04 Sep
Fillmore East
by Diane Scott, Wallingford, PA
What a night! I was still in high school and had the privilege of attending a December (1968) concert at the Fillmore East in NYC. For a girl from the suburbs, it was an eye-opening experience. First, Crazy Arthur Brown came leaping on stage with his head in flames (remember the song “Fire”…) Then the main act was Steppenwolf and the lead guitarist/singer (I can’t remember his name) was nude except for his guitar on a strap. The music was great but I mostly remember the visuals from that night!
Hi -I grew up listening to NYC radio- WNEWFM ( EW) as a matter of fact. I stayed up listening most of each night of the closing of the Fillmore East concerts. I wasn’t old enough to go to shows back then, but I was old enough to love the music. I remember listening to Edgar Winter’s White Trash and the Allmans that historic clsoing weekend. NEW broadcasted the entire show. I thank my stars for NEW FM-it’s no longer around and now I am a fathful XPN listener! Thanks for sharing your time at the Fillmore. Been to the Fillmore in San Francisco, but never NYC!
October 16th, 2007 at 11:12 amThe old Fillmore East is now an NYU building (I think). The neighborhood has gotten very trendy in the past few years. Lots of overpriced restaurants and condos. It’s impossible to find parking on the weekends as people come in from the burbs. I lived a few blocks from the old Fillmore for several years. One of the last events before the building was gutted was a celebration of WBAI’s anniversary. That was the first and last time I ever went inside the building.
Bravo to your praise of WNEW-FM. I was on Long Island during the summer, and was delighted to hear Dennis Elsas (old NEW-FM guy) on WFUV (from Fordham University). Pete Fornatale and Vin Scelsa’s “Idiot’s Delight” are on there as well. When you’re away from WXPN, WFUV is a nice place to hear great music.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:07 pm