The Daily News
1 So…Alton Kelley walks into a bar…
2 I got this from me old crony and seafaring pahrit Geoff, a slitheree of the first degree.
3 Sunday. Kelley left us on Sunday but just now put a buzz in my frabjous ear.
4 I guess better late than never. Artists and wraiths. I swear to you.
5 Kelley isn’t just anyone; he’s one of the great psychedelic artists of the ’60′s.
6 He’s almost TOO classic to cover here.
7 Anyway, enjoy some of the work he did, much of which will remain the ultimate artist of the ’60′s San Francisco scene.
8 Along with Stanley Miller, aka ”Mouse” he visually defined an entire decade in American rock history.
9 And a LOT of San Francisco rock history.
10 Amazing.
11 I just hope that the true historians report some of our true artists, because in our time, we’ve many.
12 Some Synchronicity Fun: 
I had ice cream last night, and like tea leaves in a gentle cup, the remaining syrup and ice cream drew a backbone and ribs, like a chocolate shadow in my ice cream bowl being etched by the bony hand of destiny.
13 All right, all right, I’ll stay away from the two bit analogies, but I swear to you it looks like a chocolate version of the Grateful Dead’s album cover from a Kelley/Mouse poster of their concert in 1970 at the Avalon Ballroom.
Here’s my ice cream bowl, which happened simultaneously with my # 12 entrance on the DN.
14 I just glanced down and that was there. Chocolate skull and roses skeleton. Almost. Close enough.
15 If I had been writing about JAY-ZUSS, there would have been a pilgrimage.
16 Ah, how do you keep from sounding like a madman?
17 You don’t.
18 Right Back to It, Part 1: Well, anyway, Kelley was THE artist of San Francisco rock in the ’60′s. Along with Mouse, he did some amazingly classic psychedelic posters.
19 Here are a few more. Sorry about the interruptive synchronicity, but it needed to be recorded in living proof that I’m an not a madman, nor even off my gourd.
20 Here go, some Kelley/Mouse art:
This famous poster had both Kelley and Mouse worried that they might get sued by the Zig-Zag company, which made cigaret papers used primarily for hipsters to roll joints.
Kelley made this one for a Vanilla Fudge concert. It is from an early 20th century picture that was controversial. Called “Kaloma” it was the purported wife of Wyatt Earp, Josie Earp. Urban myth, but the truth is too lengthy to cover here. Google it though; it’s pretty interesting. Ghostly. 
The dynamic duo of early Grateful Dead albums, American Beauty and Workingman’s Dead contained songs that are played to this day by the Dead. You didn’t buy one without buying the other. Amazing songs, amazing lyrics, amazing music. Kelley/Mouse album designs.This emblem which materialized from the Avalon
poster (above) was named “Skullfuck” by Deadheads.
Jerry Garcia, with his usual touch of class preferred “Skull
and Roses”.
It was originally inspired by a 19th century artist named Edmund J.
Sullivan, who did artwork for the Rubaiyat of Omar Kayam. Kelley and
Mouse would often sit for hours right next to one another poring over old art books
looking for inspiration.
Sullivan’s artwork for The Rubaiyat of Omar
Kayyam
Edmund J. Sullivan
Blues for Allah album cover
21 I could show you a million more, and there are stories about every one, but you probably get the point that Kelley and Mouse were amazing artists, as were/are the Grateful Dead. Blues for Allah was an amazingly ethereal piece the title of which was played once or twice live and never again.
22 But it’s not really a history of the Grateful Dead, but a slice of time in which art flourished through a period that can only be described as psychedelic, which connotes acid trips and drug use. It’s some sad baggage in a way, much like liquor and madness have gone on to define Poe.
23 Much of the music and art were defining moments, and Kelley/Mouse artwork, along with the work of many other artists, was often given away at concerts in order to promote upcoming concerts.
24 Today many of those posters in mint condition could bring in upwards of $5000.
25 Well, I began this last night at around 7 p.m., saw the syrup and drifted off while my daughter took a pic and sent it to me, and I awakened at around 2 a.m. to finish this up.
26 It was a fun journey researching all this, but it also took me into the early morning, where in just a couple of hours now I’m going to draw the curtains and curse the glare.
27 Hope you enjoyed the miracle. It’s 4:15 in the morning. Gottago.
28 Fare thee well.
29 Peace.
~H~
http://www.xanga.com/bharrington
