Original 1st printing 14 x 22" concert poster for Andy Warhol's Expolding Plasic Inevitable, featuring the Velvet Undergound and Nico (and the Mothers of Invention- not listed, replacing the Modern Folk Quartet) at the Trip on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, CA from 5/3-18/1966. (*full engagement was not completed-see below)

 

 Art by Roy Lichtenstein (the 4/25/1966 cover of "Newsweek" magazine), image is featured in the Art of Rock on page 271 (plate 3.56).

 

 Medium-thick cardboard stock poster is in decent (B-) condition; there is a fairly significant amount of toning to the board, along with a set of staple holes, a light drip stain discoloration going from just to the left of the "w" of "With" down to the bottom of the "N" of "Nico", a few thin surface scratches and light bends hiding within the image area, a trio of light/discolored shadows along the top margin, a series of tape pulls on the reverse... you get the idea, this one has been around the block.

 

 This example was originally purchased from John Goddard's Village Music in Mill Valley, CA in 1994; it had been attached to the ceiling with a number of other pieces for a VERY long time, likely since John opened the store. As John was often hesitant to remove hard-to-access display pieces, I was told this one took quite a bit of cajoling to acquire.

 

 CONDITIONAL ISSUES ASIDE... this is still a very charming-looking example of this FASCINATING early Velvet Underground/Warhol artifact. The story on what went on at these shows has already been told, but here is a REALLY cool first-hand account of the proceedings from the perspective of a club employee: