By Helen Marketti He has created his signature poster look for “I knew what I wanted to do from day Janis Joplin, The Who, The Byrds, Bob one. As a kid, I did a lot of cartooning and Dylan, The Grateful Dead, The drawing hot rods. One of my favorite Doors and many others. things to Still active in concert draw was poster and album cover Mad creations as well as other Magazine . I projects, Bob’s work has was fortunate been requested by Apple enough to Computers, Tori Amos, know then Fiona Apple and John what I wanted McLaughlin to name a to do with my few. He was also asked to life,” said Bob. design a poster for the Bob Masse is 40th year celebration of Woodstock. one of the well- illustrator name wrong on the Like great rock and roll, known concert or a commercial artist. “My friends and I poster!” Bob laughs. “It’s D-y-l-a-n but I had Bob’s artwork is still poster and hung out at coffee houses. A friend of mine spelled it D-y-l-o-n.” sought after by collectors, album cover had a cousin who fancied Bob continued to design posters for local admired by music fans artists from the himself to be a Beatnik so clubs and and revisited again for the late 60s we hung out with him, coffeehouses. One of nostalgic look of the generation. His went to clubs and listened the club owners he was psychedelic era. artwork has graced to music. By then things doing work for moved Originally from the walls of The had evolved into the folk to another building Vancouver, British Fillmore, Avalon music era,” Bob since business was Columbia, Bob went Ballroom and The explains. “One of our growing. A bigger to art school where his plans were to be an Whiskey a Go Go. college assignments concert hall meant larger involved marketing crowds and bringing in your work and getting bigger names to perform yourself out there. So I from the rock world. started approaching Bob explains, “He club owners and the asked me one day if I musicians and asked would like to ride along them if I could draw a with him to San Francisco. poster for them for He would usually go there free. This was my at least once a month to do way of showing my business, talk with bands, work, meeting the their managers and musicians and promoters and get them to getting free tickets.” come to Vancouver He continues, “I to do a gig at his wanted my work to have its own club. At the time, uniqueness. I always liked he had a meeting experimenting with colors and scheduled with overlays. I like creating the the promoter of posters because they are complex Jefferson enough so that I enjoy the mixing Airplane. There of colors, creating the illustrations was about three and experimenting with the of us going lettering which was always fun to along and we do with its bendy, twisty and flowy would pile into look.” his ‘67 Bob’s artwork was becoming Mustang more familiar and word was convertible. spreading about his creative talents. It’s about a 24 Bob’s first concert poster for a hour drive to “famous” person was Bob Dylan. San Francisco “Bob liked the art work and wanted from to know if something could be done Vancouver so for him. Believe it or not, I spelled his I slept most 8 www.northcoastvoice.com • (440) 415-0999 October 7 - 21, 2009 of the way.” the home of Hollywood actor, Errol Flynn,” lived down the street from me and I could music only and are not interested enough to “Actually there is a cool story I want to Bob said. “Down the street was Houdini’s hear her playing the piano. I enjoyed living collect memorabilia. Other artists do not have share with you too about that car. There is a castle. Frank Zappa lived in Tom Mix’s old there.” a large fan base so it is interesting to see what very popular poster of The Grateful Dead house, which had a bowling alley inside. I Living in Los Angeles provided more sells and what doesn’t. Posters I thought that has my buddy’s car (’67 had a friend who lived in Charlie Chaplin’s opportunities for Bob’s art work to be would make sales ended up not doing so Mustang convertible) parked in house. So visible. “I started doing some work for Bill well. It all depends on the interest of the the background. You could many movie Graham who ran The Fillmore and I also did fans.” probably get the poster at a stars lived work for Chet Helms who managed the Bob feels that people still ask for his work Spencer Gifts or someplace there and had Avalon Ballroom. I also did a lot of ads for because they still like the look of the 60s like that,” Bob said. “I access to The Whiskey a Go Go. I admired all of the style. “I’ve done artwork for Blues Festivals, remember crashing at The people to musicians and what they were doing. I saw Shakespearean Festivals and the San Grateful Dead’s place in the create their historical moments.” Francisco Opera. They are all different Haight-Ashbury district. fantasylands When asked if a band’s image or their genres and yet they still asked me to do their They were nobody back then. for their music plays a role in his poster art Bob said, posters. They still like that look from the They were just a bunch of homes as they “I take that into consideration more now 60s.” crazy, long-haired guys.” did for their than I did then. Back then I just did what I Inspiration for Bob has been the art of Eventually Bob left movie sets. wanted to do. My work is now more art Alphonse Mucha and turn of the century Vancouver and moved to They had noveau.” artists. “It’s a very selfish thing that artists San Francisco. “The whole designers create It takes Bob about three weeks to a do. It’s not a commercial art. It’s a fine art. I music scene back then special effects month to work on a poster. “They’re very would like to turn the world onto it. I want seemed focused and based for them.” It involved. I’ve created a monster for myself,” people to see this style. I’m the vehicle to in San Francisco. It was a sounds fitting to laughs Bob. “The music industry gives more pass it through.” fabulous place for moving some degree that advanced notice, it seems. If someone around.” Bob continued emerging rock requests my work, they give me plenty of For more information about Bob Masse and moving around until he stars of the 60s time to work on it before they need it. his concert poster artwork, please visit: ended up living in Los lived in a Sometimes advertising agencies need a www.bmasse.com and www.myspace.com/ Angeles in the Laurel neighborhood that poster in 24 hours so then I’m up all night.” bobmasse Canyon neighborhood. “Laurel was once Some artists sell many posters whereas Bob does sell artwork through his web site Canyon really was a magical place to live,” occupied by Hollywood’s silver screen others do not which Bob found very and will autograph his posters upon request. remembers Bob. “San Francisco was all legends with their magical bells and whistles. interesting. “Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd Prices will vary. concrete but at least in Laurel Canyon there Bob continues, “You could walk down posters sell,” said Bob. “The Who, Janis was a bit of country side to it with trees and any street in Laurel Canyon and hear music Joplin and Elton John posters do not do well shrubs. I lived above a garage that was once coming from every house. Joni Mitchell with sales. Some artists have fans for their October 7 - 21, 2009 www.northcoastvoice.com • (440) 415-0999 9.