PROJECT DESCRIPTION

"13th Floor Elevators: A Visual History," written by Paul Drummond, presents the complete and unvarnished story of a band whose narrative has been tragically underdocumented—until now. The book reproduces an unprecedented archive of primary materials amassed by the author, including scores of previously-unseen band photographs, rare and iconic psychedelic artworks, and more.

In designing the book, the oral history of the band and Drummond's prose needed to be specifically paced with visuals from the vast archive. To achieve this, a combination of layouts, typefaces, and other design elements—inspired variously by print newspapers, overhead projectors, and scrapbooks—were used to make readers feel like they were sifting through the archive firsthand. The irregular shapes of photographic prints and other pieces of ephemera were preserved to maintain the material’s tactility, while newspaper clippings and other print records from diverse sources were unified by reducing them to high-contrast black and white images, reminiscent of microfiche readers. These steps served to preserve the patina of the physical archive while letting the psychedelia that the band pioneered shine through, reverberating with their gritty, acid-soaked history. The book's size, in combination with its softcover format and informal open spine, suggests an accessible coffee table book which viewers can either curl up with for a close read or simply flip through and admire.

BOOK INFORMATION

Trim Size: 8.25" x 11"

Number of Pages: 328

Binding Method: Smythe sewn with purple thread, exposed spine

Paper: Text: 120 gr Munken Pure Rough; Cover: 250 gr Wibalin Natural Board; Jacket: 250 gr C1S

Typefaces: Corona, Geometric 415, Neu5Land

CREDIT INFORMATION

Creative Director:

Art Director: Bryan Cipolla

Book Designer: Alex Tults

Jacket/Cover Designer: Alex Tults

Illustrator: Alex Tults

Photographer:

Picture Editor:

Production Director:

Production Coordinator: Bryan Cipolla, Jesse Pollock

Production Artist:

Other Credits: Introduction: Jon Savage; Foreword: Lenny Kaye; Director of Sales and Marketing: Casey Whalen; Proofreader: Chris Peterson

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