‘Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution’

More than 400 objects related to Graham’s rise from child survivor of the Holocaust to arguably the most famous music promoter of all time are on display at the Skirball retrospective.

From the 1960s through the ‘80s, the words “Bill Graham Presents” on psychedelic posters became synonymous with rock ‘n’ roll history in the making.

A belt worn by Mick Jagger during the Rolling Stones’ performance at Altamont Speedway in 1969 and a photo of Carlos Santana.

Bill Graham dressed as Father Time for a New Year’s Eve concert in 1988.

Once Graham had established himself as a promoter, he spent much of his time promoting large benefit concerts, including the U.S. portion of Live Aid to fund famine relief efforts in Ethiopia in 1985.

Shoes that were worn by Keith Richards, repaired by Bill Graham during a 1981 tour.

When San Francisco’s parks department prevented a radical theater group called the San Francisco Mime Troupe from performing on city land, citing obscenity, Graham produced a benefit concert to cover legal costs.

The original apple barrel that greeted guests at the Fillmore with a sign that read “Take One or Two” is the most meaningful item in the exhibition.

Bill Graham’s success can be credited to his dogged work ethic, legendary temper and unparalleled ability to micromanage every detail of an event.

Graham benefited from being at the nexus of a counterculture movement driven by rock music and fed by the raw talent of artists who rose together.

The Skirball also has dozens of original concert posters.

Bill Graham’s San Francisco offices were firebombed in 1985 after he had organized protests against a planned visit by President Reagan to the Bitburg cemetery in Germany, where dozens of SS officers were interred.

Bill Graham began promoting rock concerts in the 1960s.

The exhibition is organized according to chapters in Graham’s life.

Bill Graham died in a helicopter crash in 1991.

A melted telephone and eyeglasses and a burned menorah from the 1985 firebombing are on display in the exhibition.

The eyeglasses and a burned menorah from the firebombing of Graham’s office.

A menorah that was burned in Bill Graham’s office bombing.

Charred documents are also on display at the Graham retrospective.

“He was also a visionary. He basically invented the whole idea of ‘rock theater,’ where you went to a concert for an immersion experience,” Skirball museum director Rabbi Robert Kirschner said of Graham.

Bill Graham’s butterfly costume.

Jerry Garcia‘s guitar named “Wolf” is on display at the exhibit.

One of the many posters on display at the Bill Graham exhibit.

One of the dozens of original concert posters on display at the Skirball for the Graham retrospective.

One of the dozens of original concert posters on display at the Skirball for the Graham retrospective.

One of the dozens of original concert posters on display at the Skirball for the Graham retrospective.

One of the dozens of original concert posters on display at the Skirball for the Graham retrospective.

One of the dozens of original concert posters on display at the Skirball for the Graham retrospective.

Bill Graham’s butterfly costume.