michigan, May 2 & 3, 1969.
Handbill Size: 8 1/8" X 5 1/16"
Notes: This is another show I do not remember attending.
Bands (as listed on the poster): MC5, Chuck Berry, Sun Ra, Dr. John the Night Tripper, Johnny Winter, Psychedelic Stooges, Terry Reid, Amboy Dukes, SRC, Frost, Rationals, Teagarden & Van Winkle, Up, Wilson Mower Pursuit, 3rd Power, NY Rock & Roll Ensemble, David Peel & the Lower East Side, Red White & Blues, Sky, Train, Savage Grace, James Gang, Caste, Gold Brothers, and Dutch Elm.
Date & Venue: Michigan State Fair Grounds, May 30-31, 1969
Poster Artist: Gary Grimshaw
Poster Information: The original printing of this poster has the credits in the bottom center, and Gary Grimshaw's name in the right margin. Also issued as a card. The poster was reprinted in 1992.
Poster Size: 22 3/64" X 16 31/32"
Notes: My friend and I attended this festival on Saturday, the second day of the festival. It was a beautiful day for the show. We sat on the grass in front of the stage and watched the many bands perform. Teagarden and Van Winkle hosted the festival. David Peel and the Lower East Side were there from New York, strolling through the audience performing impromptu versions of Have A Marijuana to the crowd (and handing out joints).
My most vivid memory of a band at the festival is of the Bonzo Dog Band (not listed on the poster!) who performed in the afternoon. Viv Stanshall stood at the front of the stage sporting various costumes, with Neil Innes playing a large upright piano in the back. Throughout their performance, midgets with large mallets ran about on the stage, bopping the performers on the head. Halfway through their show, a large inflatable balloon (must have been 5 feet in diameter and 30 feet long) was extended out from the stage over the audience. Very phallic until the audience got a hold of it and ripped it up. I was a big fan of the Bonzos at the time (still am) so it was great to see them live.
Another notable band at the festival was the Allman Brothers Band. This was the first time any of us had heard of them (I saw them numerous times after that) and they had their original lineup with Duane.
One of the other bands I had hoped to see, Terry Reid, unfortunately didn't show up. But the Michigan bands were fantastic, as usual. The SRC did a great set, with In the Hall of the Mountain King / Bolero as the finale. The Amboy Dukes played at night and were also excellent, with Ted his usual manic self. Journey to the Center of the Mind was a highlight, as always. It was a great afternoon at an early Michigan rock festival.
Bands: Bob Seger System, Tea
Venue & Date: The Hideout, Clawson, Michigan, May 30, 1969.
Handbill Size: 7" X 5 1/8"
Notes: I was at the First Annual Detroit Rock & Roll revival at the Fairgrounds, so was not able to attend this particular show.
The Bob Seger System was one of the local bands that seemed to be playing everywhere I went.
A few of the various places I witnessed them were outdoors on a stage set up in a Sears parking lot, and even in my high school gym where they played on the floor without a stage as we all stood next to them and sang songs such as Ramblin Gamblin Man with the band!
June 1969
Bands: Bob Seger, Frost, Smoke, Plain Brown Wrapper, Rationals, Savage Grace, Red, White & Blues, All the Lonely People, Brownsville Station
Venue & Date: Kalamazoo Fair Grounds, Kalamazoo, Michigan, June 8, 1969.
Notes: A handbill for the Kalamazoo Rock Revival.
July 1969
Bands: SRC, Procol Harum, MC5, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Amboy Dukes, Rotary Connection, Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Bob Seger, Frost, Stooges, Big Mama Thornton, Savage Grace, Caste, Red White and Blues Band, Fruit of the Loom, Brownsville Station.
Venue & Date: Saugatuck, Michigan, July 4-5, 1969.
Notes: A handbill for the Saugatuck Pop Festival.
August 1969
Bands: Keef Hartley, Sky, Lighthouse, Stooges, Friend and Lover, Wilson Mower Pursuit, Underground Wall, Brownsville Station, Red White and Blues Band, 3rd Power
Venue & Date: Benedictine Stadium, Southfield, Michigan, August 31, 1969.
Poster Size: 17 1/2" X 11"
Notes: I had this poster taped to my wall for years, but I do not remember attending this festival. I was probably at a different concert somewhere.
September 1969
Bands: Brownsville Station, Sunday Funnies
Venue & Date: Silverbell Ballroom, Southfield, Michigan, September 20, 1969.
Handbill Size: 8" X 5 9/16"
Notes: The Brownsville Station were always a fun band to watch. They used to come off the stage, down into the audience and get everyone on their feet rocking.
October 1969
Bands: 3rd Power, Rumors
Venue & Date: Something Different, Birmingham, Michigan, October 10, 1969.
Handbill Size: 8 1/2" X 5 1/2"
Notes: This handbill was from Something Different in Birmingham, Michigan, formerly called The Village Pub.
The 3rd Power were a local band that has been seriously overlooked. They were one of the early power trios that really were fun to watch.
Bands: Arthur Brown (did not play), Timothy Leary (did not show), Frost (did not play), MC5 (did not play), Ralph Adams, Peter Hurkos, Amboy Dukes (did not play), Bonzo Dog Band (did not play), Stooges, Coven, Pink Floyd (did not play), Savage Grace, Kim Fowley (did not play), Alice Cooper (did not play), Sky, Teegarden & Van Winkle, Satan, SRC, The Frut, Bob Seger System (did not play), All the Lonley People, Pleasure Seekers.
Venue & Date: Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, October 31, 1969.
Poster Size: 22 17/64"x 14 29/64"
Notes: A poster for the Black Magic Rock & Roll Festival in Detroit on Halloween night. Also issued as a card.
A really poorly organized show with numerous bands advertised that did not appear. Reportedly, a riot ensued.
I was not there, fortunately.
November 1969
Bands: Bob Seger System, Litter, SRC, Johnny and the Hurricanes.
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, November 7-8, 1969.
Notes: A poster for the opening of the newly renamed Palladium in Birmingham, Michigan.
Bands: Jagged Edge, Sons, Promise // Jagged Edge, Sons, Plain Brown Wrapper
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, November 14-15, 1969.
Notes: A poster for the Palladium in Birmingham, Michigan.
Bands: The Nice, Wilson Mower Pursuit, Sky // The Nice, Brownsville Station, Richmond
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, November 28-29, 1969.
Notes: I was at the second show on Saturday to see The Nice. They were fantastic.
They played most of the same material that was on their album Everything as Nice as Mother Makes It, which had been released just two months earlier. Emerson was amazing on keyboards.
They ended with Rondo `69, with Emerson playing the keyboards backwards and using knives to hold down the keys.
A show I will never forget.
December 1969
Bands: Frost, Dog // Amboy Dukes, New Hope
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, December 5 & 6, 1969.
Handbill Size: 5 1/2" X 8 1/2"
Notes: This handbill was produced for concerts at The Palladium in Birmingham, Michigan, formerly called Something Different / The Village Pub.
Another great show by The Frost.
Bands: Stooges, Catfish, Jam Band
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, December 12, 1969.
Notes: A handbill for concerts The Palladium in Birmingham, Michigan.
Bands: Fleetwood Mac, Sunday Funnies, Sky // Bon Seger System, All the Lonely People, March Brothers
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, December 19-20, 1969.
Notes: A poster for concerts The Palladium in Birmingham, Michigan.
At the end of December 1969, my dad and I took a trip to Los Angeles, California to see our Ann Arbor football team, the Michigan Wolverines, play in the Rose Bowl. As always, I took the opportunity to check out the local music venues and record stores. I had heard so much about the Whiskey a Go Go that I wanted to see a show there to see what it was like. It definitely had a different atmosphere than the Michigan clubs I was used to. In the Whiskey, we sat at a table and had drinks while we watched the bands. The Michigan clubs had no tables or chairs in them, just a large floor to sit on. And the stage seemed smaller at the Whiskey. The bands we saw perform at the Whiskey a Go Go just after Christmas 1969 were Bread, and Smokestack Lightning.
January 1970
Bands: Amboy Dukes, Sky, Ohio Power // Amboy Dukes, Teegarden and Van Winkle, Virgin Dawn
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, January 9-10, 1970.
Poster Information: At the end of 1969, the posters for The Palladium were printed on 11" X 8 1/2" sheets of paper. This paper was very thin and most of these posters have not survived.
Poster Size: 11" X 8 1/2"
Notes: I went to the second show, on the 10th. The Amboy Dukes were excellent.
Ted Nugent played a wide blonde hollow body guitar, and their rendition of the song Journey to the center of the Mind was outstanding. So was Scottish Tea.
Bands: The Golden Earring, All the Lonely People, Blackstone Row
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, January 16, 1970.
Notes: I went to see the Dutch band, The Golden Earring. I had their album, Eight Miles High, which had been released in the U.S a couple of months earlier.
I remember them doing an extended version of the song Eight Miles High, with a drum solo, a bass solo, and George Kooymans playing long improvised leads and feedback at the end.
February 1970
Bands: Savoy Brown, Virgin Dawn // SRC, Rationals
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, February 13-14, 1970.
Handbill Size: 7 5/8" X 4 3/8"
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
Bands: Alice Cooper. Chip Stevens, Richmond // Alice Cooper, Steve Booker, Blues Train
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, February 20-21, 1970.
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
March 1970
Bands: Savage Grace, Blues Train, South Wind // Spirit, Blues Train, South Wind
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, March 6-7, 1970.
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
Bands: Family, Hamilton Face, Maxx // Family, Hamilton Face, Universal Family
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, March 20-21, 1970.
Poster Artist: Carol Ann
Poster Size: 11" X 8 1/2"
Notes: What a great show! Roger Chapman was incredible.
My most vivid memory is of Roger Chapman holding this orange towel in his hand and whipping it at us as he sang.
Charlie Whitney played a double neck guitar. John Weider was on violin and bass. Rob Townshend was on drums and percussion. And Poli Palmer played vibes and multiple instruments. One of my favorite bands.
May 1970
Bands: Ronnie Hawkins, Salvage, Wesselfox // Ronnie Hawkins, Julius Victor
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, May 1-2, 1970.
Notes: A poster from the Palladium.
Bands: Alice Cooper Band, Wesselfox, Mighty Quick // Alice Cooper Band, All the Lonely People, The Chip Stevens Blues Band
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, May 8-9, 1970.
Notes: I was at the Saturday show to see the Alice Cooper Band. They were excellent.
They had a guitarist at each side of the stage, and the guitars must have been hooked up to a color organ, as the lights changed and flashed in time to the guitars. Really dazzling.
Alice was fantastic. As a prop, he had a door in a frame at the front of the stage, and used it to peer around, or open and close to great effect.
No chickens at this show, although there appeared to be some chicken feathers floating around!
Bands: SRC, Up, Savage Grace // 3rd Power, Rationals, Salvage
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, May 15-16, 1970.
Notes: A handbill for the Palladium.
Bands: Alice Cooper // Carfish
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, May 22-23, 1970.
Notes: A handbill for the Palladium.
June 1970
Bands: Frost, Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen, Shakey Jake
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, June 19, 1970.
Notes: A handbill for the Palladium.
Bands: Savage Grace, 3rd Power, Mike Quatro Jam Band
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, June 26, 1970.
Notes: A handbill for the Palladium.
July 1970
Bands: Catfish, Black Murder, Blind River, Fuji // Rotary Connection, Alice Cooper, Catfish, SRC, Black Murder, Fugi, Wesselfox, Street Noise, Milestone, Magic Circus, Chimo, Poor Souls // Mekenna Mendelson Machine, Fludd, Tote Family, Manchild, Helmut Pister's Big Rock Jazz Band
Venue & Date: Michigan State Fair Grounds, Detroit, Michigan, July 3-5, 1970.
Poster Size: 11" X 8 1/2"
Notes: A poster for the Midsummer's Night Rock Fest on July 3-5, 1970.
Bands: Bo Diddley, Brownsville Station, Ormandy
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, July 10, 1970.
Notes: A handbill for the Palladium.
Bands: Alice Cooper, Loki
Venue & Date: Factorie Ballroom, 2815 Dixie Highway, Michigan, July 12, 1970.
Notes: I always had a certain fondness for this handbill, which I picked up at the Palladium ticket counter.
Bands: Savage Grace, Catfish, Julius Victor
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, July 17, 1970.
Notes: A handbill for the Palladium.
Bands: Detroit, Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen, Up, Shaky Jake, Frut
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, July 21, 1970.
Notes: A handbill for the Rock and Roll Conspiracy benefit for Jack Forrest at the Palladium.
Bands: Stooges, Rationals, White Light
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, July 24, 1970.
Handbill Size: 7 3/16" X 4"
Notes: A handbill for the Stooges at the Palladium.
August 1970
My next music festival was in 1970. This time at Goose Lake Park in Jackson, Michigan.
It was a large 3-day festival with many of the local Michigan acts, plus some out of state bands. It was sort of like our version of Woodstock. 200,000 plus people attended.
But, it just so happened that the Ann Arbor Blues Festival was going on at the exact same time! And I was a fan of the blues. What to do?
Well, we decided to go to Goose Lake on Friday, and the Ann Arbor Blues Festival on Saturday.
Goose Lake International Music Festival poster
Bands: (Teegarden & Van Winkle were the MCs)
Friday, August 7:
- afternoon: John Drake Shakedown, Mighty Quick, Frost, N.Y. Rock & Roll Ensemble, SRC.
- evening: John Sebastian, Chicago, The Faces with Rod Stewart & Ronnie Wood, and Ten Years After.
Saturday, August 8: Jethro Tull, Mountain, Flying Burrito Brothers, Litter, Stooges, 3rd Power, Brownsville Station.
Sunday, August 9: Jethro Tull, Savage Grace, Flock, James Gang, Alice Cooper (didn't perform), Suite Charity, Detroit featuring Mitch Rider, Bob Seger System.
Date & Venue: Goose Lake Park, Goose Lake, Michigan, August 7-9, 1970
Poster Artist: Terrence Robeson
Poster Size: 25 X 20 1/8
PT: .0095"
Printing Information: Three colors on white. There were two original printings of the poster, one with the "certified check" language in red at the bottom, and another without.
Notes: We attended Goose Lake on Friday. Teegarden & Van Winkle were the hosts once again. At the festival, they had a revolving stage, one where one band could be playing while another was setting up. When one band finished, the stage revolved and the next band was ready to go. Pretty neat!
In the afternoon, the local Michigan bands played. I remember seeing the SRC, who played a great set.
The evening started with John Sebastian doing a folk oriented set. He was followed by Chicago, who were excellent. This was during their rock oriented phase, and while they still had Terry Kath as their guitarist. He was great. I still remember their performance of 25 or 6 to 4. Blistering guitar work.
Next on were the Faces with Rod Stewart. What a great band. Plinth indeed.
The final act of the night was Ten Years After, who put on a performance even better than their Woodstock show (IMO). I still don't know how Alvin Lee does it. Wow. I vividly remember the audience holding up matches to form a sea of light as TYA played. It was magical.
Tickets for the festival were in the form of tokens:
BTW, there is a film of the Goose Lake Festival. Unfortunately it focuses primarily on the audience and grounds, and not the bands. What a shame. Uncle Russ is interviewed in it, though. And it does contain a brief snippet of Savage Grace. Check out their first album if you want a dose of some excellent Michigan rock.
The following day, Saturday, August 8th, it was on to the Ann Arbor Blues Festival
Ann Arbor 1970 Blues Festival poster
Bands (as listed on the poster):
Friday, August 7: Bukka White, Mighty Joe Young, Jimmy Dawkins, John Lee Hooker, Howling Wolf, Roosevelt Sykes.
Saturday, August 8: Harvey Hill, Houndog Taylor, Lazy Bill Lucas, Juke Boy Bonner, Luther Allison, Albert King, Fred McDowell, Robert Pete Williams, Johnny Shines with Sunnyland Slim, Johnny Young, Joe Turner with T-Bone Walker and Eddie Vinson, Bobby Bland.
Sunday, August 9: John Jackson, Little Brother Montgomery, Cary Bell, Buddy Guy, Papa Lightfoot, Otis Rush, Mance Lipscomb, Little Joe Blue, Big Mama Thornton, Lowell Fulson, Junior Parker, Son House.
Date & Venue: Otis Spann Memorial Field, Ann Arbor, Michigan, August 7-9, 1970
Notes: It was more crowded than expected in Ann Arbor, but not anywhere the size of Goose Lake. Lots of fans of the blues in Michigan at the time.
I vaguely remember seeing Luther Allison and Albert King. We were right in front of the stage.
Bands: Bob Seger System, Salvage, Ormandy
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, August 12, 1970.
Notes: A handbill for the Palladium.
Bands: SRC, Julia, Walpergis
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, August 19, 1970.
Notes: A handbill for the Palladium.
Bands: Frost, Diabolical Dam Thing, All the Lonely People, Wilson Mower Pursuit
Venue & Date: Traverse City Pop Festival Traverse City, Michigan, August 22, 1970.
Handbill Size: 7 1/8" X 4 1/4"
Notes: A handbill for the Traverse City Pop Festival on August 22, 1970.
Bands: Teegarden and Van Winkle, All the Lonely People, Tea
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, August 26, 1970.
Notes: A handbill for the Palladium.
September 1970
Bands: Amboy Dukes, All the Lonely People, Shakey Jake // Frost, Julia
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, September 11-12, 1970.
Handbill Size: 6 7/8" X 3 15/16"
Notes: Two great shows at the Palladium.
Bands: Chicken Shack, 3rd Power, Magic
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, September 18, 1970.
Handbill Size: 7 5/8" X 4 3/8"
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
Bands: Chicken Shack, 3rd Power // Flock, Brownsville Station
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, September 18-19, 1970.
Notes: A handbill for the Palladium.
Bands: Johnny Winter Blues Band, The Up, Shakey Jake
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, September 26, 1970.
Notes: Johnny Winter was incredible on guitar. His band included his brother Edgar on keyboards.
He played songs off his album, Second Winter, which hadn't been released yet. I remember Johnny B. Goode, and Highway 61 Revisited. Great stuff.
October 1970
Bands: Teegarden & Van Winkle, Plain Brown Wrapper, Springwell
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, October 3, 1970.
Handbill Size: 4 9/16" X 7"
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
Bands: Stooges, Bob Seger System, Julius Victor
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, October 10, 1970.
Handbill Size: 4 9/16" X 7"
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
Bands: Small Faces featuring Rod Stewart, 3rd Power, Julia
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, October 27, 1970.
Notes: Another great show by the Faces. I saw them at the Goose Lake Festival, but they seemed to be a different band in front of a smaller crowd at the Palladium (capacity apx. 150).
I remember Rod holding the mic stand upside down while singing. "Around the Plynth" was great! So was "Three Button Hand Me Down."
November 1970
Bands: Three Dog Night, Mutzie
Venue & Date: Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, November 7, 1970.
Notes: Took a trip to downtown Detroit to see Three Dog Night at the Olympia. Hadn't been there since seeing Cream there two years earlier. The place was packed.
Three Dog Night put on a good show. I remember the song "One is the Loneliest Number" was terrific.
Bands: Bloodrock, 3rd Power, Mutzie, Armada, also announcing the anniversary debut of the mush-room
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, November 14, 1970.
Handbill Size: 8 1/8" X 5 3/8"
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
Bands: Badfinger, Julia, Woolies
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, November 28, 1970.
Notes: A handbill for Badfinger at the Palladium.
December 1970
Bands: Big Brother & the Holding Company, The Works, Loki
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, December 5, 1970.
Handbill Size: 8 1/2" X 5 1/2"
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
Bands: Quatermass, Bob Seger System, The Kinks
Venue & Date: The Eastown Theater, Detroit, Michigan, December 11-12, 1970.
Notes: As a longtime fan of the Kinks, I made the trek into Detroit to see one of my favorite bands. I also wanted to see Quatermass, as their album was excellent. We went on Saturday.
The first band on was Quatermass, not The Bob Seger System who we thought would be opening. But as was common at the time, the promoters put on the local band later as they were known crowd favorites.
Quatermass were really good. They were a three piece keyboard-based band. "Black Sheep of the Family" was the highlight of their set.
Bob Seger was excellent, as expected, and the crowd loved him.
And the Kinks were fantastic. Their album, Lola versus Powerman and the Money-Go-Round had just been released. Ray was amazing to see live. L-O-L-A Lola! Loved it. It was the first of many, many times seeing the Kinks live.
Bands: Brownsville Station, Detroit, 3rd Power, Cradle
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, December 26, 1970.
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
January 1971
Bands: Parliament Funkadelic, SRC, Magic Ring
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, January 09, 1971.
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
Bands: Chuck Berry, Ted Lucas, Woolies, Maxx, Hornytoads
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, January 23, 1971.
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
Bands: Bob Seger System, Detroit, Julia
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, January 30, 1971.
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
February 1971
Bands: Mason Profit, 3rd Power, Up, Elephant
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, February 20, 1971.
Handbill Size: 8 1/2" X 5 5/8"
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
March 1971
Bands: Fleetwood Mac, Julia, Jam Band
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, March 19, 1971.
Handbill Size: 5 1/2" X 8 1/2"
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
Bands: SRC, Julia, Jam Band, Plain Brown Wrapper
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, March 20, 1971.
Handbill Size: 8 1/2" X 5 3/8"
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
Bands: Cactus, Sunday Funnies, Up
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, March 27, 1971.
Handbill Size: 5 3/8" X 8 1/2"
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
Bands: Acoustical Festival with Ted Lucas, Princess & the Frog, Jonathan Round, Ron Coden, Phil Esser, Charlie Latimer, Custer's Last Band, Brian Phil & Jerry
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, March 31, 1971.
Handbill Size: 5 1/16" X 8 1/2"
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
April 1971
Bands: Buddy Miles, SRC, Ormandy
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, April 7, 1971.
Notes: Only time I have ever seen a drum set (and a large one at that!) set up front and center on the stage, with the rest of the band around, and in back of, the drums.
Of course, the drums featured prominently in the set, with drum solos and sections. Miles was great, and was a powerful drummer.
Bands: Badfinger, Third Power, Tea
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, April 10, 1971.
Notes: A handbill for The Palladium.
Bands: Stooges, Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen, Guardian Angel featuring Scott Morgan
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, April 24, 1971.
Handbill Size: 8 1/2" X 5 1/4"
Notes: A handbill from the Palladium.
May 1971
Band: Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention, Head Over Heels
Venue & Date: Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, May 25, 1971.
Notes: A handbill for the Mothers of Invention show at the Olympia Stadium in Detroit, Michigan on May 25, 1971.
I picked up this handbill at a local Birmingham headshop, but do not remember attending this show.
June 1971
Bands: The Grease Band, Velvet Underground, Tea
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, June 15, 1971.
Notes: This would have been an interesting show to attend.
September 1971
Bands: MC5 Guardian Angel, Suite Charity
Venue & Date: The Palladium, 136 Brownell, Birmingham, Michigan, Aeptember 18, 1971.
Notes: A handbill for the Palladium.
The years 1968 to 1971 was a period in my life during which I witnessed some of the most amazing bands. I grew up being a part of the Michigan rock scene of the late 1960s. And I wouldn't trade the memories for anything in the world.
