He created some of rock music’s most legendary gig art
Frank Kozik, legendary concert poster artist, has passed away. The news was confirmed by his wife, Sharon, on his official Facebook page. He was 61 years old.
“We are devastated to inform you that Frank Kozik passed away unexpectedly this past Saturday,” the statement read. “Frank was a man larger than himself, an icon in each of the genres he worked in. He dramatically changed every industry he was a part of. He was a creative force of nature. We are so beyond lucky and honored to have been a part of his journey, and he will be missed beyond what words could ever express. He loved his wife, his cats, classic muscle cars, mentoring others, and Disneyland. His forceful presence will be missed by all who knew him. He legacy, like all great masters, will live on through his art and our memories of him.”
Throughout his career, Kozik designed gig posters for the likes of Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails, Stone Temple Pilots, Primus, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys, Queens of the Stone Age, Melvins, Butthole Surfers, Helmet, The Offspring, blink-182, and more. He designed the cover art for Melvins landmark album Houdini, Queens of the Stone Age’s self-titled LP, and The Offspring’s 1998 smash hit Americana.
Kozik also created the official poster for Lollapalooza 2016.
One of his most famous works is the gig poster for Soundgarden and Pearl Jam’s 1992 show at The Unicorn in Houston, Texas. It is highly sought after by collectors, and is regarded as a crown jewel in any Soundgarden or Pearl Jam collection. There is currently an original first edition listed for $18,500 on eBay.
In addition to his gig art, Kozik served as Creative Director for the designer toy company Kidrobot. He founded the record label Man’s Ruin Records, which lasted from 1994 until 2002. The label released msusic by Melvins, Kyuss, High on Fire, and more. In 1996, he published his book Man’s Ruin: Posters and Art by Frank Kozik.
