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David Edward Byrd Dies: ‘Follies’ Artist Whose Iconic Psychedelic Posters Spanned Rock And Broadway Was 83
His posters for 'Follies' and 'Godspell' became famous, and he was the Fillmore East's resident artist.
David Edward Byrd, an artist whose swirling, psychedelic, instantly entrancing illustrations gave the rock mecca Fillmore East its signature look and contributed at least two of the greatest, most recognizable posters in modern Broadway history for two beloved productions, Follies and Godspell, died Monday, February 3, at a hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The poster focuses on a crumbling, brilliantly colored Art Deco bust of a showgirl, blue and purple hair flowing, a headdress featuring the title of the show and a small galaxy of stars. Thus was born Byrd’s second great Broadway creation: His Godspell image depicted, in Deco black and white swirls, the face of Jesus as modern-day long-hair, with a small circle of red on his cheek meant to convey the circus-clown imagery of the musical but might just as easily be a drop of blood.
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