Signed Print Exclusive to Offbeat!

…had it not been for that simple twist of fate.   

Chris Grosz had done some very prestigious graphic artwork in Australia since crossing from his native New Zealand in the early 70s. His portfolio already included Tour posters for such memorable Australian tours as Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, Ry Cooder & Elvis Costello. That he should be commissioned by an aspiring promoter to come up with a Poster for Bob Dylan’s 1978 Far East Tour of Australia and New Zealand came as no surprise though it was indeed a great honour for this talented young Kiwi.

The sense of history in the making was not lost on Chris as he set about creating a fully painted, poster design in acrylics on canvas.

This was after all an opportunity to pay homage to the original song and dance man, the greatest poet of our time and no doubt the soundtrack to this work would have ranged from ‘Blonde on blonde’ through to ‘Blood on the tracks’ and ‘Desire’ the most recent Dylan masterpieces then available on glorious vinyl. The promoter however was reluctant to dig too deep for a full colour work of such detail given that a black & white photo from the Record Company would be a very tempting freebie and was therefore much to the astonishment of Chris, all that was deemed necessary.  

"He found a promoter who nearly fell off the floor
He said I never engaged in this kind of thing before”
from ‘Highway 61 revisited’

As things transpired, the promoter missed out on the tour, the painting was shelved, Chris moved on to become a political cartoonist & illustrator and for the time being at least, a very special moment in Australian Rock Graphic Art was lost.

Meanwhile, The Far East leg of the World Tour made its way triumphantly from Japan where the legendary live at Budokan album had been recorded. An Aussie/NZ promoter had of course been found, a forgettable tour poster produced and Bob Dylan backed by a full band, replete with a saxophonist, and three female back up singers touched down in Auckland on March 9th for the first gig of this ground breaking tour.

With the Far East Band, Bob Dylan (vocal & guitar) was joined by Billy Cross (lead guitar), Alan Pasqua (keyboards), Steven Soles (rhythm guitar, backup vocals), David Mansfield (violin & mandolin), Steve Douglas (horns), Rob Stoner (bass), Bobbye Hall (percussion), Ian Wallace (drums), Helena Springs, Jo Ann Harris and  Debbie Dye (background vocals).

Among the many highlights of the tour, the audience at Melbourne’s Myer Music Bowl was treated to the Live debut of Robert Johnson’s ‘I'm A Steady Rolling Man’ which was the songs only performance during the 1978 World Tour. (set list)

Now, 25 years on this beautiful original painting has been dusted off and brought back to life by Chris Grosz and is proudly published for the first time as it was intended, by Offbeat Music of Melbourne, Australia.

Not only is it a stunning work of art by Chris Grosz but perhaps more importantly, Bob Dylan, the most influential Artist of our time and that special moment in Australian Rock Graphic Art, are finally reunited as intended, had it not been for that simple twist of fate.

  Printed in glorious full colour Offset on 250gsm Silky Art stock, each 65cm x 45cm (25.5” x 17.5”) print of the very limited run has been individually signed by Chris Grosz and is ready to be framed.  

Last Summer the legendary Ramblin' Jack Elliott passed by Offbeat Music while on his Australian Tour, on seeing this poster, he said "Wow, I like that very much" he then bought 2 copies one for himself and one for 'an old buddy' back in the States.  (See pic. of Ramblin' Jack shopping at Offbeat)

 
Order your copy now $49* 

*shipping within Australia $7.50  Rest of the World $10.00

Trade Enquiries Welcome

For orders and further details send your enquiries to

sales@offbeat.com.au

SETLIST

Myer Music Bowl

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

22 March 1978

1. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
2. I'm A Steady Rolling Man
3. Mr. Tambourine Man
4. I Threw It All Away
5. Shelter From The Storm
6. Love Minus Zero/No Limit
7. Girl From The North Country
8. Ballad Of A Thin Man
9. Maggie's Farm
10. I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)
11. Like A Rolling Stone
12. I Shall Be Released
13. Going, Going, Gone
14. One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)
15. You're A Big Girl Now
16. One More Cup Of Coffee (Valley Below)
17. Blowin' In The Wind
18. I Want You
19. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
20. Just Like A Woman
21. Oh, Sister
22. The Man In Me
23. All Along The Watchtower (Dedicated to the late Jimi Hendrix)
24. To Ramona
25. All I Really Want To Do
26. It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
27. Forever Young
28. The Times They Are A-Changin'
29. Knockin' On Heaven's Door

Back