Artist - Ty Connally

The Story of the Bruce Portrait - In the Artists' Words

I heard about the contest to design the tour shirt for the Portland to Portland tour. At once I was struck with a blinding vision of the caricature of Bruce fused with the way I always felt after a particularly smokin' Bruce show. All at once I knew what it would look like and the process by which to illustrate it. I wanted the picture to be allusion to the famous artwork of Rick Griffin, Stanley Mouse (see also: the Ice Cream Kid), and R. Crumb. I've always appreciated Bruce's accordion work, so I drew the hair to resemble a squeeze box. The piano teeth aspect was inspired by early Bugs Bunny cartoons where Bugs is thrown across a piano keyboard and his mouth is full of out of tune keys, or the proverbial fit the whole pack of cigs in the mouth of Porky. I'm deeply honored that Bruce chose my design and continues to use it, it's the least I can give back for the joy and contentment his music has provided me for two decades. Thanks Bruce!