This is only a preview. The auction will open on: 10/28/2026 1:00:00 PM
Offered Here: Van Halen 1972 PCC Sexson Auditorium Mammoth Concert Flyer with Clipping With COA
Item Details: This is a remarkable and highly significant archival pairing from the absolute dawn of heavy rock history, featuring an original 8 1/2 x 11 inch concert flyer for a performance at Pasadena City College Sexson Auditorium on Saturday, October 28, 1972, paired with an original matching newspaper clipping. The flyer details a headline performance by the band Manna, uniquely supported by future rock legends Van Halen during the brief window when they performed under their early moniker, Mammoth. Adding immense historical value and ironclad provenance to this lot is an original 4 1/2 x 5 3/4 inch media clipping from the October 20, 1972, issue of the PCC Courier, the college's weekly school newspaper, which explicitly promotes the upcoming gig and mentions Mammoth by name. This extraordinarily early documentation captures the legendary pairing of Edward and Alex Van Halen alongside original bassist Mark Stone as they built their local reputation in the Pasadena scene. It represents an investment-grade acquisition for premier rock archivists and elite Van Halen collectors worldwide.
Provenance / Authenticity: This lot originates directly from the personal collection of Mark Stone, a multi-talented artist who was the original bass player and backing vocalist for Mammoth and Van Halen from 1972 to 1974 and an accomplished luthier. As a foundational figure in the band's legendary early history, Stone performed on their seminal studio demos and extended his creative contributions by designing the iconic original band logo utilized by Mammoth and early Van Halen. Offered directly from his estate, these historic items will be accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity signed by an authorized representative of the Stone estate.
Before Van Halen became one of the most influential American hard rock bands, brothers Edward and Alex Van Halen performed as Mammoth in the Pasadena area, playing backyard parties, high school dances and college venues with Edward initially handling lead vocals and Mark Stone on bass. The group took the Van Halen name after learning another band was already using Mammoth, and the lineup was reshaped with David Lee Roth on vocals and Michael Anthony replacing Stone on bass, the formation that signed with Warner Bros. and released its self-titled debut in 1978. Edward Van Halen's two-handed tapping technique and inventive approach to tone, showcased on tracks such as "Eruption," changed how a generation of guitarists approached the instrument, and the band's years in the Southern California club and party circuit formed the foundation for that sound.
Condition: Both historical items are in exceptionally good condition, showcasing phenomenal structural preservation considering their fragile paper nature and temporary purpose. The flyer features a faint horizontal center fold from previously being folded in half, which has flattened nicely over time. Each piece displays uniform and authentic characteristics of careful long-term storage, including light, natural foxing along the outer edges that confirms their vintage pedigree. Aside from the soft center crease on the flyer, the paper stock remains solid, the print and graphics are beautifully bold, and the newspaper clipping remains fully intact with clean borders and perfectly legible text.
SKU: DST1006