Did anyone else do more to promote live rock and roll than Bill Graham?
Did anyone else do more to promote live rock and roll than Bill Graham?
I hate to respond w/another source, but there's a 2018 documentary called The Show’s The Thing: The Legendary Promoters of Rock that focuses on Frank Barsalona being the pioneer starting in the early 1960s adding the British Invasion to established American acts of the 1950s & 60s. He's credited w/creating a territorial network of great young regional promoters - Graham in San Francisco, Ron Delsener in NYC, Larry Magid in Philadelphia, Don Law in Boston & Mike & Jules Belkin in Cleveland. A lot of their companies, including Graham's & the Belkins', became what is now Live Nation.
I saw it in a theatre, but it must be streaming somewhere.
March 1973 Nassau Coliseum.
Grateful Dead, general admission.
I'm on the walkway observing the scene on the floor before the show.
I hear someone on the PA and it's Bill and he's pointing at someone on the floor about 20 rows back.
Now he's screaming and I look to see some guy giving Bill the finger.
Bill screams "F Me? No F U Motherfer".
Bill then runs to the edge of the stage, sits down and he's going in to get this guy.
These two big road crew run out and grab Bill one under each arm and drag him backstage kicking and screaming.
I'm like wow the show hasn't even started.
This could be good entertainment.
Yeah Bill was one of a kind.
He is missed still.
I would definitely go if I was in NY. Hopefully it comes to Boston
recommended reading
https://www.amazon.com/Bill-Graham-Presents-Life-Inside/dp/0306813491
His disgust toward & and hatred of the POS coke head manger of Led Zeppelin, Peter Grant is another reason I loved him!
Wish I could go.
