October 26, 1991: Rock Concert Promoter Bill Graham Dies

Legendary rock promoter Bill Graham was killed when the helicopter he was in struck the top of a transmission tower near Vallejo, California and exploded. The pilot and his girlfriend were also killed and, in a macabre scene, the wrecked helicopter got stuck dangling at the top of the tower.

Graham was the man behind the Fillmore theaters in San Francisco and New York, and was an early supporter of Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, The Band and many other now-legendary rockers.

He also studiously collected merch items from every band he ever booked and recorded many of their sets. The resulting music collection can be heard on Wolfgang's Vault and on the many live show recordings that have been converted into official releases from acts like Neil Young, The Grateful Dead, and The Allman Brothers.