“I’m putting my money where my mouth is for the right provenance on this piece and will pay a premium beyond my $5000 standing offer”
Concert poster collector and Nirvana specialist Scott Mussell is searching for handbills, flyers and posters from some of the bands earliest concerts at the short lived Community World Theater in Tacomoa, WA. “The place is a dry cleaners now but in the last 80’s for about a year it was the epicenter of grunge rocks most notorious act Nirvana” Mussell says. Of course at the time they were little known outside of the quite local community. Many of the shows were in the days before the band adopted the name Nirvana and include and a flyer that Mussell would consider the Holy Grail from the first show the band preformed as Nirvana. “Saturday March 19, 1988 that’s the first time they play as Nirvana and Kurt drew the flyer- it’s the piece highest on my want list” states Mussell. The piece comes with a little baggage as several questionable and outright reproductions making a confirmed original with provenance important to Mussell. “I’m putting my money where my mouth is for the right provenance on this piece and will pay a premium beyond my $5000 standing offer in any condition” Mussell notes.
Three early pre-Nirvana flyers from the Community World Theater with the band listed as Skid Row, Pen Cap Chew and Bliss respectively. If you have any of these flyers contact Mussell at 515.707.7250 anytime.
Many of the flyers pre-date the bands name change to Nirvana including Skid Row, Pen Cap Chew and Bliss. “The bands deepest roots are really in Tacoma- Seattle gets a lot of the credit but the reality is that it all really starts in Tacoma- that’s where they literally became Nirvana.” Mussell says. Mussell. Before they were officially called Nirvana the band played shows under the names Skid Row, Pen Cap Chew, Ted Ed Fred and Bliss. Mussell is seeking any Nirvana material from this era as well as other flyers from the short lived venue. “There were other notable acts that came through including Fugazi, The Vandals, The Accussed, DOA, White Zombie and more. “A lot of gritty Thrash and hardcore punk bands play the Community World Theater and in addition to cultivating Nirvana the Melvins also played some early shows at the much vaunted venue” Mussell notes.
A selection of other flyers advertising Community World Theater shows during the venues short 1987-1988 run. Despite the venues short life it produced a plethora of outstanding flyers.
Mussell is actively seeking posters, flyers and other material related to the club and is especially emphasizing concert items related to Nirvana’s appearances. He is offering $5000 or more on condition for the flyer advertising the March 19, 1988 show in any condition. In addition to concert advertising pieces Mussell is seeking early set lists and other artifacts produced by Nirvana during their earliest period before signing with SubPop. Mussell also collects artifacts from the Bleach era and posters made before 1992. If you have Nirvana material in these fields contact him anytime at 515.707.7250 or srmussell@me.com. He is a cash buyer and is willing to travel to inspect the right hoard or individual flyer.