The Holy Grail: Frank Kozik and the 1992 Soundgarden/Pearl Jam Poster
Ask
most Pearl Jam poster collectors to tell you one Pearl
Jam poster they wish they could own, or which poster
is the centerpiece of their Pearl Jam collection,
and undoubtedly they will point in the direction of
the 1992 Soundgarden/Pearl Jam Houston, TX print by
Frank Kozik. The print stands out as one of the most
desired, and most valuable of all Pearl Jam posters.
For the attention this poster receives, we thought
it would be a good idea to tell you more about the
artist, and attempt to create an comprehensive record
of its history.
KOZIK
Born in Madrid, Spain in 1962, Frank Kozik moved to
Sacramento, CA as a teenager. At age 18 Frank joined
the Air Force and was eventually stationed at Bergstrom
Air Force Base just southeast of Austin, TX. Then
home to a thriving punk scene, Frank became involved
by creating Xeroxed handbills and posters for local
clubs. His art spread when bands, moving from city
to city, would contact him to create art for their
shows in towns outside of Austin.
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A selection of Kozik
posters 1987-95 [Ebay] |
Frank
continued to create concert art through the late 80's
including many black-and-white, and later color offset
prints. Eventually, he was fronted the money to purchase
silkscreening equipment, and took on jobs screening
fine art prints. With the skills and the equipment now
in place, Frank designed and printed his first silkscreen
concert poster in 1991. By 1992, his output swelled
to well over 50 prints, completing posters for such
bands as Helmet, L7, Gwar, The Melvins, Dinosaur Jr,
Sonic Youth, Soundgarden, and The Beastie Boys. That
same year Frank branched out to album cover art, and
took on work for the Artrock Gallery in San Francisco.
Frank remained in Austin and continued to create concert
posters and other art through the early 90’s.
Frank’s work during this time is often credited
as reviving the “lost art” of the concert
poster, and his art continues to influence hundreds
of artists. |
After a move to San Francisco, in 1995 Frank started
the Man’s Ruin Record label, giving him the
opportunity to design record sleeves for dozens of
bands including The Hellacopters, Entombed, Turbonegro,
Fu Manchu, Queens of The Stone Age and The Sex Pistols.
Much like Frank’s posters, all of Man’s
Ruin’s releases were in limited numbers, many
with silkscreened sleeves. For this reason they remain
in high demand, selling at a premium on Ebay. After
five years and hundreds of records, Frank called it
quits with Man’s Ruin and moved on.
Frank has since decided to focus almost exclusively
his attention on the creation of vinyl toys, leaving
behind his work with music and concert posters. His
first toy, the 2002 BXH Smorkin’ Labbit was
followed by the Los Locos series in 2003, and many
others since. He continues this work today, while
remaining an active figure in the poster community.
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Man's Ruin Records
and Posters [Ebay]
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THE POSTER
The history of the Soundgarden/Pearl Jam poster is
shrouded in mystery. Legend has it that Frank was
in his living room drinking the blood of a goat and
sacrificing live chickens - a normal part of his morning
ritual - when a ghostly figure appeared and instructed
him to dig under a nearby oak tree. On his hands and
knees, digging with fists of fury, Frank came to a
small wooden box. Unearthing the box, he found inside
a single photograph – a picture of a beautiful
woman with the caption “Is something stuck to
the roof of my mouth?” On the spot Frank dedicated
his life to worshipping the woman and this poster
was his first homage.
Yes,
I'm kidding. |
The
true story is much simpler, though equally as kick
ass. According to Frank, “It was a HOT spring
Saturday and I was just sitting around my workspace….this
old apartment sort of place near downtown Austin on
14th and San Jacinto… listening to the band
on a jam box… no idea what to do… I started
flipping through a stack of 70’s softcore porn
posters I had just scored earlier that morning at
the flea market… liked this one, so I cut it
out and was like looking at it when the doorbell rings.
It’s this really hot chick, come by for a booty
call. Looked a lot like this girl [on the poster]
as a matter of fact… so I proceed to like tie
her up and get nasty with her for a while. Later,
she splits and I finish the poster. Good day, popular
poster.”
Sounds
about right.
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Kozik 92-14 1st Edition
[Ebay]
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"Inga" Related
Movie Posters and DVD [Ebay] |
The soft-core pornographic poster to which Frank
refers is for the 1968 Swedish movie release “Jag
– en oskuld”, later released in the
US as “Inga.” Captured on the poster
is the actress Marie Liljedahl as Inga Frilund.
Inga is “a 17 year-old sent to live with a
scheming aunt who wants her to become mistress of
her rich neighbour. She falls for a common young
man instead.” The movie was apparently met
with moderate success, and the sequel “The
Seduction of Inga” was released in the US
in 1971. Several of the promotional posters for
the "Inga" movies feature the exact image
in question. Oddly, the cover of the DVD (released
in 2002) displays what appears to be a more modern
image of "Inga", obviously meant to look
like the original.
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THE EDITIONS
Proofs
Proofs for this poster are known to exist as both
a full color edition on uncut stock extending well
beyond the dimensions of the image, as well as a two-color
proof with only red and black represented.
1992
– First Edition (KZ-9214)
Details: Print Run of 450, 22.5” x 35”,
five-color, water based ink, silkscreen on 110lb.
paper.
Frank states that the original edition was printed
by Lindsey Kuhn, and it appears that all first edition
prints were signed and numbered. The number appears
on the lower left of the poster as “x/450”,
while Frank’s signature appears in the lower
right as “F Kozik 92”. Inga’s skin
tone appears as a bluish-greenish color, and the text
“Thursday” and “Tidwell” show
this same aqua hue. The star on Inga’s cheek,
as well as the lettering for “Unicorn”
is lavender.
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1st
Editions print have also been found with a hand-stamped
“pig” in the lower right hand corner near
the signature. This stamp was apparently used for
a short period of time in 1991-92, though no concrete
evidence is known as to its exact significance. Some
have speculated that it differentiates those posters
which Frank kept in his collection to sell or otherwise
distribute. The pig stamp appears to have little or
no affect on the value of the poster.
As
of 10/24/06, the average selling price of the first
edition is in excess of $600.
1992
– Second Edition
Details: Print Run of 2500, 22.5” x 35”,
five-color silkscreen.
The most significant difference between the second
printing and the first printing is that, perhaps not
so oddly, “SECOND PRINTING” is noted in
the bottom left. No such notation appears on the first
printing. Also in the left corner, in pencil, appears
the number of the print as “x/2500”. Frank’s
signature may or may not appear in the bottom right
of second edition posters. In addition, there are
slight color differences between first and second
edition prints; Inga’s skin tone on second edition
prints is a purple hue. Also, the lettering for “Thursday”
and “Tidwell” is a lavender color, while
the “Unicorn” text is a bright pink color.
Unknown
Date – Magazine Foldout
At some point the 92-14 poster was reprinted in a
magazine as a foldout image, a lithographic image
printed on magazine stock, measuring approximately
10" 16". All are found with a crease in
the middle. The image has a grayish border and displays
ArtRock copyright information. This version is considered
to have little or no value in comparison to the original,
silkscreened versions.
SUBSEQUENT USE OF INGA
Pearl
Jam – 1996 Rome/Milan Poster
The “Inga” image has proven popular enough
to be reused on several occasions. Perhaps the first
is the 1996 Rome Pearl Jam poster by Alessandro Locchi.
Whether homage to, or rip-off of, Frank’s work,
the Locchi poster features the same image of “Inga”,
filling the print - her chest and stomach showing.
It can be said with certainty that Locchi was familiar
with Frank’s work when the poster was created,
as the lettering for “Pearl Jam” on the
1996 print was borrowed from another Kozik print –
the 1991 Red Hot Chili Peppers/Smashing Pumpkins/Pearl
Jam poster advertising three Texas dates. This same
Locchi design is also available as a 4” x 4”
handbill. An edition of 1000, the 1996 Locchi poster
currently sells in the $60 range, while the handbill
rarely reaches $10.
1996
Man’s Ruin Record Promotional Poster (KZ-9624)
Released in 1996 as a promotional poster for Kozik’s
Man's Ruin Record label, the print features our friend
Inga, as well as band names listed at the bottom,
and the Man’s Ruin street address in pink lettering.
This silkscreened poster is a signed, numbered edition
of 500, measures 22 ½” x 35”, and
usually sells in the $30-40 range. Many collectors
find this print an affordable alternative to the 92-14
print of any edition.
Art
Print Editions
2004 “Green Lady”
Details: Signed and numbered print run of 100,
26" x 32", silkscreen.
Originally offered by Frank in July 2004 on GigPosters
at a price of $45. This art print features the image
of Inga only, with no text. The print currently sells
in the $120 range.
2004
“Green Lady” Black Red Yellow Edition
Details: Signed and numbered print run of 100,
38" x 44", silkscreen.
Originally offered on Black Red Yellow in August of
2004 with a price tag of $110. Text under the image
reads BLACKREDYELLOW.COM. The more sought after of
the 2004 art prints, this edition sells regularly
in the neighborhood of $300.
What
more can you say?
Now nearly 15 years old, the 1992 Kozik Soundgarden/Pearl
Jam poster remains popular with collectors. In addition
to the posters pictured, "Inga's" image
has been printed on stickers, t-shirts, and possibly
many other items. I'm guessing we'll continue to see
her for some time. She's one tasty gal.
I
hope you've found the above information helpful, interesting,
or at least a good way to blow 20 minutes at work.
As always, I welcome any questions,
comments, or corrections to the above text. Chances
are you know more than I do. About a lot of things.
Sources:
Black
Red Yellow Poster FAQ v1.0
"Calling All Kozik 92s" – Black
Red Yellow Forum Topic (Accessed 10/24/06)
Expresso
Beans Art Guide
IMDB
GigPosters
Poster
Pop Frank Kozik Bio; Gail Benzler, 2001
Tastes
Like Chicken - Chickenhead Past: Frank Kozik
VinylPulse
Interview with Frank Kozik - 10/18/05
Weekly
Wire Interview with Frank Kozik - 9/15/97
Wikipedia
– “Frank Kozik” (Accessed 10/22/06)
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Kozik 92-14 2nd Edition
[Ebay]
2nd Edition - Left
corner detail
Pearl Jam 11/12/96
(Locchi) [Ebay]
1991 RHCP/SP/PJ Kozik
(Detail) [Ebay]
Kozik 96-24 [Ebay]
2004
Art Prints "Green Lady" (top) and
"Green
Lady BRY Edition" (bottom)
Note: posters not shown to scale
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Related
Links:
Frank
Kozik
Poster Pop
Black
Red Yellow
GigPosters
Expressobeans
Kidrobot
Artrock
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| "The
Holy Grail: Frank Kozik and the 1992 Soundgarden/Pearl
Jam Poster" Text Copyright 2006, The Colors Blend.
All images copyright their respective artists. |
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