JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE / PINK FLOYD / THE NICE / AMEN CORNER & MORE Very Autographed Tour Programme (It's always nice when something comes in that has a story behind it. This is one such item and it is truly spectacular.
Our story starts with an eleven year old girl who had just started to get into the idea of Autograph collecting. Her father, who worked at the Post Office, asked his friend Mr Emerson if he could help out and get his son to collect some autographs for her, as his son played in a band that were beginning to get a name for themselves. Mr Emerson asked his son, who agreed to take on the task at a concert his band were playing as part of the bill for a classic sixties package gig at Brighton Dome on December 2nd 1967.
Mr Emerson's son was, of course, a certain Keith Emerson of The Nice.
The bill for the two shows that were performed that Saturday included not only The Nice, but also Eire Apparent, The Outer Limits, The Amen Corner, The Pink Floyd, The Move & The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Not a bad lineup for your fifteen shillings [75p]!
Keith Emerson, during the course of the day, took a copy of the programme around backstage & set about getting as many autographs as he could get. The starter for ten was the back page, which featured a full page advert for 'The Thoughts Of Emerlist Davjack'. This has been signed above each person's image in the photographic advert by Keith Emerson, Lee Jackson, Brian Davison & David O'List. The front of the programme has been signed by Noel Redding with Jimi Hendrix & Mitch Mitchell signing inside on the page four full page photograph of the band. Keith didn't stop there, oh no. Next up was Roy Wood of The Move, who signed over his image on the full page photograph of the band on page five. Zooming on through the programme, the Amen Corner centrespread has been signed by Alan Jones & Clive Taylor of the band, along with 'Toni Hicks', who wasn't in the band as far as I am aware. Indeed, no clues as to the mystery Toni Hicks can be found! Not wishing to seem slack in his task, Keith continued on and got the next page signed by Rick Wright & SYD BARRETT of The Pink Floyd!!
This really is unique.
Impossible really to put into words what an extraordinary thing this is. The programme itself is rare enough, but to have so many signatures of the performing bands as well is astonishing. The fact that these signatures were collected, not by a fan in a rushed way, but by Keith Emerson himself, means that all the signatures are unhurried, clear & signed in the same pen which Keith obviously had with him at the time. An incredible one off, dated quite positively to December 2nd 1967 at The Brighton Dome, with charming provenance to boot.
In Summary :- One VERY RARE programme. The VERY RARE autographs of :- All of The Nice & The Jimi Hendrix Experience along with the INCREDIBLY RARE autograph of SYD BARRETT as a performing member of Pink Floyd, all in one easy to swallow time capsule.
Astonishing!
I consider myself very lucky to have been able to see this at first hand - This job has its perks sometimes).