STEVEN ARNOLD’S SERIES OF PSYCHEDELIC ROCK HANDBILLS
Another in Steven’s exquisite series of rock handbills created for the celebrated Matrix nightclub, San Francisco throughout 1967. This handbill features the legendary Steve Miller Blues Band (later to become Steve Miller Band).
LINKS TO OTHER POSTS IN THIS SERIES:
The Charlatans/Frumious Bandersnatch Matrix handbill
Quicksilver Messenger Service/Congress of Wonders Matrix handbill
The Colours/Blue Cheer Matrix Handbill
60s POSTER ART FOR THE CHARLATANS AT S.F. MATRIX
Throughout 1967, Steven created a sizable body of surrealist, psychedelic poster art for the Matrix, a renowned San Fransisco nightclub, which featured regular performances by the likes of The Charlatans, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, The Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother and the Holding Company w/ Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, The Doors, Steve Miller Blues Band w/ Boz Scaggs, Santana, and The Velvet Underground. We will be revealing more regularly.
LA GRANDE DAME OF THE UNIVERSAL OPERA
“We are just waking up to the new age and the ancient teachings. We can collect, cross-reference and compute these teachings into one ever-changing structure. Finding the forms to communicate our collections is the key.”
STEVEN ARNOLD
Rock Poster for The Matrix, 1967

Throughout the mid-late 1960s and early 1970s, Steven regularly created flyers, posters, and graphic art for local San Fransisco performance venues and boutiques, including The Palace Theater, The Matrix, and In Gear. The above poster was hand-drawn for The Matrix, a famed psychedelic rock venue which was located in San Francisco’s Fillmore District. The Matrix hosted many up-and-coming groups of the time, including: The Doors, The Jefferson Airplane, and The Grateful Dead. The club was also a favorite haunt of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, among others. This particular example, from 1967, headlines the pioneering psychedelic rock band, Quicksilver Messenger Service.
The Matrix: An Original Handbill for the 60′s San Franscisco Venue
” I believe it was Steven who actually invented hippie dress in San Fransisco, before it was fashionable. He always wore vintage clothing, carried a cane, top hat, spats, and was decorated with loads of rings and jewelry.”
IRA YEAGER




