Frank Mastropolo
Foreword by Joshua White, Founder, Joshua Light Show
"Fifty years on from its closure, Mastropolo's written Fillmore East: The Venue That Changed Rock Music Forever... With interviewees including Taj Mahal, John Mayall, Dave Davies, Mark Farner, Roger McGuinn and many more, the story takes in a magical place at a magical time. There are heavy bills and many choice recollections."
– MOJO magazine
BEST CLASSIC ROCK MUSIC BOOKS OF ALL TIME!
— BOOK AUTHORITY
BEST MUSIC BOOKS OF THE YEAR!
– BEST CLASSIC BANDS
BEST BOOKS FOR DIE-HARD ROCKERS! — SHEPHERD
Rock impresario Bill Graham opened Fillmore East in New York City on March 8, 1968 with headliners Janis Joplin and Big Brother & the Holding Co. In just over three years, the Fillmore East presented rock royalty that included Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Carlos Santana, and James Taylor.
The Allman Brothers, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Joe Cocker, Derek & the Dominos, Jefferson Airplane, The Who, Frank Zappa, and the Grateful Dead recorded groundbreaking live albums at what became known as the "Church of Rock and Roll."
And it was not just rock. Graham introduced fans to jazz greats that included Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, and Charles Lloyd; blues legends B. B. King, Buddy Guy, and Albert King; and folk music's Tim Buckley, Joan Baez, and Tim Hardin.
Faced with increased competition from larger venues, Graham closed Fillmore East on June 27, 1971 after a weekend of concerts that starred the Allman Brothers. Fifty years later, 100 performers and staff—including 20 members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—remember Graham and the iconic concert hall in the new book, Fillmore East: The Venue That Changed Rock Music Forever. The book features more than 150 photos, many never before published, and a foreword by Joshua White, founder of the Joshua Light Show.
Review: Fillmore East: The Venue That Changed Rock Music Forever
Under the Radar Magazine
My Final Night at the Fillmore East, by Randy Bachman
Classic Rock Magazine
Musicians and Crew Recall the Glorious 3-Year Run of the Fillmore East in
New Oral History
NYS Music
Book 'Fillmore East' Reminisces About Legendary Lost NYC Rock Venue in Interviews and Photos
Boing Boing
Moby Grape's 'Worst Night': Excerpt From New Fillmore East Book
Best Classic Bands
10 Secrets of Fillmore East, a Lost Rock Venue on Second Avenue
Untapped New York
'Fillmore East: The Venue That Changed Rock Music Forever' Book Available Now From Journalist/Photographer Frank Mastropolo
Rock Cellar Magazine
New Book Reveals How NYC Rock Mecca Fillmore East Introduced White Kids to Black Artists
Reel Urban News
New 'Fillmore East' Book Recalls the Legendary NYC Venue
Best Classic Bands
If you want to know about the rock ‘n’ roll scene in New York City in the late '60s, early '70s, this is the book to read. Straight from the horses' mouths.
— Peter Albin, Big Brother & the Holding Company
Fillmore East: The Venue that Changed Rock Music Forever is a wonderful book. It’s authentic. It takes me back. I can almost smell the pot in the front row. — Corky Laing, Mountain
The minute I hit the stage I knew I was on Cloud Nine. And no, it was not a contact high, although I could not be more comfortable if I were at home. The ambiance, the smell, the feeling of absolute freedom. Yes, that was the Fillmore East. Hey, Frank Mastropolo, YOU NAILED IT! — Genya Ravan, Ten Wheel Drive
For more information visit the Fillmore East website
