Tom
Petty and the Heartbreakers put bassist Howie Epstein in charge of
developing a logo with Brass Ring Circus Studios for the Rock N' Roll
Caravan '87 Tour that could work effectively and conceptually as a
principal merchandising image for tour t-shirt sales. Tom had come up
with the Rock N' Roll Caravan moniker for the tour and a camel seemed to
be a natural choice for a mascot of sorts as suggested by music video
director, lighting director, and longtime creative collaborator from
Gainesville Florida and Mudcrutch, Jim Lenahan. Howie was riding a
classic Harley at the time and suggested that a camel motif that had a
period Harley Davidson logo feel should be explored as a design
direction. The addition of wings would suggest a surreal element
juxtapozed with a caravan camel, as Tom Petty had earlier encountered in travel
to Egypt. It now fell on Brass Ring Circus Studios to come up with a
design that everyone responded to favorably, which can often prove to be
most dififcult...design by committee.
The font was
hand-rendered and original in design. The expression and proportions of
the camel were changed several times. As for this original artwork,
there were those in the band and management team who absolutely loved it
and some that didn't like it at all. They resented the camel looking "too cartoony" and didn't like the combination, despite its excellent
graphic execution and appeal. Ultimately, the tour merchandiser saw the
needed approval at an impasse and thus the chance to insert their own
more predictable crowd seller template designs. The idea of a camel
wearing classic biker Ray-Ban-like Wayfarers was kept in further design
creations for this tour. The subsequent appearance of the camel in
mocking Camel Cigarette similar pose took off in a new conceptual
direction, and appeared on approved backstage passes and in the tour
book and as the official tour admat logo. Tom commented to Brass Ring
Circus Studios, "I guess if I have to look at a camel everyday of the
tour, it might get me to stop (smoking tobacco), or maybe cut back a good
bit".
A test run of this design was created for the band and management and it was well received.
On
tour a counterfeit bootlegged version appeared briefly outside of
Chicago which is sought after today by collectors of non-authorized Tom
Petty and The Heartbreakers official tour wear. Howie wore his on
various bike runs.
Size: 22" X 14" black FW ink on 2ply hotpress bristol board With acetate overlay on left side of the artwork design.
International buyers are welcome but please contact us first for a postage and insurance price to your country.