12/06/2024
Probably the last vanity project I’ll ever do. Lago Del Garda and the Italian Alps call me like nothing ever has. It’s all I think about. “Il dolce far niente!” (The sweet life of doing nothing.) Hope Bindery will continue after I’m gone. Caleb and the staff are most deserving. Amazing talent and commitment to art all around.
This magnetic folder is for one of my dearest friends, Herb Greene. Herb is responsible for some of the most iconic portraits in the history of rock and roll, including the cover of Jefferson Airplane’s “Surrealistic Pillow”. This limited edition magazine is nothing special, however, it is mostly composed of Herb’s photos and includes a full article on him. The lightning bolt that holds it shut is from the Dead’s ‘Steal Your Face’ logo and consists of 13 points. The backwards “D” is a reference between us.
Herb is one of the sweetest, kindest, most generous, and peaceful people I’ve ever met. I learned a lot from him and will carry it with me forever. Recently, we talked about this effect he has on people. He said, “You know, a lot of people have been saying that about me lately and I don’t know why.” My only response was that it’s not contrived or calculated. It just spills out naturally. I’ve always tried to ask him what it was like to hang out with Janice Joplin, Jerry Garcia, Led Zeppelin, etc. He doesn’t like to talk about it and always dismisses it saying, “they’re just people.” That always left me wanting. There has to be more to it than that! The few stories I did get were wonderful.
Herb made a life doing what he liked and created some lasting art that became the fabric of our world along the way. Wealth be damned. That was always my raison d’etre. And why I think we bonded instantly. In the end, he’s just a simple, humble, dear soul. But with a raging artistic talent and wisdom lurking inside that only a few of us have pried out of him to model ourselves by. He and his lovely wife, Ilze, have opened their home and lives to me and for that I am very, very grateful.
