From Publishers Weekly
Rock music promoter Graham and Greenfield ( STP: A Journey Through America with the Rolling Stones ) were collaborating on this unfailingly entertaining portrait when Graham died in a helicopter crash in 1991. The book's chronological but unusual format--it consists almost entirely of freestanding quotes, without transitional narration--works well. Sources include Graham's family, members of the Grateful Dead, Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend and actor Peter Coyote; Graham, shrewd and outspoken, tells anecdotes of his own and never misses a chance to rebut his illustrious colleagues who reminisce here. His tale is the stuff of legends: a Jew born in Germany in 1931 and orphaned soon after, he was evacuated to France in 1939 and sent to the U.S. in 1941. He lived with a foster family in the Bronx, working as a waiter and cabbie until he found his calling as a rock impresario in 1960s San Francisco. Notoriety and controversy followed--for the next quarter century, he had a hand in everything from the Trips Festival to the Fillmore West to Woodstock to Live Aid to Amnesty International's Conspiracy of Hope tour. This look at a businessman unencumbered by timidity is recommended reading as an often hilarious overview of rock 'n' roll. Photos not seen by PW. Major ad/promo. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
This is the story of the creator of the rock'n'roll industry as we know it today, presented in a style reminiscent of a rock concert: fast and furious. Graham zips through an account of how he created the rock business while detailing his experiences with such rock legends as The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Listeners will gain an appreciation of Graham, who died in a helicopter crash in 1991, while learning how the music business works. Peter Wolf, lead singer of the J. Geils Band, gives a capable reading of the work. The J. Geils Band, incidently, participated in the farewell ceremonies at the Fillmore East, a club that Graham started and made famous. Robert Greenfield punctuates Wolf's reading with some background information. Recommended for libraries with large adult audio collections.David A. Scott, Olivet Coll. Lib., Mich.Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From AudioFile
Rock music fans who venerate the culture of the sixties and seventies will appreciate this unusual biography of rock concert promoter Bill Graham, who died in 1991. The format is a composite of Graham's personal narratives laced with associates' memories. Arranged adroitly, these form an autobiography/biography. Most of this abridgment is the autobiographical portion of the book. Peter Wolf, former lead singer of the J. Geils Band, reads for Graham while co-author Robert Greenfield delivers the other voices. Wolf's voice modulates appropriately with Graham's temperament; however, some inflections, particularly anger, sound forced. Greenfield's voice, heard sparsely, is largely innocuous. The unusual format is somewhat confusing and taxes the endurance of those who don't cherish the Woodstock era. D.W.K. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
New York Times
"Star-studded behind-the-scenes stories.... A virtual compendium of rock and folk stardom."
Curled Up with a Good Book 6/25/04
"A must-read for any fan of rock and roll."
Q September, 2004
Four-star Q Recommends
Mojo September 2004
"This excellent oral history...teems with terrific backstage stories and accretes a vivid picture."
Austin Chronicle 12/3/04
"Fascinating"
Relix November 2004
"An invaluable document of pop culture at one of its most pivotal times...Essential, enjoyable reading."
Book Description
The national best-selling autobiography of Bill Graham, the colorful, larger-than-life architect of the modern concert industry. As a child, Bill Graham fled Europe to escape Hitler's armies. He grew up on the streets of New York and in the dining rooms of the hotels in the Catskills. After failing as an actor, he headed for San Francisco right before the Summer of Love where he founded the Fillmore and launched the rock icons of a generation--Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, Jefferson Airplane, Cream, the Grateful Dead, and more. He was a complex, caring, compassionate whirlwind of energy who rock stars either loved--or hated. In his own voice and those of the people who knew him--Jerry Garcia, Keith Richards, Grace Slick, Ken Kesey, Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, and Carlos Santana--we hear Bill's story as well as the scoop on the major events in rock for more than three decades, ending with his tragic death in a 1991 helicopter crash. Gritty, moving, funny, and always fascinating, Bill Graham Presents is the inside story of the explosive and unforgettable man who created the business of rock.
About the Author
Robert Greenfield is the author of S.T.P.: A Journey Through America with the Rolling Stones and Dark Star: An Oral History of Jerry Garcia.
Bill Graham Presents: My Life Inside Rock and Out FROM THE PUBLISHER
"As a child, Bill Graham fled Europe to escape Hitler's armies. He grew up on the streets of the Bronx and in the dining rooms of the great Catskills hotels. After failing as an actor, he headed for San Francisco right before the Summer of Love where he founded the Fillmore and launched the rock icons of a generation - Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, Jefferson Airplane, Cream, the Grateful Dead, and more. He was a complex, caring, compassionate whirlwind of energy whom rock stars either loved - or hated." In his own voice and in the voices of the people who knew him - Jerry Garcia, Keith Richards, Grace Slick, Ken Kesey, Eric Clapton, and Carlos Santana - we hear Bill's story, as well as the scoop on the major events in rock for more than three decades, ending with his tragic death in a 1991 helicopter crash. Bill Graham Presents is the inside story of the explosive and unforgettable man who created the business of rock.
Art & Photography
Book Info
