The Winterland Ballroom

Image via wikipedia

Former Location –
The Winterland Ballroom was an old ice skating rink in San Francisco, it was located at the corner of Post Street and Steiner Street and was later was taken over by rock promoter Bill Graham, and became legendary for the shows that happened there.

Bowie At Winterland

Image Via Professor Poster

Bands such as The Rolling Stones, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Jethro Tull, The Jefferson Airplane, and Elvis Costello played there, the latter in support of his Armed Forces album. A great number of the best-known rock acts from the 1960s and 1970s played Winterland or played two blocks away across Geary Boulevard at the original Fillmore Auditorium. The building had a capacity of 5,400 people.

The Grateful Dead made Winterland their home base, also, the Sex Pistols played their last show there on January 14, 1978. The Band played their famous and incredible last show “The Last Waltz” with numerous guest performers, including Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and many others.

Winterland closed on New Years 1978/79 with a concert by the Grateful Dead, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and the Blues Brothers. It was torn down a few years later, and was replaced by apartment condominiums and a Burger King.

Notable Concerts At The Winterland Ballroom Include:

12/31/1978 – Blues Brothers
12/30/1978 – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
12/28/1978 – Ramones
12/15/1978 – Bruce Springsteen
10/22/1978 – Grateful Dead
6/7/1978 – Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/6/1977 – Queen
3/15/1976 – Bad Company
12/13/1975 – The Flying Burrito Brothers
11/2/1975 – Rick Wakeman
2/14/1975 – Gentle Giant
3/29/1974 – The Eagles
11/23/1973 – Electric Light Orchestra
7/6/1973 – The Doobie Brothers
3/20/1973 – Neil Young & The Stray Gators
10/28/1972 – David Bowie
6/8/1972 – The Rolling Stones
11/20/1970- Big Brother & the Holding Company
10/5/1970 – Jefferson Airplane
2/5/1970 – The Doors
12/27/1969 – Sly & the Family Stone
7/1/1969 – Free
10/12/1968 – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
6/7/1968 – The Mothers of Invention
4/5/1968 – Eric Burdon & The Animals
2/23/1968 – The Who
12/9/1967 – The Byrds
10/13/1967 – The Charlatans
4/15/1967 – Little Richard

The Winterland Ballroom
Post & Steiner Streets
San Francisco CA 94115