You probably don’t need me to tell you who Raymond Pettibon is, but for the record, I’m talking about the legendary artist who broke out in Southern California’s early-’80s punk and hardcore scene, with his distinctively inky illustrations that graced many a show flyer and L.P. of the era. Perhaps you’d recognize the iconic Black Flag bars (Pettibon’s older brother is guitarist Greg Ginn), or the two sunglasses-wearing hipsters (based on the witnesses in a sensational 1960s British murder trial) from the oft-parodied cover of Sonic Youth’s 1990 masterpiece, Goo. Or maybe you’ve stumbled upon Pettibon’s contemporary work at such distinguished haunts as the Museum of Modern Art or David Zwirner Gallery.
In any case, here’s an exclusive first look at an original Pettibon piece that will soon appear on the first rebooted issue of Creem, the trailblazing rock-and-roll mag that’s about to come roaring back to life after 33 years: