Lot 1138
BLACK FLAG / RAYMOND PETTIBON ARCHIVE 1981-1985
23 November – 10 December 2020, 13:00 PST
Los AngelesSold for US$15,300 inc. premium
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BLACK FLAG / RAYMOND PETTIBON ARCHIVE
1981-1985
Lot includes:
42 Black Flag flyers for various shows in California, Oregon and Arizona, most with artwork by Raymond Pettibon, 1981-1985. 8 1/2 x 11 inches. Several with letters on verso, including one example with a letter from Black Flag/Descendants drummer Bill Stevenson, a few sent through the mail. Mixed condition.
4 Black Flag hand bills, Los Angeles, [1982-1984]. Artwork by Raymond Pettibon. 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches
3 Black Flag posters:
1. "5 suicide attempts and counting. No, not her -- her boyfriend," circa 1983 with artwork by Raymond Pettibon. 14 x 11.5 inches. Folded, staple holes in margins, otherwise excellent.
2. Black Flag with T.S.O.L., D.O.A., Descendents, UXB at Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, Goldenvoice, July 17, [1982]. Art by Raymond Pettibon. 17 x 11 inches. Cellotape stains, staple holes, horizontal fold.
3. Black Flag with Nig-Heist at W.O.W. Hall, Corvalis, OR, Northwest Concerts, [1984]. Art by Raymond Pettibon. 17 x 11 inches. Staple marks, horizontal fold.
5 Raymond Pettibon books:
1. Freud's Universe. [Lawndale: SST, October, 1982.] Numbered 18 in pen on the front wrapper.
2. Other Christs. [Lawndale: SST, May, 1982.] Numbered 403 in pen on the front wrapper.
3. Asbestos. [Lawndale: SST, 1982.] Numbered 498 in pen on the front wrapper.
4. A New Wave of Violence. [Lawndale: SST, May, 1982.] Numbered 272 in pen on the front wrapper.
5. Tripping Corpse. [Lawndale: SST, 1981.] Numbered 413 in pen on the front wrapper.
Lot also includes a handbill for a Raymond Pettibon gallery show, a Black Flag Spring Tour 1984 postcard, an unused Black Flag sticker and a ticket for a Black Flag show.
Formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California, Black Flag took their initial influence from the Stooges and the Ramones and originated the distinctly American sub-genre of hardcore punk, but by the time of their demise in 1986, they had explored metal, free jazz, experimental, spoken word and more. The band was led by guitarist and primary songwriter Greg Ginn through myriad lineup changes through the early years until Washington D.C. vocalist Henry Rollins joined in time for the first full-length album, Damage, in 1981. It was the Rollins-fronted lineup that would travel the country spreading their unique sound developed through endless hours of practice and ever-widening influences. Their D.I.Y. aesthetic was also just as influential as their music. Ginn ran the record label S.S.T. (named after his teenage electronics business Solid State Transmitters) that released their music and his brother Raymond Ginn, better known as Raymond Pettibon, did most of the band's artwork. Many of the album covers and show flyers have become iconic over the years. Like the band's lyrics, they call attention to the violence in American society—even as the band seemed to incite it during their live performances—to religious hypocrisy, the dark side of the American dream, the aging hippie movement, etc, but with a black humor that often brings more discomfort than levity.
The present archive comes from an Oregonian fan who seems to have first caught the band during one of their early Pacific Northwest tours likely with pre-Rollins vocalist Dez Cadena who would move to second guitar when Rollins joined the band. The fan/collector also corresponded with members of the band and roadies as evidenced by a few of the flyers. Many of the flyers from the Los Angeles shows appear to have been mailed and therefore show none of the wear usually seen from being displayed. The group includes three Black Flag gig posters which tend to be more more rare than the flyers as well as 5 of Raymond Pettibon's limited edition publications that were issued by his brother's record label. An amazing archive from a defining band of the era.
Lot includes:
42 Black Flag flyers for various shows in California, Oregon and Arizona, most with artwork by Raymond Pettibon, 1981-1985. 8 1/2 x 11 inches. Several with letters on verso, including one example with a letter from Black Flag/Descendants drummer Bill Stevenson, a few sent through the mail. Mixed condition.
4 Black Flag hand bills, Los Angeles, [1982-1984]. Artwork by Raymond Pettibon. 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches
3 Black Flag posters:
1. "5 suicide attempts and counting. No, not her -- her boyfriend," circa 1983 with artwork by Raymond Pettibon. 14 x 11.5 inches. Folded, staple holes in margins, otherwise excellent.
2. Black Flag with T.S.O.L., D.O.A., Descendents, UXB at Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, Goldenvoice, July 17, [1982]. Art by Raymond Pettibon. 17 x 11 inches. Cellotape stains, staple holes, horizontal fold.
3. Black Flag with Nig-Heist at W.O.W. Hall, Corvalis, OR, Northwest Concerts, [1984]. Art by Raymond Pettibon. 17 x 11 inches. Staple marks, horizontal fold.
5 Raymond Pettibon books:
1. Freud's Universe. [Lawndale: SST, October, 1982.] Numbered 18 in pen on the front wrapper.
2. Other Christs. [Lawndale: SST, May, 1982.] Numbered 403 in pen on the front wrapper.
3. Asbestos. [Lawndale: SST, 1982.] Numbered 498 in pen on the front wrapper.
4. A New Wave of Violence. [Lawndale: SST, May, 1982.] Numbered 272 in pen on the front wrapper.
5. Tripping Corpse. [Lawndale: SST, 1981.] Numbered 413 in pen on the front wrapper.
Lot also includes a handbill for a Raymond Pettibon gallery show, a Black Flag Spring Tour 1984 postcard, an unused Black Flag sticker and a ticket for a Black Flag show.
Formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California, Black Flag took their initial influence from the Stooges and the Ramones and originated the distinctly American sub-genre of hardcore punk, but by the time of their demise in 1986, they had explored metal, free jazz, experimental, spoken word and more. The band was led by guitarist and primary songwriter Greg Ginn through myriad lineup changes through the early years until Washington D.C. vocalist Henry Rollins joined in time for the first full-length album, Damage, in 1981. It was the Rollins-fronted lineup that would travel the country spreading their unique sound developed through endless hours of practice and ever-widening influences. Their D.I.Y. aesthetic was also just as influential as their music. Ginn ran the record label S.S.T. (named after his teenage electronics business Solid State Transmitters) that released their music and his brother Raymond Ginn, better known as Raymond Pettibon, did most of the band's artwork. Many of the album covers and show flyers have become iconic over the years. Like the band's lyrics, they call attention to the violence in American society—even as the band seemed to incite it during their live performances—to religious hypocrisy, the dark side of the American dream, the aging hippie movement, etc, but with a black humor that often brings more discomfort than levity.
The present archive comes from an Oregonian fan who seems to have first caught the band during one of their early Pacific Northwest tours likely with pre-Rollins vocalist Dez Cadena who would move to second guitar when Rollins joined the band. The fan/collector also corresponded with members of the band and roadies as evidenced by a few of the flyers. Many of the flyers from the Los Angeles shows appear to have been mailed and therefore show none of the wear usually seen from being displayed. The group includes three Black Flag gig posters which tend to be more more rare than the flyers as well as 5 of Raymond Pettibon's limited edition publications that were issued by his brother's record label. An amazing archive from a defining band of the era.
Footnotes
Pettibon: "If a white flag means surrender, a black flag represents anarchy."
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