What a beautiful piece you just wrote on the Fillmore East.. I am just so happy I could say that I was there and so many shows there that truly did shape my Music vision and brought me right in the center of some incredible music that I can just never forget.. I saw Chicago’s first appearance in New York., yes, the electric flag and the mothers, Jeff Beck group with Rod Stewart’s first US appearance.. and many more.. one that sticks in my mind was May 1969 when I saw the Butterfield Blues Band and Savoy Brown.. They both played extended sets after a British rock band canceled and I can’t say that I heard better music than that… when Butterfield played the Work Song from East West the place just erupted.. He hadn’t played that in a long time…. Then of course there was Jimi Hendrix and Sly & The Family Stone double bill at Slys first appearance in New York. What can we say? How lucky were we?.. I guess born at the right time.. and just so it’s part of history. Tickets started at three dollars when the place opened up and they raised it to $5.50 a few years later.. oh yes, I should’ve thrown Jethro Tull in there as well! Thanks again for writing this. I do regret not seeing Miles Davis there… but I got to make up for that as the years went on
We were probably there on the same night a number of times. I remember Chicago’s debut, they were the Chicago Transit Authority. And Jethro Tull, was such a cool group. Fantastic memories, we were lucky to be there.
Nice nostalgic look back at the Fillmore East. I was the de facto house photographer and
you should give photo credits and get permission for use. The b&w rooftop view of the ticket buying crowd at Fillmore East in the daytime is mine and it is not an internet freebie. I expect to be asked for permission and be credited even if I allow usage without a licensing fee. Thank you. Amalie R. Rothschild
Ha, you certainly where in with the in-crowd and had so very many musical experiences that the vast majority of the world did not have. what wonderful memories. And to work with Scorsese must have been a thrill. the only shared experience i i have is having driven a cab while living in Hollyweird!
Beautiful piece! I know it's corny to say it, but there really was a magic to the place. The vibes were great and the music coupled with the Joshua light show always an exciting experience.
I was lucky enough to go to Fillmore East 6 different times including the Airplane, Jethro Tull, Joe Cocker with MD&E, Buffy Ste. Marie, and Led Zeppelin, 2 times.
The first Zep show, where they effectively ended Iron Butterfly's career, is described in my Substack here:
Thanks brother for bringing much needed light and lovely memories to this dreadfully usurped MLK day. Having previously established our measure of synchronicity, I was laughing reading your Fillmore show list. I believe I attended all of them except-sadly Cream. (Second time I missed them-friends had tix for their Queens College show in ‘67 and my folks ‘forbid’ me to go-last time that happened!).
Also reminded me that I walked through the political rally scene shot at Columbus Circle in “Taxi Driver”. I remember thinking this isn’t the election cycle? I didn’t know what had happened-it was so realistic, wasn’t roped off and the cameras were well hidden-until I saw the movie later!
Remembering Slug’s, the kitchen at The Vanguard and all of it-thanks for the memories and the relief. My Fillmore bookends were special: first sitting in the back row(where the ceiling was about eighteen inches above your head) for Hendrix. An unknown Sly and the Family Stone grabbed from The Electric Circus at the last minute to open due to Soft Machine’s leader falling ill) May 10, 1968 and closing night with Albert King, the J Geils Band and the Allman Bros Band rocking till sun up.
Thank you Bill Graham. Took us awhile to realize ANY night we were free and had the bread? Head to the Fillmore East!
Those were the days my friend, how lucky we are! Hugz from Hollywood. I know long form writing isn’t/hasn’t been your thing but you should write a book about your NYC days!
What marvelous recollections of an extraordinary venue and wealth of music! I had the pleasure of going to the Fillmore East regularly 1968-1970 and sporadically after I went away to college. I saw most of the bands you mention plus the Allman Brothers and the Grateful Dead. I was particularly blown away by the guitarists of the day- Bloomfield, Hendrix, Santana and Jeff Beck to name a few. The best era of live music ever!
Great stories Brett! I grew up in Chatham NY area very rural but the good news was that we were 20 min from Tanglewood! Bill Graham started doing rock shows there in late 68 so everyone that played the Fillmore played there as well! Saw the Who several times Jefferson Airplane, BB King, Chicago, Butterfield Blues Band, Miles etc .etc.. What days to experience music!
Thank you for your documenting of this historic place. I was born in ‘64 so The Fillmore East was gone by the time I began going to shows with my Dad. I do remember the vibrant scene that still existed in the 70s at places like The Palladium, The Bottom Line, The Bitter End and Kenny’s Castaways and so many others. My first jazz show was a triple bill with Stuff, Gato Barbieri and Grover Washington Jr on the same bill! I’ve seen McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver, Art Blakey with the Marsalis Brothers, Stevie Wonder with a full orchestra, Earth Wind and Fire at their peak, Billy Joel with his original band and so many others. What a great time to be alive.
Thanks. Mysterious first and humane second. Just right for my ears and heart. Never into drugs, but like the trips.
Although it is in Portuguese, the musical selection is top quality. All recordings are live at Bill Graham's house.
https://dadaradio.net/fillmore/
A great read on the legendary Fillmore East. Been doing a deep dive on Bill Graham lately.
What a beautiful piece you just wrote on the Fillmore East.. I am just so happy I could say that I was there and so many shows there that truly did shape my Music vision and brought me right in the center of some incredible music that I can just never forget.. I saw Chicago’s first appearance in New York., yes, the electric flag and the mothers, Jeff Beck group with Rod Stewart’s first US appearance.. and many more.. one that sticks in my mind was May 1969 when I saw the Butterfield Blues Band and Savoy Brown.. They both played extended sets after a British rock band canceled and I can’t say that I heard better music than that… when Butterfield played the Work Song from East West the place just erupted.. He hadn’t played that in a long time…. Then of course there was Jimi Hendrix and Sly & The Family Stone double bill at Slys first appearance in New York. What can we say? How lucky were we?.. I guess born at the right time.. and just so it’s part of history. Tickets started at three dollars when the place opened up and they raised it to $5.50 a few years later.. oh yes, I should’ve thrown Jethro Tull in there as well! Thanks again for writing this. I do regret not seeing Miles Davis there… but I got to make up for that as the years went on
We were probably there on the same night a number of times. I remember Chicago’s debut, they were the Chicago Transit Authority. And Jethro Tull, was such a cool group. Fantastic memories, we were lucky to be there.
Beautifully written
Nice nostalgic look back at the Fillmore East. I was the de facto house photographer and
you should give photo credits and get permission for use. The b&w rooftop view of the ticket buying crowd at Fillmore East in the daytime is mine and it is not an internet freebie. I expect to be asked for permission and be credited even if I allow usage without a licensing fee. Thank you. Amalie R. Rothschild
Loved your book, I cherish it
Ha, you certainly where in with the in-crowd and had so very many musical experiences that the vast majority of the world did not have. what wonderful memories. And to work with Scorsese must have been a thrill. the only shared experience i i have is having driven a cab while living in Hollyweird!
Have you written about your experiences as a taxi driver?
Beautiful piece! I know it's corny to say it, but there really was a magic to the place. The vibes were great and the music coupled with the Joshua light show always an exciting experience.
I was lucky enough to go to Fillmore East 6 different times including the Airplane, Jethro Tull, Joe Cocker with MD&E, Buffy Ste. Marie, and Led Zeppelin, 2 times.
The first Zep show, where they effectively ended Iron Butterfly's career, is described in my Substack here:
https://hughjones.substack.com/p/the-record-store-years-side-trip-7dc
Thanks brother for bringing much needed light and lovely memories to this dreadfully usurped MLK day. Having previously established our measure of synchronicity, I was laughing reading your Fillmore show list. I believe I attended all of them except-sadly Cream. (Second time I missed them-friends had tix for their Queens College show in ‘67 and my folks ‘forbid’ me to go-last time that happened!).
Also reminded me that I walked through the political rally scene shot at Columbus Circle in “Taxi Driver”. I remember thinking this isn’t the election cycle? I didn’t know what had happened-it was so realistic, wasn’t roped off and the cameras were well hidden-until I saw the movie later!
Remembering Slug’s, the kitchen at The Vanguard and all of it-thanks for the memories and the relief. My Fillmore bookends were special: first sitting in the back row(where the ceiling was about eighteen inches above your head) for Hendrix. An unknown Sly and the Family Stone grabbed from The Electric Circus at the last minute to open due to Soft Machine’s leader falling ill) May 10, 1968 and closing night with Albert King, the J Geils Band and the Allman Bros Band rocking till sun up.
Thank you Bill Graham. Took us awhile to realize ANY night we were free and had the bread? Head to the Fillmore East!
Those were the days my friend, how lucky we are! Hugz from Hollywood. I know long form writing isn’t/hasn’t been your thing but you should write a book about your NYC days!
I may write that book! Those memories are really powerful.
Nothing like the show with Steppenwolf, Quicksilver, the Electric Flag, and then Jimi joining the Flag for an encore.
What marvelous recollections of an extraordinary venue and wealth of music! I had the pleasure of going to the Fillmore East regularly 1968-1970 and sporadically after I went away to college. I saw most of the bands you mention plus the Allman Brothers and the Grateful Dead. I was particularly blown away by the guitarists of the day- Bloomfield, Hendrix, Santana and Jeff Beck to name a few. The best era of live music ever!
Thanks!
Forgot, did you ever know a cat named Don Mettauer he was a friend and he went to NYU film school 68-69 we then formed a rock band for awhile.
No.
Great stories Brett! I grew up in Chatham NY area very rural but the good news was that we were 20 min from Tanglewood! Bill Graham started doing rock shows there in late 68 so everyone that played the Fillmore played there as well! Saw the Who several times Jefferson Airplane, BB King, Chicago, Butterfield Blues Band, Miles etc .etc.. What days to experience music!
I went to concerts at Tanglewood. What a beautiful place.
Thank you for your documenting of this historic place. I was born in ‘64 so The Fillmore East was gone by the time I began going to shows with my Dad. I do remember the vibrant scene that still existed in the 70s at places like The Palladium, The Bottom Line, The Bitter End and Kenny’s Castaways and so many others. My first jazz show was a triple bill with Stuff, Gato Barbieri and Grover Washington Jr on the same bill! I’ve seen McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver, Art Blakey with the Marsalis Brothers, Stevie Wonder with a full orchestra, Earth Wind and Fire at their peak, Billy Joel with his original band and so many others. What a great time to be alive.
You witnessed some history as well!
What a wonderful introduction to jazz you had!
To have been alive during that time! Thankfully there is a plaque commemorating the Fillmore East. Thanks for this first-hand account!
So many great nights, musical history!