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Rage Against The Machine

Rage Against The Machine
poster with custom aloha shirt mat

 

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Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd
poster with custom aloha shirt mat

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Bill Graham

Bill Graham
poster with custom aloha shirt mat

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THE MAHALO ROCK! STORY

 

 

THE POSTERS

What began in 1969 at the age of 12 ended up not only being my passion, but also became my lifelong love of the Art/Craft of offset printing. My much older siblings Pam and Steve went to as many shows as possible at The Fillmore and when they did they would always bring me back the handbills... so I could tape them up in my parent's basement. In 1975, I entered the printing industry and was a full time pressman until I founded Great Impressions in 1984 at the age of 27. I was introduced to Arlene Owseichik prior to her becoming the Art Director for Bill Graham Presents. Arlene was responsible for every meaningful concert's art direction, including Hardly Strictly Bluegrass and many more since then. In 1986, she presented me with an idea that was life altering. Bill Graham had decided to resurrect the Fillmore Poster series, with the caveat being that they may only do 5-10 to see what happens. I’m still printing them to this day!

I’m extremely humbled and grateful that I’ve been allowed to be a steward for these historic posters. Great Impressions is the only printer other than the legendary Levon Mosgofian of “Tea Lautrec Litho” (the original 60s poster printer) to have produced them since their inception in the mid 60s. I treat them with great respect and reverence for their place in the storied history of the San Francisco music revolution that began 7 decades ago. My love and admiration for anyone who has been a part of this journey can not be overstated. These were all printed the “Old School Way” - by Offset Printing. Original art by incredibly talented artists, using film and hand stripping and utilizing traditional metal printing plates. It’s my desire that you feel the heart and soul that’s conveyed with each of them.

Lastly, to Bill Graham, who envisioned the profound relevance that these contributed to the rich SF history of live music and dancing, and his mantra was always, “The customer deserves the best experience possible for their money and they deserve a free poster.” Enjoy them for what they have become, an integral fabric of the uniquely expansive San Francisco LIVE music experience.

 

THE SHIRTS

The Aloha shirt, commonly known as a Hawaiian shirt, has historical significance as well. Dating back to approx the 1930s, there’s many a tale of intrigue to their origin, but mostly influenced by the South Pacific Islands. I fell in love and embraced the Aloha spirit in my early 20s. Being a Deadhead, the chill, relaxed, “What’s the rush, Brah?” attitude was my destiny.

I began acquiring and became a collector of "Aloha Shirts” due to my complete appreciation of the effect of color on attitude and in a substantive way, it made my soul do a “Skip-to-my-Lou.” I believe that they always bring a smile to anyone, for no reason at all.

I’ve been able to collect over the years in excess of 300 or so. I have an emotional attachment to them, fondly remembering where I found them, who I got to meet and hear the stories associated with them, to the artists who created some of the more "one-of-kind” shirts. The Father/Daughter dances I wore them to with Caitlin, my daughter, or the ones I wore to my son Dylan’s wedding. A few were even worn to many end of life celebrations. I began re-purposing them as a shirt-wrapped matte when time and Tide (the laundry detergent) took their toll. The epiphany of the coalescence of these two loves of mine was magical and I fell in love with them both all over again. Co-joined together, the posters have a story their own and the shirts that were euthanized to create the Mahalo Rock Art are meant to celebrate it all!

 

THE PLOT

You get a poster I printed... and the shirt off my back. No fingerprints! All of the posters are in “Printer’s Reserve” condition. This term refers to that after printing them on my Heidelberg Press, they went to the cutter for finishing, and then in a box. In many instances, those boxes have not been opened since they were printed. I was influenced by an older gentleman in 1975 to never retire. He said “Find something you love and do it forever.”

I’ve been blessed with TWO things - Offset Printing and Aloha Shirts. And now it’s my honor to create these One-of-a-kind, 1/1 pieces. There is ONLY ONE of each of these. They are personally framed by me and marrying the shirt to the poster is now my passion. The pieces are custom framed using a unique bamboo frame and TRU-VUE Museum Glass. On the back of each will have the pocket and the tag from the shirt when possible. Incidentally, the only fingerprint you’ll find on these is mine - and that’s on the glass!

Enjoy...

Bob Cook

 

 

Mahalo Rock!

The Mahalo Rock! Premiere

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The Who
poster with custom aloha shirt mat

 

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Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam
poster with custom aloha shirt mat

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Grateful Dead
poster with custom aloha shirt mat

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