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David Edward Byrd
The WHO original 1970 TOMMY concept drawing

1970

About the Item

This is the original rare concept drawing created 54 years ago in 1970 by the legendary artist David Edward Byrd. It was presented to Bill Graham and the Rock group "The Who" showing David Byrd's concept for the WHO's concert tour of TOMMY. This drawing is featured on pages 89 and 93 in the new large format coffee table book "Poster Child, The Psychedelic Art & Technicolor Life of David Edward Byrd". This is the very rare first version of David's concept for the art for TOMMY. David used a different version for the final art and poster but this rare, never before seen, art which is now featured in the new book is a great addition to a Rock and Roll or The WHO art collection. David Byrd created some of the most memorable Classic Theatre and Rock and Roll images from the 1960s and 70s. David created ALL of the Art for Bill Graham’s Fillmore East, including their Program covers and Rock posters, the art for Jimi Hendrix’s first Fillmore East appearance, The Rolling Stones 1969 World Tour art, The Who’s Performance of Tommy at the New York Metropolitan Opera House and The Fillmore, and The Grateful Dead Swell Dance Concert to name only a few. He also created the poster art for the original location of the 1969 Woodstock music festival . His memorable images were also used for classic Broadway shows like Godspell, Follies and Jesus Christ Superstar to mention only a few. These museum quality drawings are rarely made available for sale, they are not only wonderful rare works of art, but are truly historically important works in the field of Theatre and Rock and Roll collecting. All drawings have been framed with archival double matting. Again, this is the first time that you can actually purchase one of the original sketches that were created for these historical images. David's art is in many museum collections, including : The Louvre, in Paris, Victoria & Albert in London, The Museum of Modern Art in New York and The Smithsonian in Washington, DC. The artwork is beautifully framed and double matted.
  • Creator:
    David Edward Byrd (1941, American)
  • Creation Year:
    1970
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 12 in (30.48 cm)Width: 9 in (22.86 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Southampton, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU208213951842
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