Welcome to Planet Sixty Seven.com
Bio: The Scott Aicher Story
Aicher's Story
"And you may ask yourself, well... How did I get here?"- David Byrne
Every kid on the block looked for the loudest, fastest rock and roll we could find. We all had
Sweet’s Desolation Blvd. and early Kiss records we found out about by going to Shamrock
Roller Rink in Torrance, CA. We also read Mad Magazine, Odd Rods and Sports Super freaks
Gum Cards, and Marvel Comics we got at the liquor store after paper routes, Creem, Circus,
Skateboarder, Surfer and Car Toons Magazines we got from mom at the grocery store
(Lucky’s usually...). We also traded Redline Hot Wheels and Baseball cards too. I would spend
hours drawing Kiss pictures from the magazine pictures and album covers. What I liked
the most about Kiss was the make up they wore as it was a challenge to draw and get right.
There was the graphic shapes in the make up, and even thougher the silver make up that took
lots of practice with shading to get to look like shiney glitter.
Into the 80’s. Times were changing. With the confusion of puberty and a family melt down I was
soon in the grips of depression. My uncle Don was always listening to what I thought was “weird”
music. (Bowie and Iggy and the Stooges etc...) one day I decided to open my mind and borrow
some of his records. My fiends and I were listening to the Sex Pistols and Ramones. He lent
me The New York Dolls, Raw Power by the Stooges, The Germs No God single, and that chirstmas
he gave me Phil Spector’s Christmas lp and The Velvet Underground and Nico Lp. Here was
Warhol’s famous lp cover. The Germs’ minmal Blue circle logo and Ray pettibon’s Jealous Again
cover and Gary Panters' Jimbo comics and covers for the Plugz and more. A light went on for me that I could make this kind of art. All this imagery and new
ideas. With Punk every new thing was old by the next week and dubbed “Trendy” and the
music was not only fast and hard, but new too.
After Finishing High School in the mid 80’s I eventually wound up working as a graphic designer
for print shops and worked weekends at Peanut Records in Lomita (I could draw flyers for local
bands as I worked the register at Peanut, and get them made at the print shop....)
I made lots of flyers. Towards the end of the 80’s I Started working as an Illustrator and Designer
for an action sports clothing company and for the entertainment industry as well. I was
surrounded at work with the the art of Rick Reitveld as the benchmark for what we were out to
paint like. My boss there early on was Tom “Bigtoe” Laura. I brought in tattoo magazines and
the catalog from the laguna Kustom Culture Show and tried my best to make hot rod rat fink
Big Daddy Roth style art mixed with tattoo influence. Problem was we were a surf company.
It was even harder with the “Rat Fink” thing working for big entertianment companies...
Eventually Kustom Culture had it’s day, and even those big companies wanted “Fink” art.
Now I was in trouble.... Was I going to hand over the art I did for “fun” to the Man? Not to
worry... the enconomy was soon to take a dive and kill the in house art departments. So, now
downsized... now what? Start your own company! If not NOW then WHEN? So (with help from
my mom and stepdad) I built “PlanetSixtySeven.com” sometime in early 2009.
Who knows what’s next, but along the way I met
my wife Sharon at a Gardena keg party with Pennywise and Generator (bands I did flyers for
then...) Nirvana was going to be on SNL for the first time that night, so we went to my apartment
to watch it. 18 years later she’s still here with me in Pedro in our cottage house with our 2 dogs
Chet and Coco (...and formerly with Daisy, rest in peace Daisy and Uncle Don Underwood).
I can’t imagine life without her. She’s (needless to say) my biggest inspiration.
So I still collect Hot Wheels (mostly older “Redline” ones and ones designed by Larry Wood) They
still have a big influence on my art as there are new designs all the time, and you can pick what
you like, and leave the ones you don’t. I also love to collect guitars and art books of all kinds and
art history. I love swap meets and garge sales and “collector” TV shows like American Pickers
and Pawn Stars.
I love collecting Japanese “Godzilla” and “Ultraman” style toys (Kaiju) and old metal lunchboxes
(I started painting by hand due to the art in my lunchbox collection). I made a nice vinyl record
collection over the years too.
The advice I give to anyone who wants to be an artist is this. The most important thing is that
you are inspired enough and have the urgh to paint and draw ALL the time... if you do you will
learn skills on the way. A lifetime into art and I learn more everyday.
I hope you will buy some of my art. I try and make both affordable and “very affordable” art
so anyone can buy it. (even if you are on a budget). Everything you buy at my shop helps
me personally, and my teacher wife Sharon, and Coco and Chet get new treats too. So don’t
be shy we have art we’d love you to buy. Here’s where to find our shop:
Shop.PlanetSixtySeven.com
Many Thanks, and Lots of Love
Happy Trails!
Scott Aicher
I was interviewed for the premiere issue of Rank and File Magazine as I was finishing my first solo show in Gasoline Gallery's project gallery. Here is the full article, enjoy my friends!
I guess i've always been a little bothered by people describing an artist's work by using other people's work as an example, as if they don't stand on their own. yet, when I look at he art of Scott Aicher I'm overwhelmed by a youthful carelessness of R.Crumb, a strong narrative similar to Joe coleman & the gritty core of blues music... but this artist more than stands on his own. So where does the inspiration come from in order to achieve this multi-layed final product? According to Scott, the list includes,"things I collect at swap meets and garage sales, Japanese and monster toys, album covers, skateboard and surf culture, 60's psych movies, lunch box and tattoo imagery... and art books, lots of them!"
Oddly enough, music seems to peer through the majority of Aicher's canvases. The artist explains, "Music has a lot ot do with it. as a kid I would sit in my room with headphones on listening to Kiss, Aerosmith, Sweet, and Ted Nugent and draw all day." A little over 3 decades later, he has built quite a laundy list of bands he has worked with throughout the years, positioning himself as one of the industry's most sought after artists "I did early art for Pennywise, Down By Law, Chemical people, DOS, Firehose, Don't No, Sensefield, and more. I also contribute regularly to the San Pedro Fanzine, The Rise and The Fall, I do a 2 page comic per issue."
Another huge honor, Aicher was hand picked by Ed"Big Daddy"Roth himself to work as an assistant artist. If history stands correct, Roth had quite an eye for talent... Artistic heavyweights Ed Newton, Robert Williams, The Pizz, Von Franco, Johnny Ace, Kali Verra & more all had the opportunity to sling ink for Ed. The artist humbly comments, "I was working with Ed on some art just before he passed away, on some new characters he had come up with. I was so lucky to have met him, he gave me some great life advice, he looked through my portfolio and told me that I needed to be my own guy as an artist, not for him or anyone else." During a battle with depression, Aicher took some time off to revaluate his artwork after the loss of his friend and mentor, but soon realized that Ed wanted him to continue on.
Coming off of his hugely successful 40-piece "Retinal Stoke" solo show at gasoline Gallery, Aicher's work schedule would appear manic to most. Scott continues to be one of the most prolific artists in the scene today. He is currently working on a new body of paintings & tee designs as well as comics for "The Rise and Fall" Be sure toswing by his website to get a glimpse into Aicher's world at www.planetsixtyseven.com.
Media and clips relating to Scott Aicher
Beach Cities Reporter, Jan.10, 2010
Main Street El Segundo will be the site of a party, mixed in with art and some music, when the art show New Year’s Nuisance 2 comes to Gasoline gallery Saturday, Jan. 9.
Approximately 40 artists will take part in the show, which will open with a party from 6 to 10 p.m. Not only will New Year’s Nuisance feature the best of “kustom kulture, lowbrow, hot rod and urban surf” art, but Gasoline will also debut its new side venture, “The Sounds of Gasoline,” a three-CD series of rock music with a hard edge.
“We were shocked by how many bands wanted to be part of these compilations,” said Mark Waldman, Gasoline’s founder. “It was pretty cool to meet some of the people I’ve been listening to for years, not to mention have them be part of these projects.”
“The Sounds of Gasoline,” volumes one through three, feature such acts as Voodoo Glow Skulls, Bastard Winos, Astro Zombies, The Turbo A.C.’s, The Doghouse Lords, Switchblade Riot and many more.
Many of the artists featured in New Year’s Nuisance 2 are fixtures at Gasoline, including The Pizz, Makoto, Mr. G, Candy, Sara Ray, Doug Dorr, Johnny Ace and Kali, Squindo, Max Grundy, James Owens, Big Toe, Kal, Scott Aicher, Ick, D.D. Mae and 3 Sheets.
“I’m honored to be a part of the New Year’s Nuisance 2 show. Last year was the first and it rocked,” said 3 Sheets. “This one has grown leaps and bounds since last year, tons of new artists and I’m having my first solo show in the project gallery ... what more could I ask for? Watch out because this show is turning out to be another monster show like California Screamin’ has become over the past few years.”
California Screamin’ has turned into the gallery’s biggest show. New Year’s Nuisance started up last year, and according to Aicher, is a “primer” for the California Screamin’ show.
“Last year was a blast, and this year will be even better,” said Aicher of New Year’s Nuisance 2. “I can’t wait to see all the new pinstriped, pin-up, chromed-out, fuel-injected visual treats. My own work in this show will be a taste of what you will see at my solo show. If you have been before, you know you got to be there. If you haven’t been yet, get on it.”
Artist Candy added, “(I’d) never thought I’d say it but I’m stoked to be a nuisance. Last year’s show was a hit and New Year’s Nuisance 2 is (going to) knock your socks off.”
Waldman and his wife, Taylor, opened The Dented Can in Redondo Beach, before moving to El Segundo, with little funds, but the artists were able to use their abilities to make functional pieces of art using discarded materials into a success. Recycled items mixed with new retail featuring gifts, jewelry and other items with a vintage feel make up part of the store while Gasoline showcases contemporary artists from different genres, from “low-brow hot rod”-influenced paintings to mixed media surf-inspired artwork.
Gasoline is located at 423 Main St. For more information, call (310) 416-9188 or visit www.gasolinegallery.com.
History of San Pedro Punk
June 26 - July 31, 2005
Curated by Marshall Astor
Since the earliest punk movements of the 1970s, San Pedro's scene had a style uniquely its own. Beginning in 1979 with the groundbreaking sound of the Reactionaries, members of which moved on to form the iconic and genre defining Minutemen in 1980, to the South Bay punk of the 90's, San Pedro has been a punk stronghold for 25 years.
Now, nearly a generation later, the subculture still rocks as a significant source of energy in the Harbor area. In 2005, elements of this energetic community can be found building the Channel Street Skate Park, in careers in the arts--such as the founding the San Pedro City Ballet--and a hundred other success stories. Bands from Pedro continue to tour America and the world, but the punk ethic has become more than a musical subculture. It's become, in the words of D. Boon, singer/guitarist of the Minutemen, "what we made it to be:" a cultural touchstone.
Original artwork, music, photos, posters, memorabilia and video clips spanning a quarter century of punkdom was being brought together from the personal archives of local artists and musicians for the first time by curator Marshall Astor. The exhibition featured a timeline with the events, people and venues-including Union Club, The Dancing Waters, Sacred Grounds Coffee House, and the recent skate park-which made the scene what it is today. Featured visual artists: Lena Orlando, Craig Ibarra, Martin Lyon, Aaron White, Scott Aicher, Chet Zar, Kevin Salk and Andy Harris and more.
The show documented in an informative catalogue available during the exhibition only. Bands featured in exhibited recordings and videos include The Reactionaries, Minutemen, Invisiblechains, The Wigs, Dos, fIREHOSE, Skinhorse, One Thin Dime, Rig, F.Y.P., Melting Pot, No Comply, The Leeches, F.C.P., The Jag-Offs, Toys That Kill, Killer Dreamer, and many more.
Opening reception: June 26, 2005, 2-4 pm
Musical performance by The Leeches
