dennis loren

The poster I designed for the July 2nd, 2009 “Yes and Asia” concert at The Warfield in San Francisco was a great success. Between sets, Chuck Sperry (The Firehouse Kustom Rock
Art Company’s master screen printer) and I were escorted backstage to meet famed Yes and Asia album cover artist Roger Dean. When I asked him if he liked the poster (which
was inspired by his art). He jokingly said, “Dennis, It’s so
good, you should be shot.” Everyone around us burst out laughing. Then Roger took Chuck’s ink stained hands in his
and remarked, “The English painter Turner said, “You have
only to look at the hands to see who is a real artist”.” Roger invited Chuck and I to hang out with him the following day at
the “San Francisco Art Exchange” gallery near Union Square.

He was having an art show in conjunction with the Yes and
Asia concert. I brought two copies of the poster for Roger. Chuck and I also gave him a few samples of our other poster designs. He looked at them all very slowly and carefully
then said, “They’re all wonderful. Really rock & roll.” Roger then walked us through the gallery and explained the variety
of techniques he used in his art. Later in a conversation in
a back room of the gallery, he told us his favorite artist
was Rick Griffin. He signed and drew in my copy of his latest art book, “Dragon’s Dream” and then actually singed Chuck’s copy of the “Yes & Asia” poster. I was stunned. Chuck now owns the only copy of this poster signed by both me and
Roger Dean. Before we left, one of the gallery owners took
a picture of the three of us together holding that poster.

SURFS UP!!!
A Few months back, I was contacted by Jennifer Cawley of
the Shortomatic company. They produce limited edition designer boardshorts for surfers and skateboard kids. Jennifer asked me to come up with a design for a pair of shorts. I sent her my “Ninja Surfer Girl” in a alternating
color “step & repeat” pattern. She loved the design. I’ve
now seen what the shorts look like and I’m, as the surfers
say, “Stoked.” They will launch the design, in a few weeks
at: www.shortomatic.com

Gee Whiz!!! Meeting Roger Dean, designing surfer shorts and being in a poster documentary film!!! What can happen next? Just stay tuned…

Recent concert POSTERS that I’ve designed include:

1. One for the reuion of POCO at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco on 24 April 2009. It was a great concert featuring Richie Furay and Jim Messina, joining again with Poco members Rusty Young and Paul Cotton, current band members bass player Jack Sundrud and drummer George Lawrence rounded out this line-up. The played many Poco favorites and selections from Richie Furay and Jim Messina’s other famous group’s: Buffalo Springfield and Loggins & Messina.

2. Two for MOONALICE (at Sullivan Hall in New York City on 30 April ‘09 and at the Veterans Home of California in Yountville, California on the 4th of July, 2009).

3. An “American Artifact” movie poster for a documentary film about the history of rock posters and the artists who design them. Techniquely this isn’t a concert poster, but a movie poster. Elements of the design will be used for the DVD packaging (which is coming out in August 2009 with an additional ninety minutes of footage). I want to thank film-maker Merle Becker for her wonderful work of a shinning a bright light on this subject. The Victor Moscoso scene is great. It is revealing and very funny. The best line in the movie is when Winston Smith introduces Chuck Sperry and Ron Donovan (of The Firehouse Kustom Rock Art Company) with, “And now for the Knuckleheads.” The most informative scene is how Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelly developed The Grateful Dead logo. The most moving part of the film is the homage paid to the late great Rick Griffin. Check out the fim’s web site at: www.americanartifactmovie.com

Also, I want to thank Marty Hohn and all the members of The Rock Poster Society (www.trps.org) for sponsoring the movie’s San Francisco premiere at the Red Vic Movie House on Haight Street, Saturday, 20 June 2009 and Paul Imagine who helped organize a showing of the film at The Crest Theater in Sacramento Tuesday, 23 June 2009. It was a sold out event. Also, don’t miss Paul Imagine’s “Rock Art Revulsion” poster show on the 8th & 9th of August 2009, in Sacramento, CA at The Body Tribe.

OTHER NEWS:
I am currently working on several new CD packaging design projects for SteadyBoy records in Austin, including “Three
Ring Circus” by The Explosives (which will also include a
DVD). I am also working on Moby Grape project which is
still “hush-hush” (Opps!!!) And finally – last week I sent the
art off to London for the looooong awaited Magic Christian
“Evolver” album cover (Yes Toto, in glorious 12 inch vinyl).
This album will be released in September by the Dirty Water label. Also in September, Magic Christian will be touring in
Spain. You “must see” this band – when you can – it now features Cyril Jordan (of The Flamin’ Groovies), Eddie Munoz
(of The Plimsouls), Clem Burke (of Blondie) and lead singer
Paul Kopf (of “Bay Pop” fame). They set Austin on fire last March (2009) at SXSW, when they played at many clubs
and showcases.

My best, Dennis Loren – Oakland, California

Dennis is an accomplished graphic designer specializing
in music related marketing materials & publication design.
He has created album covers, posters, and print ads for
Roky Erickson, Frank Zappa, Johnny “Guitar” Watson,
Marty Balin, Denise Williams, The Blues Project, Barry
White, Jesse Winchester, Willie Nile, The Bobby Fuller Four,
Rick James, Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix, Big Brother &
The Holding Company, Moby Grape, Paul McCartney,
Jefferson Starship, Joan Baez, The Velvet Underground
and many others.

Dennis was born in Detroit in 1946. After graduating
from Edsel Ford High School in 1964 – he worked full
time – while attending evening art classes at the Center
For Creative Studies. He was drafted in September
1965 and was later stationed overseas in Sinop, Turkey.
In the spring of 1967, he was sent to the Presidio in
San Francisco. After his discharge, he decided to stay
in SF Bay area, because of the vibrant art and muisc
scene. Dennis formed a band called “Mercury Vapor,”
with guitarists Joe Toschi & David Green. His musical
high point was jamming with BB King at The Fillmore
West in February of 1970.

He returned to Detroit in July 1970 where he continued
doing graphic art and music. In 1975, Dennis recorded
his song “Let Go” for the “Stone Soup” album. On this recording, he was accompanied by Ted Lucas (of The Spike-Drivers), Bill Long (of The Tidal Waves) and Mike
Waddell. “Stone Soup” was a compilation of 11 Detroit
area singer-songwriters. Dennis worked with Stanley
Mouse on the Ted Lucas solo album cover design. In
1976, he worked at the Detroit Sun with Gary Grimshaw
and John Sinclair. In 1978 Dennis became the Art
Director for Goldmine magazine. During this time he
also began to work with Detroit indie labels (Spider, IDBI, Tremor, FTM, Maverick, Westbound, Sound Of Gospel
and others) as a freelance designer. Throughout the
1970’s and 1980’s he did hundreds of flyers, posters,
record sleeves in Detroit for groups, such as, The
Rockets, Sonic’s Rendezvous Band, Patti Smith, The
Romantics, The Mutants, Cinecyde, The Ivories, Destroy
All Monsters, Natasha, The Reruns, Flirt, The Torpedos,
Natasha and The Hysteric Narcotics.

In 1986, started working again with Gary Grimshaw at
Creem magazine. Cambray Publishing (who owned Creem
and its sister magazines Metal and Rock Shots) relocated
to Los Angeles 1987 and Dennis became the Art Director. After Creem was sold in 1991, Dennis started freelancing fulltime with labels, such as, Rhino, Bomp, Del-Fi, Vanguard, Priority, Curb, Bellmark, Solid/Navarre, Ichiban and others. While living in Hollywood, he also designed posters for The
House Of Blues, The Roxy, The Hollywood Bowl, The Whisky
A Go-Go, The El Rey Theater and The Palladium.

Dennis now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and
continues to produce illustrations, CD & LP packages,
posters and other music related merchandise. In 2004,
he worked with Mark London on the packaging for Brian
Wilson’s SMiLE CD & LP. Dennis maintains a very strong connection to his Detroit roots, which can be seen in his concert poster designs for contemporary bands, such as,
The White Stripes, The Dirtbombs, The Detroit Cobras
and may others. Some of his concert poster work
appears in “The Art Of Modern Rock” by Paul Grushkin
and Dennis King (Chronicle Books). He and his art also
appear in “American Artifact – The Rise Of American
Rock Posters,” a documentary film about rock posters
and artists. The film was written and directed by Merle
Becker of Freak Films, Inc.