David Lindley archive

So sad to report that the great David Lindley passed away after a long illness on March 3, 2023. Please see the tributes posted by many other great musicians online. The world has lost an irreplaceable talent.

This collection of approximately 300 items was assembled by a fan of the great multi-instrumentalist David Lindley. Initially a banjo player for such bands as the Dry City Scat Band of the mid-1960’s, Lindley’s first band of note was the psychedelic folk band Kaleidoscope. The band was a fixture of the San Francisco music scene of the late 1960’s, and as such was often featured on some of the most collectible rock concert artwork ever created. They played at The Magic Mushroom and the Carousel Ballroom, which Bill Graham turned into the Fillmore. The poster and postcard artwork from Bill Graham and Family Dog still represents the high point of rock concert art.

Lindley’s eclectic (and largely synthetic) wardrobe is well known to fans, and makes the poster and photographic artwork even more stunning.

Lindley gained much larger fame in the 1970’s as the guitarist in the Jackson Browne band, and it is Lindley’s incredible slide work that gives much of Browne’s early catalog its instantly recognizable sound.

Perhaps his most popular work was in his band El Rayo X in the 1980’s. Through the nineties to today, Lindly has toured with Hani Naser, Henry Kaiser and Wally Ingram. Lindley has added his magic touch to recordings by artists such as Ry Cooder, his cousin Linda Ronstadt, Rod Stewart, Crosby Stills & Nash, Warren Zevon, The Bangles, Emmylou Harris, Bruce Springsteen, Dan Fogelburg, John Prine, Little Feat, James Taylor and scores of others.

The collection runs the gamut of posters, autographs, records, CDs, magazines, press kits, photographs, pins & buttons, t-shirts, tickets and programs. There is even a one-of-a-kind hat. A large percentage of the collection was acquired from Lindley’s former road manager, and some of the posters adorned their office.

The man who assembled this collection was selective. The vinyl records (but for one I need to test) all look virtually unplayed. The posters are mostly in excellent condition. A few were laminated by Lindley’s road manager, but they were professionally done and look great (no air pockets).

Below are photos of most of the items. (I did not photograph all the albums.) Click on “Lindley catalog with prices” below for a spread sheet of information about each item and prices. The numbers on the thumbnails correspond to the item numbers on the spread sheet. Confusingly, the website creates it’s own numbering system when you click on an individual image, but it you hover over the image with your mouse, the correct number will appear that matches the spreadsheet. Best viewed on a desktop. The spreadsheet is updated as items have been sold, but let me know what you want and I’ll double-check availability.

Lindley catalog with prices