Bill Graham playlist:
Popular Videos – Bill Graham:

Bill Graham

I have lots of personal memories of Bill.  The first was in 1980, Prince was opening for the Stones at the Anaheim Stadium (or was it the L.A. Colesium?) and no one liked Prince then, in fact he irritated people with his fishnets and raunchy lyrics, and the unrully crowd started throwing bottles at Prince.  Once they left the stage, Bill Graham came out, chided the audience for being rude to a performer, and then when some kid in the front row gave him the finger, Bill had him pulled up on stage, and then said “hey. you thing you are a big shot?, you are out of here asshole!” and then had the kid thrown out in front of the whole crowd!

Later, when I became a deadhead, i remember seeing Bill on his cart or bike, checking out the scene, asking people to put there beer away, and getting lots of hugs and free stickers from people.

Another time, at a Dead show in Arizona, Bill came to the aid of some vendors who were being abused by security (not his, the venues).  First he yelled at us for vending, when we “know the band has asked us not to!” and then he proceeded to get a kids shirts returned, and get the local goons to back off.  The next day was the best lot scene ever!

Of course there are the New Years entrances, and the other tales of generosity and of him being an asshole too.  Would our scene even exist if it were not for this combination of chutzpah and joy that was the man Bobby Weir nicknamed, Uncle Bobo.

What are your Bill Graham memories?

Bill Graham playlist:
Popular Videos – Bill Graham: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdx8lZAfeKg16N52SG6yTKVfP-1jLNza3

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