As far as concert venues go, New York City’s Fillmore East could arguably be the most memorable in rock history. Although it was only open for a little over three years, it featured some truly epic performances –– notably Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and the Allman Brothers Band. In building this particular venue, extra emphasis was placed on the audience’s experience; he ensured that there were concert posters everywhere, psychedelic light shows behind the stage, and a unique, custom sound system. Because of these details, performances always exceeded guest’s expectations. In 1971, Graham decided to close the venue, deeming it unsustainable in the face of an ever-changing concert scene.
The Allman Brothers Band
It’s impossible to reference the Fillmore East without also noting the rise of the Allman Brothers Band. Not only did they perform at the venue’s closing night, one of the most memorable ones in history, but their fame can also be attributed to a live recording at the Fillmore. In 1969, after the band formed in Florida, they played at numerous gigs across the country, but struggled to come into the official rock and roll scene. Their fate changed when they decided to do a live recording. At Fillmore East was released a month after the famous venue closed. It quickly climbed the charts in a matter of days and made it to #13 on Billboard’s Top Pop Albums.