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.

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