If CBGB was the gutter from which punk emerged, the Fillmore East was the cathedral where rock ascended to high art. Opened by promoter Bill Graham on March 8, 1968, at 105 Second Avenue in the East Village, the venue was the East Coast companion to Graham's San Francisco operations. The venue, formerly the Commodore Theater (a 1920s Yiddish theater), retained its ornate architecture, providing a dramatic proscenium setting for performances. Graham revolutionized the concert industry here, treating rock musicians as serious artists and introducing the famous "triple bill" format.
Known as "The Church of Rock and Roll," the Fillmore East set new standards for concert production. Famous for its technical precision—shows started on time, state-of-the-art sound system, and the legendary Joshua Light Show using rear-projection liquid oil dyes. The Allman Brothers Band recorded "At Fillmore East" (1971) here, widely regarded as one of the finest live rock albums. Jimi Hendrix recorded "Band of Gypsys" on New Year's Day 1970. John Lennon and Yoko Ono joined Frank Zappa onstage on June 6, 1971.
Bill Graham curated eclectic lineups that educated audiences by placing disparate genres side-by-side. A single evening might feature blues, jazz, and rock. Technical excellence and punctuality were paramount.
New York, United States
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San Francisco, United States
Philadelphia, United States
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New York, United States
We're collecting stories from musicians who performed at Fillmore East