The Byrds
Addthis Share Tools
Object Details
- Artist
- Robert Wesley Wilson, born 1937
- Sitter
- David Crosby, born 14 Aug 1941
- Roger McGuinn, born 13 Jul 1942
- Michael John Clarke, 1946 - 1993
- Christopher Hillman, born 1942
- Exhibition Label
- The Byrds
- Nothing galvanized the youthful counterculture of the mid-1960s like rock music. The Byrds, a group originating in Los Angeles, brought to the scene an influential folk-rock style, fusing contemporary folk music with energetic Beatles-like harmonies and a driving twelve-string guitar sound. Their debut single, “Mr. Tambourine Man,” had topped the charts in 1965. This poster from 1966, featuring band members David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, Michael Clarke, and Christopher Hillman, advertised the Byrds’ appearance at one of impresario Bill Graham’s famous concerts at San Francisco’s Fillmore Auditorium. The Fillmore posters designed by Wes Wilson, with their offbeat colors and sinuous letters, successfully evoked the multisensory experience of many such events, which were often charged with high-decibel music, light shows, frenetic movement, and mind-expanding drugs. The words “Fly 8 Miles High,” using the title of the Byrds’ new hit single, herald the psychedelic rock era.
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Jack Banning
- 1966
- Object number
- S/NPG.92.138
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Copyright
- © Wes Wilson
- Type
- Medium
- Color lithographic poster
- Dimensions
- Image: 56.8 x 32cm (22 3/8 x 12 5/8")
- Sheet: 62.4 x 35.2cm (24 9/16 x 13 7/8")
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Alternate Title
- David Crosby, Roger McGuinn, Michael John Clarke, and Christopher Hillman
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Exterior\Landscape\Rural
- Costume\Dress Accessory\Eyeglasses\Sunglasses
- Poster
- David Crosby: Male
- David Crosby: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Songwriter
- David Crosby: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer
- David Crosby: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Guitarist
- Michael John Clarke: Male
- Michael John Clarke: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Drummer
- Christopher Hillman: Male
- Christopher Hillman: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician
- Roger McGuinn: Male
- Roger McGuinn: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer
- Roger McGuinn: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Guitarist
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_S_NPG.92.138
- Usage of Metadata (Object Detail Text)
- Usage conditions apply
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm479cd910e-e906-4931-91e0-7fd3f9dc9787
Related Content
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.