Died On This Date (June 1, 2008) Alton Kelley / Famed Psychedelic Rock Poster Artist
themusicsover Alton Kelley
June 17, 1940 – June 1, 2008
Alton Kelley, was a graphic artist who created some of the most iconic images in rock history. Along with partner, Stanley Mouse, Kelly created the “skull and roses” logo for the Grateful Dead. He was also designed or co-designed album covers or posters for such acts as Steve Miller Band, Journey, Jimi Hendrix, Big Brother & The Holding Company, and Quicksilver Messenger Service. He helped launch concert poster as a legitimate art form. Alton Kelley died after a long struggle with osteoporosis at the age of 67.
Born in Ontario, Canada, Skip Spence moved with his family to the San Francisco area when he was in his teens. Although his name might not be familiar to most, he was as much a part of the San Francisco scene as 
Micky Jones was the founding lead singer and influential guitarist for ’70s Welsh rock band, Man. They were one of the acts that helped popularize what became known as British “pub rock,” a back-to-basics trend in rock that was also being cultivated by the likes of Brinsley Schwarz, Graham Parker, and Dave Edmunds. As time passed, Man’s sound grew more psychedelic, often drawing comparisons to the Grateful Dead or Quicksilver Messenger Service. In fact, it could be argued that they were the world’s first jamband. Though relatively unknown in the U.S., the band had several moderate hits in the U.K. and were very popular concert draws. The original group split up in 1976, but Jones reformed a variation of it in 1980 and continued to make a solid living along the pub rock circuit through the ’90s. In 2005, Micky Jones was diagnosed with a brain tumor, which lead him to permanently leave the group for treatment. The cancer ultimately took his life on March 10, 2010. He was 63.
