Creator of psychedelic posters of 1960s San Francisco rock scene; Born June 17, 1940; Died June 1, 2008.
ALTON Kelley, who has died aged 67 of complications from osteoporosis, was an artist who helped created the psychedelic style of posters and other art which visually defined the 1960s San Francisco rock scene.
Kelley and his lifelong collaborator, Stanley "Mouse" Miller, created psychedelic work from their studio, a converted firehouse where Janis Joplin first rehearsed with Big Brother and the Holding Company.
The pair created dozens of classic rock posters, including the famous Grateful Dead "skull and roses" poster designed for a show at the city's Avalon Ballroom, as well as posters and album covers for Journey, Steve Miller, Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles.
Kelley and Miller's work influenced other well-known names in the genre such as Rick Griffin, who moved to San Francisco in 1966 after seeing their posters and soon started producing his own.
For inspiration, the pair scrutinised old etchings and photos, took in the youth culture of the time and dug through public libraries, often breaking out into laughter until they were asked to leave by the librarian.
Kelley first met Miller in 1965, at the epicentre of the hippie movement, San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, and soon recognised their ability to work together, in their words "riffing off each other's giggle".
In recent years, Kelley's artwork focused on paintings of hot rods and custom cars, which were sold as fine art and printed on T-shirts.
He is survived by his wife Marguerite; their children Patty, Yossarian and China; his mother, his sister and two grandchildren.
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