Pete how's your hearing these days? All the concerts, all the close up volume, all the drinking, all the moshing. Damn. But the fun! 😜 Sadly those were the glory days of concerts never to be repeated.
Great story about your sick friend. We had a friend who got wasted at almost every concert we went to. He would get so drunk, he'd pass out halfway through the concerts, and then the next day, talk about how great the show was. We'd say, "Dude, you didn't even see half of it".
Damn Pete this brought back a million memories from that time period (we are the same age) so many killer “big” arena shows back in the day when it was all such a killer time to be alive as a young dude going to shows and partying like an idiot (how I survived - nor realize the danger I posed driving sometimes - are another story). Craziest one I remember (well, most of it) was seeing the 88’ Monsters of Rock tour with Van Hagar, Scorpions, Metallica, Dokken and Kingdom Come in Philly. I recall the line of traffic on the Walt Whitman bridge was so long and slow to move I had to jump between my car and the dude in front so I could take a leak and we traded beers and joints as thank you’s for him not moving while I did (funny you had virtually the same experience during your Stones show lol) made it until VH but was so trashed I went to the parking lot and passed out between our cars during their set... so dumb !!! Thanks for this episode it was so nostalgic especially since we saw a lot of similar shows on many tours (Rush in particular) !!
Thanks Pete, for those concert memories! My first concert I attended was the ALLMAN BROS ( opener : James Montgomery Blues band ) December 27, 1972 Spectrum PHILADELPHIA,Pa. This Allman's tour was dubbed "The Christmas break" tour. The seating configuration, a term invented by Electric Factory Concerts ( Phila ), was called, " Festival Seating," meaning when the doors opened first come first served, no seating on the arena floor. The Phila Spectrum, a concrete and steel oval arena built in 1967 for the local Phila Flyers NHL hockey team was dubbed by us locals as "the Rectum," because the PA sound in there in the 1970's was VERY shitty! We arrived late- got a ride down from King of Prussia Pa, western Philadelphia burbs, so we sat in the upper level stage right. The bands played well. However it was the attendees who created a unique concert experience for that show. Security was not as tight as it is now at these events! If you LOOKED like you were sneaking in stuff, you were checked.... So when James Montgomery took the stage, out come SEVERAL Roman Candles from the pugalistic pyromaniac punters, who had all snuck in these fireworks strapped to their legs! These guys would sit there, light the candle, then poof! The first flare went up....and then down, landing on or around people sitting on the "FESTIVAL" seating floor! There were at least 20 of these concert regulars, all working these roman candles, through the entire opening act! Occasionally, I watched and followed several candle flares down to the Rectum floor...then saw a scattering of sparks as a flare would sometimes land on a girl's head, which she then frantically brushed off her hair free of fire, aided by her friends! Those pyrotechnic-wits were never bothered by concert security! Eventually during the Allman's great set, they just ran out of event "audience participation glitteri," and that was that! It was then I realized that by being LATE, not in the best seat, this one time, provided a much improved concert experience! I had just turned 17, and my concert experiences had begun! THE BEST indoor fireworks display I ever saw! ( I was at a concert this past Saturday, May 18 ,2019, 3 days ago, aged 63- no fireworks, however!)!
One big concert memory involves Blue Oyster Cult in March, 1978, at Fort Wayne, Indiana's Allen Country War Memorial Coliseum. Be Bop Deluxe was the opening act. But the memory is hooked onto what Buck Dharma and BOC did for the fans. The local police departments were really clamping down on illegal drugs, marijuana, and underage drinking, and they surprised everyone with searches at the Coliseum doors. A lot of fans turned away and left, and a lot were arrested. My date and I made it through the searches and there were only about a thousand fans in a venue with a capacity slightly over 12, 000. Buck came out and addressed the crowd even before Be Bop Deluxe started playing and told us that they wouldn't cancel the concert because they knew about the searches. They rocked that place that evening. I've never forgotten that concert.
Brilliant show Pete. We really need more of this stuff, it brought back so many memories from going to gigs back in the late 70's and throughout the 80's.
In October 1973. First concert was in Reno, Nevada. Rare Earth, Elvin Bishop, and a local band Skarow. Elvin Bishop never showed up. Next was Guess Who, Montrose, Elvin Bishop, and local band Redwing. That was in Sacramento. Next was the first time I saw the Doobie Brothers in Sacramento on March of 1974. Went to both Cal Jams in Ontario, CA. Saw the Doobie Brothers 4 times. The Moody Blues 8 times. The third show was with the Sacramento Symphony and was a great show. The next time seeing the Moody Blues was at Caesar’s Tahoe and ended up chatting with Gallagher. Seen many other shows and all were great. Last year saw Ringo Starr’s All Star Band with Gregg Rollie.
Pete. Love your contributions to our era. Loudest concert me was Ted Nugent Free for All tour in 1978? So loud in front I lost my hearing for several days. But what a show.
Many years ago I was a member of a national social club in the UK called 18plus. Every Easter groups from all over met up on the Norfolk coast for five days of partying. There was live bands, big name Radio DJ's and Motorhead were playing on the Good Friday. This was their first gig after Phil & Eddie left and they were now a four piece. The gig was great but it was memorable for me because of what happened during the day. I got to be a roadie for the day. I had volunteered the night before and got woken a 7am after partying until 4am by legendary roadie Cyclops. I spent the day with him and Eagle and another fan hauling speakers and lights and setting the gear up. We were told to hang around and about mid afternoon in walks Lemmy. He comes over and asks who we were. when we told him we had been helping out, he shouts to the barman to open up and pour some beers. we sat with him for about half an hour talking about music and stuff. But the one thing I will always remember is when he said he had become mates with the drummer of an American band who had just released their first album. He told us to watch out for them as he thought they would be huge as they were louder and faster the Motorhead. I always wondered what happened to Metallica.....:)
My pals and I were in a pub early one evening, when an older man sat at our table. He didn't say much during the 10 minutes at our table. Then he arose, said good-bye and left. 30 seconds later someone started with the bagpipes - it was the older man! He walked around the pub playing bagpipes, and then he walked onstage - the song changed to Hair of the Dog...The older guy was Dan McCafferty, my childhood idol and I have goosebumps, still. In a similar fashion we met Jeff Garcia in Calgary!
Love your concert stories. My mom always talked about seeing the Electric Elves at all these various shindigs growing up. Oddly enough, she had no idea who Ronnie James Dio was when I asked her years later.
Thanks for the memories man....I'm 56 and had my share of concerts....kids these days don't have a clue what it was like back in the day....long live rock!!
Great idea for the show Pete. In about 1983-84 I went to a show at Cal Expo in Sacramento. I was 27-28. The bill was Stevie Ray Vaughn, Y & T, and Sammy Hagar. Y & T played first, and they were great. Next was SRV. The show had a quite younger crowd and they started booing Stevie. It got so bad that Sammy had to come out to tell the crowd to knock it off and give him a chance. Two years later Stevie would become a huge star.
Hi Pete here's one you would have loved, 1978 melbourne Australia, my last year of High, my friend was a big Lizzy fan and introduced me to Live and Dangerous, turned out Lizzy were doing a free concert Oct0ber that year so a group of us went the night before to the myer music bowl, outdoor venue. To our surprise Thin Lizzy came and did a sound check, there were probably half a dozen of us with sleeping bags, Gary Moore, Phil and Scott gave us autographs, pins and plectrums ..a night I will never forget, we reserved front rows seats for the show the next night..best live gig I ever saw.
This was great Pete, those stories are gold. You gotta do a part 2 and maybe a 3 and a 4 if you want to divide it up by decade. I haven't been to a concert in ages and this made me think back to some of my own experiences as well.
What a brilliant post. Hardly a rant, more of a fascinating insight to the highlights of your late teens. When you were telling the story of your 220 lbs mate jumping off the stage I was already laughing, as I saw the outcome before you told it 🤣... As a relatively recent follower I felt like we were in the same mould, musically. I've been right with you with your posts on Sabbath, Purple, Zeppelin, Genesis, Yes... Even 10cc, Supertramp, Steely Dan & ELO. This post on concerts & some of the lesser known ones that you've featured, I'm feeling like we're running a 10k race & you've just lapped me for the 10th time !!! Roll on with your pt. 2.... 3.... 4, etc. Excellent !!
listen to this bill, 1985, Sacramento, RUSH, Opening band,,,, Fabulous Thunderbirds????? Ooh, Rory Gallagher!!!! saw Zeppelin in Oakland when I was 12, 1977, then Pink Floyd, ANIMALS. ..The late 80s 90's metal. Slaughter, Winger, Kiss. Also,.Badlands, Cinderella, which was jaw dropping good, I started following Badlands. Could go on forever,,,seen all the dudes you have,,,so cool, I may have suggested this type of format....so fun Pete...us old dudes need walk dwn memory lane...it just seems the Scorps, we're in California every year at the end of the .school year,,, Holiday, with the sun setting from a 95 degree day... I can still smell the day!!!! opposite coasts, same age, same rock,,,how did we do it with no cell phones ect...we got there, ,,
Fun show!! My first concert was Jimi Hendrix at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim CA, February 9th 1968. My sister took me for my 15th birthday!! Saw many shows there including ELP when "Welcome Back My Friends..." was recorded. Ahhh, sweet memories!!! YES, PART TWO!!!
These stories are great! I have a large stack of ticket stubs myself, and probably should try at some point at doing something similar. But definitely do more of these! I'm loving the stories!
Throughly enjoyed the recalling of your legendary memoirs, i.e., your immense concert records. You should be knighted as a great concert warrior. Lol. Also you don't like Poison that much either. I agree. I could listen to this all day Pete. Keep it up! Great stories chocked with all those memories. Wow! Fantastic and funny! 😂 ✌️🤟
Cool topic !! First was LZ for Houses at KEZAR I was 16.. Seemed like they were controlling the weather,,,was a sunny day (In SF, no less) then the clouds moved in during the voilin bow part of Dazed. During the full band, up tempo secttion, the sun came out again ! I just said to myself 'i gotta see more concerts !'. Did, Winterland, Cow Palace and the like and also clubs like The Keystone PA. Saw a reformed Montrose in '84 with a former co guitarist of a band i was in for '82'/'83. We meet the sister of my wifes best friend there and invite her to sit with us. Show was incredible ! Afterwards we're in the parking lot waiting for her boyfriend (he didn't like rock) and she goes "there he is "" and takes off running. Me and my bud look at eachother and follow her. She had her arms around Ronnie Montrose! We caught up and all i could say was You F'ing Rocked!" and shook his hand. He just said ''Thank you". He was in the same sweaty T shirt he gigged in and his eyes were darting around. I said he should go. The gal finally let him go, wiping a tear from her eyes. It was perfect. A guy i used to chat with @ Amazon discussion pages saw Uli Jon Roth at the Independent a couple of years ago. He said Uli made time stop. Unless you've seen something like i did that night, one might not know what he meant. RIP, Ronnie.
Such a blast to hear these stories. The more shows you went to it was inevitable this kind of stuff would happen. My first show was in 1991, oh my I wish I had been around for concerts in the 80s.
I think we must be about the same age. So many of the concerts that you list, I had the privilege of attending. I kept almost every ticket and pass I ever got. On the Rainbow SBTE tour it was Pat Traver's opening in MN. Great video! Thanks.
We're the same age. Class of '84 high school and off to college that Fall. From Fairfield County, Connecticut and had a Hudson Valley girlfriend. Most of my concerts were New Haven, Hartford, MSG, and The Byrne. I watch you often.
part 2 , please! Very enjoyable video....it matters not, but my first concert was Tesla opening for Poison......Tesla killed it!! My pal was backstage and dumped a beer on CC's lid. Too funny.
Great show.... gotta do part 2 We caught a lot of the same tours... first real concert was Sabbath Mob rules tour Dec. of 81 Chicago international amphitheater. Great awesome show✌️🎶🍺🤘
Great stories. Man how I wish I could've been alive back in your day. The 1980s were the best time to be a rock and Metal fan without a doubt. I'm especially jelous of the Dio and Ian Gillan fronted Black Sabbath shows. Would love to see part 2.
Yes, part 2 please. I'm only a few years younger than you and so far have not been to any of the same shows. Lived in NJ at the time and saw a lot of shows at the Meadowlands, MSG, Roseland, Radio City, etc.
Great Nostalgiaand a nice Trip back to the past. I´ve seen a good bunch of the Bands too but here in Germany. Will for sure watch Part 2 of the Video :)
My first concert was Kansas in ‘78, with a friend and his father. I was 11 (!) I remember being overwhelmed and enthralled by the sound and visuals. Amazing experience. Question - does anyone know who opened for them? I have absolutely no recollection. This was in Richmond, Virginia. Another great post, Pete. Much appreciated! 🤘
Pete, great stories! I also spent almost every weekend at Sundance in Bayshore, saw many great shows there including Slayer with Toby Scaglioni drumming
I was always good at "being the 3rd caller" to local FM stadio contests, and won tickets to Queen/Thin Lizzy at Nassau Coliseum. Queen was too loud but Lizzy was great, blew 'em off the stage.
@ Queen got booed during the operatic vocal section of Bohemian Rhapsody just before the big guitar riff. The stage went dark and that part of the song was a tape of the studio album because there was no way they could duplicate that live. Lizzy was the opener, by the way...
@@pjet8042 That seems a bit illogical on the fans' end because that's literally how Bohemian Rhapsody was played live, even up to today. Seems a bit petty, considering this is the only "complaint" that this comment mentions about their performance.
My most memorable concert -- Rush, Hollywood Sportatorium 1981. Neil Peart was late to the show. So, they wouldn't allow entry until the band got a sound check. The crowd went nuts and crashed the gates. They sent in riot police (btw, the backup band was Riot) and helicopters. They tear-gassed us. If you've never been tear-gassed, it's like hot peppers rubbed in your eyes, with snot and spit running uncontrollably from nose and mouth as you gag for air. Many injuries and arrests. But, amazingly, the show went on. Best show, Moving Pictures tour. This show is documented on Wikipedia: Hollywood Sportatorium. One of the reasons Rush hates FL.
Best concerts I ever saw: Led Zeppelin, Queen (NOTW tour), King's X, The Ventures, Van Halen, and Kansas. Regrets of early 80's concerts I missed: Ozzy w/ Randy Rhoads, Judas Priest & Iron Maiden, and Fates Warning / Attacker / Obsession.
Here is a story: Have you ever attended Two totally DIFFERENT concerts in the same night?! I DID! December 3, 1975 To begin, In the Philadelphia suburban region, the towns of Blue Bell Pa., and the town of Bryn Mawr,Pa., on the suburban mainline are about 15 miles apart! So, MY dilemma, a tough concert choice HAD to be made! Up at Montgomery County College, Blue Bell, Pa. Hall & Oats with fabulous opener DAVID SANCIOUS and Tone were playing. Meanwhile SAVOY BROWN featuring guitarist KIM SIMMONDS and future UFO keys/ guitarist Paul Raymond ( I just saw SAVOY/ Kim again, 3 days ago 5-18-2019! ) were playing at the Bryn Mawr MAIN POINT, a local Phila regional club! David SANCIOUS had just released, "Transformation ( Speed of Love)," his 2nd album on EPIC records, and a critical FUSION tour de force! So off to see David Sancious! The Hall and Oats, D Sancious show began with a blistering set from Mr. SANCIOUS! It was hard to believe this great musician actually played with Bruce Springsteen the year before- totally different! In 45 minutes, Sancious' set was done! I recall even now the calculations I put into motion, the moment I realized there would be no Sancious encore! Let's see...Bryn Mawr...still early...what about Hall and Oats ?! POOF! I was out the door, running to my 1968 Olds Cutlass! There were no super highways to Bryn Mawr! I knew the roads, it was Saturday, so traffic was light! I sped the whole way, cops be damned! I actually made the Savoy Brown gig, and...SNUCK in! I had ONLY missed 3 songs...! To this day, 43.5 years later, I have STILL yet to see Hall & Oats!
Thank you for sharing your concert experiences, so cool to hear the history of early to late 80's hard rock concerts from your perspective. I'm definetely interested in seeing your part 2 video and how the early to mid 90's affected your concert experiences. Did you see some of the "Seattle Grunge" bands?
Cool video. I lived thru sms experiencef many of the shows you mentioned. Btw, dig the Barry Goudreau disc behind you. Dreams was a great tune in the summer of '80. Keep up the videos.
I saw ZZ Top the first time they ever came to the UK (circa 1981). We managed to get front row tickets at Hammersmith Odeon to see them. Who came into the photographers pit between the stage and the front row? Only Lemmy, who stood right in front of me throughout the gig and who obviously enjoyed it all. I particularly liked it when they started playing 'Cheap Sunglasses' after donning very cheap dayglow sunglasses. Lemmy immediately put his shades on and danced along to the song. Great memory.
When you mentioned the opening band for the Sabbath show you saw in 1982, I remembered seeing that tour (in Iowa) but couldn't remember who the opener was at the show I saw. So I Googled the show date to find out who the opener was. I instantly ran into a link to a high quality soundboard recording from that tour of the show that I was AT. Ten minutes later, and I have it downloaded, and I'm hearing it again for the second time, 37 years later. These are amazing times. (but the music was way better back then)
What memories! My first concert was also Ozzy. Diary tour June of 82' at San Diego Sports Arena. I remember it seemed very short and at the end I was like that's it? Of course Rhodes had just died a few months earlier. Major bummer. I just went back and read about the plane crash again. Damn.
Really great show! Enjoyed it a lot, especially 'cause I got some similar experiences which brought back great memories. And thanks, you also answered -partly- my question I've asked you after yesterdays' Q&A.
In March 2001, I took my 12 yr old son to see Nazareth. He's been listening to them from day 1 (and still loves them in 2020). After the gig, we went to the Naz dressing room, and chilled out wirh the band. Dan McCafferty signed my boy's 1975 vinyl album of 'Dan McCafferty. Drummer, Lee gave my lad the drum sticks he'd played with that night. And Jimmy Murrison was very nice to us also. Whilst this was going on, I had a chat with keyboardist, Ronnie Leahy. When I complemented him on his non Naz work, he really appreciated it... esp when I mentioned his contribution to Jon Anderson's 'Song of seven.'
Memorable: Rush on Hemipsheres and Permanent Waves tour at Nassau Coliseum. The Hemispheres one was a day before the Islanders were to win their first Stanley Cup at the Coliseum and the band came out in Islander jerseys for the encore. Local faves The Good Rats opened with guitarist John "The Cat" Gatto disappearing from the stage during a long solo then reappearing thru a door in the upper level of the Coliseum (one of the first wireless guitars!)
First: Dio, Sacred Heart tour 1986, Festival Hall, Melbourne Best: Linkin Park, 2012ish, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne (1st concert with son) Worst: Kiss 1994ish, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne (no make up, no energy, no interest, guy to my left had worst BO ever, guy to wife's right threw up). Left early Loudest: Motorhead 1990ish, Festival Hall, Melbourne - too loud to hear Disappointing sound: Def Leppard 1992 Rockit tour, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne - echos in the rafters Weirdest crowd: Dream Theater, 2014, Palais Theatre Melbourne - crowd in front of Rudess all bald, crowd in front of Petruci remained seated until 3/4 way through show. Favourite Venue: The Palace, Melbourne - big pub with beer, Nirvana, Cheap Trick (x2), Yngwie Malmsteen, Prefab Sprout etc etc
My 1st show was Ozzy speak of the devil tour, Randy just passed & Brad Gillis filled in. I was so upset about it all, but he continued to tour. Great show, Brad was fantastic!
I got a good one. Mike Oldfield Group at the Tower Theater Philadelphia 1981. All-Star band: Pierre Moerlen on drums, Morris Pert on percussion, Maggie Riley singing like an angel, and Oldfield was amazing on bass and lead guitars. Pekka on bass, Tim Cross on keys. Five Miles Out Tour and a great show. Got to see Ommadawn, Tubular Bells, Platinum, Taurus Two, and more. We had seats in the last row on the floor, but there was a ledge right behind us and sat on that all night. Perfect view of the stage. The copious amounts of THC consumed helped .
I had the chance to see Metallica 4x (2004, 2009, 2011, 2015) Megadeth 4x (2004, 2007, 2010, 2012) The Rolling Stones (2015), Ac/Dc (2015), Roger Waters 2x (2012, 2017), Tool (2017), Black Sabbath (2014), Deep Purple (2017), Alice Cooper (2017), Lynyrd Skynyrd (2019), Testament (2010), Slayer (2010), The Foo Fighters (2018), The Black Keys (2013), The Smashing Pumpkins (2018), Red Hot Chili Peppers (2015), Neil Young (2018), Pearl Jam (2016), Slipknot (2009), Muse 2x (2013, 2016) ... pratically all in Quebec City, Canada....a couple in Montreal and Toronto... And I've juste learn that Rage Against The Machine is coming up this summer !! Can't wait !!
My first concert was todd trundgren /utopia and the outlaws odd combo for sure but excellent none the less the outlaws at this time were very big with songs like hurry sundown,ghost riders in the sky and three very good harmonizing guitar players,just great...Todd to was unbelievable with his drummer on the frame of a Harley hog surrounded with drums and cymbals above the stage spinning round and round and later he had a big movie screen with animation (i believe that he drew)with the words of the songs that he sang as he instructed us to sing along by following the bouncing ball GREAT FIRST CONCERT
Lot's of great concerts Pete! My first concert was 1974 Black Oak Arkansas (Jim Dandy to the rescue ) My last was TOOL in 2003. So long ago. Never got to see Ozzy, Sabbath, Blackmore, or Dio.😭 Anyway,.. yes do a Part 2👍!! 🤟
I was also at the RUSH/Rory Gallagher show at MSG in 1982. SIGNALS Tour. That was my first RUSH show. I saw them on every tour after that for the rest of their career, including the Radio City Music Hall shows (pre-Grace Under Reassure).
Great show a part 2 would be very much appreciated. I would be interested to know what’s is the furthest you’ve traveled to a gig, or how far you would go to see a favourite band. I’m seeing Metallica in Vienna in August and going to Rio in October to see Iron Maiden. Making a holiday experience out of a concert involving a favourite band is cool. I’ve travelled to Ireland to see U2, London several times for the Stones and Bon Jovi.
Great stories Pete. Our first stories are almost identical. I got into Sabbath in 1979 during the transition from Ozzy to Dio. My first show was Ozzy/Motorhead at the Aragon ballroom in Chicago.. and yes my dad dropped us off at the venue.
I haven't been to a lot of concerts, because I only like to go hear my absolute favorite bands/musicians. But I remember walking from the parking lot to the venue for Billy Squire/Bad Company/Styx concert, and telling my boyfriend that "someone was going to spill beer on me tonight". Well sure enough, the woman sitting next to me, spilled her beer all over my lap. Luckily, it was near the end of the concert so I didn't have to smell like a brewery for too long. But probably the best concert I've ever been to...🎸🙂🥁
Oh man Pete these stories are priceless! I love reliving these great shows through the eyes of an East Coast perspective. You’d die laughing if you saw the Polaroid of my buddy Paul’s beer goggles grin driving to Whitesnake in the car🤪Pine Knob Detroit
I'm a few years younger than you, Pete, and I never got to as many concerts. But I did manage to see Rush seven times between 1988 (Hold Your Fire) and 2015 (R40), and Dio four times (twice with Heaven & Hell, twice solo). The Dio show the day after Thanksgiving 2000 had Doro and Yngwie opening, and now I'm going to see Yngwie again next week (also saw him in 2017). I never saw Stevie Ray Vaughn live, but I did talk to him once via a radio call-in show!
Hello Pete, thx for another great show. It's always a pleasure to listen your enthusiastic love in music. But... i miss your great "History Of..." Shows; hope there will be another one soon. Journey, Styx, Foreigner, Kansas... this would be interesting... a lot of line-up changes in these bands. Another suggestion could be a ranking or Top10 from some Solostuff from Pink Floyd. I would like to hear your opinion about the solo albums during the Floyd Activities: David Gilmour (ST), Wet Dream, Zee; About Face vs. Pros & Cons, Momentary Lapse vs. K.A.O.S., Division Bell vs. Amused To Death, this would be interesting. There a many Pink Floyd Reviews on RUclips, but the Solostuff is very rare. Maybe someday :-) All the best for you, Chris from Germany (sorry, if my english isn't perfect.
dude u saw voivod?! nice! damn I was born too young lol. today's my 20th birthday and I have only seen two shows, Linkin Park, and Judas Priest with Saxon, but I will see Blue Oyster Cult in October.
Rush promoting "All The Worlds a Stage" album. 5th row. Opening act UFO, Led Zeppelin twice LA Forum. "Physical Graffiti" & "Presence Tours". (tickets $20.00), Eagles, Jackson Browne & Linda Ronstadt. LA Angel Stadium "One Of These Nights" tour, Black Sabbath Santa Monica Civic filming for Don Kirshner Rock Concert TV, Rainbow "Rising" tour Greek Theatre? (Some outdoor location in Los Angeles), California Jam 1 & 2 Ontario Motor Speedway LA 1974,1976, Queen "Live Killers" tour LA Forum, Van Halen LA Forum 2 album tour. Backstage met Eddie, cool guy, Anthony cool guy, Dave. Ass h*le Just a few favorites..
My second big-name show ever was Black Sabbath, Orpheum, Boston, 1975. That was the "Sabotage" Tour. My son is so jealous that I saw the old school Sabbath with Ozzy lol. First big-name show was Foghat/Black Oak/Montrose, same year, same venue. The enduring memory is how damn LOUD those shows were. My ears rang all the next day. It blows my mind how those musicians could endure that night after night on tour. I guess they just get used to it, hey, they have to make some sacrifices to live the rock n roll life huh?
Yes I totally agree with you about this Seventh Star tour; Wasp 🐝 never showed so we got AOR and you’re right Pete! Anthrax opened up and I met Joey Belladonna in the Boston Garden 🪴 Wasp a no show. No surprises there @‘ 85 Sincerely yours, DJP ex PostMortem and Kilslug Boston Massachusetts USA
Who eles remembers the "Rockin' in the Free World" tour? Neil Young, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden! Everyone was on the stage at the end for a huge jam! Great summer outdoor show (Exhibition Stadium, Toronto).
I loved going to concerts back in the day...great stories, Pete....I was hoping your dog would jump up and show her beautiful face, but her bouncy tail was a highlight, nonetheless.............best concert I went to was kiss, and judas priest....worst was gun and roses, and white lion, im glad I didn't purchase those tickets, they were both given to me
Best double bill show was Metallica Justice Tour with Queensryche on their OMC Tour which they played the whole record and songs from Warning and Rage For Order . Just fantastic . I also caught that Krokus tour in 1984 had front row seats it was a Blistering show they were on The Blitz Tour and played a lot of those Killer Headhunter songs !! Coney Hatch opened this was in Houston at The Summit so a Jersey , Bon Jovi style band didn't go over to well . As for Krokus HeadHunter was their heaviest and best record . Long Stick goes boom was ok . Was disappointed Krokus didn't stay with that more Metal sound from HeadHunter ??
Great video!!! Please, do part two. I got two questions for you that I hope you can answer. How about The Clash opening for The Who? There's a famous video for Should I Stay or Should I Go shot from this exact concert. And the second question: no AC/DC???? Cheers from Brazil!!
I wish there was some pro shot film footage from Yes' 1976 tour. Roger Dean and his brother put together a crazy stage set for that tour that featured a mechanical three headed crab.
@@ChromeDestiny - the Queens Park show has been around for a long time, had it on VHS tape: ruclips.net/video/LQ1piSjOMZw/видео.html But it's outdoors at daytime so you don't get the effect of the "War of the Worlds" stage set. Plus, the sound mix is really bad, in parts you can't hear some instruments and Jon strumming a guitar during Gates is loud. It improves over the last third of the show though...
Fun topic, you went to alot of shows, must've been hilarious watching you and your friend trying to wave down your father to get the tickets back, love to see a part two.
Being born in '97, its really cool to hear the stories that I couldn't have experienced myself. Great video Pete.
Pete how's your hearing these days?
All the concerts, all the close up volume, all the drinking, all the moshing. Damn.
But the fun! 😜
Sadly those were the glory days of concerts never to be repeated.
Great story about your sick friend. We had a friend who got wasted at almost every concert we went to. He would get so drunk, he'd pass out halfway through the concerts, and then the next day, talk about how great the show was. We'd say, "Dude, you didn't even see half of it".
Damn Pete this brought back a million memories from that time period (we are the same age) so many killer “big” arena shows back in the day when it was all such a killer time to be alive as a young dude going to shows and partying like an idiot (how I survived - nor realize the danger I posed driving sometimes - are another story). Craziest one I remember (well, most of it) was seeing the 88’ Monsters of Rock tour with Van Hagar, Scorpions, Metallica, Dokken and Kingdom Come in Philly. I recall the line of traffic on the Walt Whitman bridge was so long and slow to move I had to jump between my car and the dude in front so I could take a leak and we traded beers and joints as thank you’s for him not moving while I did (funny you had virtually the same experience during your Stones show lol) made it until VH but was so trashed I went to the parking lot and passed out between our cars during their set... so dumb !!! Thanks for this episode it was so nostalgic especially since we saw a lot of similar shows on many tours (Rush in particular) !!
Thanks Pete, for those concert memories!
My first concert I attended was the ALLMAN BROS ( opener : James Montgomery Blues band )
December 27, 1972
Spectrum PHILADELPHIA,Pa.
This Allman's tour was dubbed
"The Christmas break" tour.
The seating configuration, a term invented by Electric Factory Concerts ( Phila ), was called,
" Festival Seating," meaning when the doors opened first come first served, no seating on the arena floor. The Phila Spectrum, a concrete and steel oval arena built in 1967 for the local Phila Flyers NHL hockey team was dubbed by us locals as "the Rectum," because the PA sound in there in the 1970's was VERY shitty!
We arrived late- got a ride down from King of Prussia Pa, western Philadelphia burbs, so we sat in the upper level stage right.
The bands played well. However it was the attendees who created a unique concert experience for that show. Security was not as tight as it is now at these events!
If you LOOKED like you were sneaking in stuff, you were checked....
So when James Montgomery took the stage, out come SEVERAL Roman Candles from the pugalistic pyromaniac punters, who had all snuck in these fireworks strapped to their legs!
These guys would sit there, light the candle, then poof! The first flare went up....and then down, landing on or around people sitting on the "FESTIVAL" seating floor! There were at least 20 of these concert regulars, all working these roman candles, through the entire opening act!
Occasionally, I watched and followed several candle flares down to the Rectum floor...then saw a scattering of sparks as a flare would sometimes land on a girl's head, which she then frantically brushed off her hair free of fire, aided by her friends!
Those pyrotechnic-wits were never bothered by concert security! Eventually during the Allman's great set, they just ran out of event "audience participation glitteri," and that was that!
It was then I realized that by being LATE, not in the best seat, this one time, provided a much improved concert experience!
I had just turned 17, and my concert experiences had begun!
THE BEST indoor fireworks display I ever saw!
( I was at a concert this past Saturday, May 18 ,2019, 3 days ago, aged 63- no fireworks, however!)!
One big concert memory involves Blue Oyster Cult in March, 1978, at Fort Wayne, Indiana's Allen Country War Memorial Coliseum. Be Bop Deluxe was the opening act. But the memory is hooked onto what Buck Dharma and BOC did for the fans. The local police departments were really clamping down on illegal drugs, marijuana, and underage drinking, and they surprised everyone with searches at the Coliseum doors. A lot of fans turned away and left, and a lot were arrested. My date and I made it through the searches and there were only about a thousand fans in a venue with a capacity slightly over 12, 000. Buck came out and addressed the crowd even before Be Bop Deluxe started playing and told us that they wouldn't cancel the concert because they knew about the searches. They rocked that place that evening. I've never forgotten that concert.
Brilliant show Pete. We really need more of this stuff, it brought back so many memories from going to gigs back in the late 70's and throughout the 80's.
In October 1973. First concert was in Reno, Nevada. Rare Earth, Elvin Bishop, and a local band Skarow. Elvin Bishop never showed up. Next was Guess Who, Montrose, Elvin Bishop, and local band Redwing. That was in Sacramento. Next was the first time I saw the Doobie Brothers in Sacramento on March of 1974. Went to both Cal Jams in Ontario, CA. Saw the Doobie Brothers 4 times. The Moody Blues 8 times. The third show was with the Sacramento Symphony and was a great show. The next time seeing the Moody Blues was at Caesar’s Tahoe and ended up chatting with Gallagher. Seen many other shows and all were great. Last year saw Ringo Starr’s All Star Band with Gregg Rollie.
Pete. Love your contributions to our era. Loudest concert me was Ted Nugent Free for All tour in 1978? So loud in front I lost my hearing for several days. But what a show.
Many years ago I was a member of a national social club in the UK called 18plus. Every Easter groups from all over met up on the Norfolk coast for five days of partying. There was live bands, big name Radio DJ's and Motorhead were playing on the Good Friday. This was their first gig after Phil & Eddie left and they were now a four piece. The gig was great but it was memorable for me because of what happened during the day. I got to be a roadie for the day. I had volunteered the night before and got woken a 7am after partying until 4am by legendary roadie Cyclops. I spent the day with him and Eagle and another fan hauling speakers and lights and setting the gear up. We were told to hang around and about mid afternoon in walks Lemmy. He comes over and asks who we were. when we told him we had been helping out, he shouts to the barman to open up and pour some beers. we sat with him for about half an hour talking about music and stuff. But the one thing I will always remember is when he said he had become mates with the drummer of an American band who had just released their first album. He told us to watch out for them as he thought they would be huge as they were louder and faster the Motorhead. I always wondered what happened to Metallica.....:)
OMG the first show you ever saw was Ozzy and Motorhead in 81! Damn I am JEALOUS!
My pals and I were in a pub early one evening, when an older man sat at our table. He didn't say much during the 10 minutes at our table. Then he arose, said good-bye and left. 30 seconds later someone started with the bagpipes - it was the older man! He walked around the pub playing bagpipes, and then he walked onstage - the song changed to Hair of the Dog...The older guy was Dan McCafferty, my childhood idol and I have goosebumps, still. In a similar fashion we met Jeff Garcia in Calgary!
So, you didn't recognise your "childhood hero" Dan McCafferty? I still recognise Ozzy Osbourne. Hmmm bitta pish bein' telt here
Love your concert stories. My mom always talked about seeing the Electric Elves at all these various shindigs growing up. Oddly enough, she had no idea who Ronnie James Dio was when I asked her years later.
Thanks for the memories man....I'm 56 and had my share of concerts....kids these days don't have a clue what it was like back in the day....long live rock!!
Great idea for the show Pete.
In about 1983-84 I went to a show at Cal Expo in Sacramento. I was 27-28. The bill was Stevie Ray Vaughn, Y & T, and Sammy Hagar. Y & T played first, and they were great. Next was SRV. The show had a quite younger crowd and they started booing Stevie. It got so bad that Sammy had to come out to tell the crowd to knock it off and give him a chance. Two years later Stevie would become a huge star.
Hi Pete here's one you would have loved, 1978 melbourne Australia, my last year of High, my friend was a big Lizzy fan and introduced me to Live and Dangerous, turned out Lizzy were doing a free concert Oct0ber that year so a group of us went the night before to the myer music bowl, outdoor venue. To our surprise Thin Lizzy came and did a sound check, there were probably half a dozen of us with sleeping bags, Gary Moore, Phil and Scott gave us autographs, pins and plectrums ..a night I will never forget, we reserved front rows seats for the show the next night..best live gig I ever saw.
This was great Pete, those stories are gold. You gotta do a part 2 and maybe a 3 and a 4 if you want to divide it up by decade. I haven't been to a concert in ages and this made me think back to some of my own experiences as well.
You're a very good story teller Pete!
I'm looking foward for the next rant on your 90's and 2000's concerts experiences.
So nice to hear those concert tales. Thank you for sharing.
That was awesome!! Pretty cool concert stories. Thanks for sharing the experiences.
My first Rock Show May 1979, BLUE OYSTER CULT with Brownsville (Station) opening. Tix $8.00.
What a brilliant post. Hardly a rant, more of a fascinating insight to the highlights of your late teens. When you were telling the story of your 220 lbs mate jumping off the stage I was already laughing, as I saw the outcome before you told it 🤣...
As a relatively recent follower I felt like we were in the same mould, musically. I've been right with you with your posts on Sabbath, Purple, Zeppelin, Genesis, Yes... Even 10cc, Supertramp, Steely Dan & ELO. This post on concerts & some of the lesser known ones that you've featured, I'm feeling like we're running a 10k race & you've just lapped me for the 10th time !!! Roll on with your pt. 2.... 3.... 4, etc. Excellent !!
Great show.Do part 2 .Love the memories .Sounds familiar .
These stories are AWESOME. Being same age, totally living them but here in the UK. Brilliant stuff. Off to watch pt2
God damn! You witnessed all the giants!!!! What an honor!!!
Great story’s Pete. I am 50 and this reminds me so much of all the show’s I used to go to back in the day.😀
listen to this bill, 1985, Sacramento, RUSH, Opening band,,,, Fabulous Thunderbirds????? Ooh, Rory Gallagher!!!! saw Zeppelin in Oakland when I was 12, 1977, then Pink Floyd, ANIMALS. ..The late 80s 90's metal. Slaughter, Winger, Kiss. Also,.Badlands, Cinderella, which was jaw dropping good, I started following Badlands. Could go on forever,,,seen all the dudes you have,,,so cool, I may have suggested this type of format....so fun Pete...us old dudes need walk dwn memory lane...it just seems the Scorps, we're in California every year at the end of the .school year,,, Holiday, with the sun setting from a 95 degree day... I can still smell the day!!!! opposite coasts, same age, same rock,,,how did we do it with no cell phones ect...we got there, ,,
Fun show!! My first concert was Jimi Hendrix at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim CA, February 9th 1968. My sister took me for my 15th birthday!! Saw many shows there including ELP when "Welcome Back My Friends..." was recorded. Ahhh, sweet memories!!! YES, PART TWO!!!
These stories are great! I have a large stack of ticket stubs myself, and probably should try at some point at doing something similar.
But definitely do more of these! I'm loving the stories!
Hi from New Zealand Pete and co love your
Channel and the positive vibes
Throughly enjoyed the recalling of your legendary memoirs, i.e., your immense concert records. You should be knighted as a great concert warrior. Lol. Also you don't like Poison that much either. I agree.
I could listen to this all day Pete. Keep it up! Great stories chocked with all those memories. Wow! Fantastic and funny! 😂
✌️🤟
Cool topic !! First was LZ for Houses at KEZAR I was 16.. Seemed like they were controlling the weather,,,was a sunny day (In SF, no less) then the clouds moved in during the voilin bow part of Dazed. During the full band, up tempo secttion, the sun came out again ! I just said to myself 'i gotta see more concerts !'. Did, Winterland, Cow Palace and the like and also clubs like The Keystone PA.
Saw a reformed Montrose in '84 with a former co guitarist of a band i was in for '82'/'83. We meet the sister of my wifes best friend there and invite her to sit with us. Show was incredible ! Afterwards we're in the parking lot waiting for her boyfriend (he didn't like rock) and she goes "there he is "" and takes off running. Me and my bud look at eachother and follow her. She had her arms around Ronnie Montrose! We caught up and all i could say was You F'ing Rocked!" and shook his hand. He just said ''Thank you". He was in the same sweaty T shirt he gigged in and his eyes were darting around. I said he should go.
The gal finally let him go, wiping a tear from her eyes. It was perfect. A guy i used to chat with @ Amazon discussion pages saw Uli Jon Roth at the Independent a couple of years ago. He said Uli made time stop. Unless you've seen something like i did that night, one might not know what he meant.
RIP, Ronnie.
Such a blast to hear these stories. The more shows you went to it was inevitable this kind of stuff would happen. My first show was in 1991, oh my I wish I had been around for concerts in the 80s.
I think we must be about the same age. So many of the concerts that you list, I had the privilege of attending. I kept almost every ticket and pass I ever got. On the Rainbow SBTE tour it was Pat Traver's opening in MN. Great video! Thanks.
Huge fan here I love hearing stories of the golden age of rock! definitely make a part two great idea for a show.
YES! Please do some more of these I really enjoyed it.
We're the same age. Class of '84 high school and off to college that Fall. From Fairfield County, Connecticut and had a Hudson Valley girlfriend. Most of my concerts were New Haven, Hartford, MSG, and The Byrne. I watch you often.
Cheers Pete nothing better than stories on the road i have a plenty myself but nowhere near as many as you. Thank you my friend
part 2 , please! Very enjoyable video....it matters not, but my first concert was Tesla opening for Poison......Tesla killed it!! My pal was backstage and dumped a beer on CC's lid. Too funny.
I saw that tour in Ottawa. Tesla rocked. Poison was awful.
We need a part 2
Great show.... gotta do part 2
We caught a lot of the same tours... first real concert was Sabbath Mob rules tour Dec. of 81
Chicago international amphitheater. Great awesome show✌️🎶🍺🤘
I hate that concerts are ticketless in the last few years. I have tons of stubs and you can’t even collect them anymore
Please do the 90's and on ... looking forward to it! The SRV thing at the end was so sad to hear, not fair. RIP SRV.
Great stories. Man how I wish I could've been alive back in your day. The 1980s were the best time to be a rock and Metal fan without a doubt. I'm especially jelous of the Dio and Ian Gillan fronted Black Sabbath shows. Would love to see part 2.
Yes, part 2 please. I'm only a few years younger than you and so far have not been to any of the same shows. Lived in NJ at the time and saw a lot of shows at the Meadowlands, MSG, Roseland, Radio City, etc.
Two thumbs up ! nice stories brings back a lot of memories of my concert days.
Yes do a part 2 please. Enjoyed this. Thanks
Pete really killer entertaining content as always, thanks for the memories
Great Nostalgiaand a nice Trip back to the past. I´ve seen a good bunch of the Bands too but here in Germany. Will for sure watch Part 2 of the Video :)
My first concert was Kansas in ‘78, with a friend and his father. I was 11 (!) I remember being overwhelmed and enthralled by the sound and visuals. Amazing experience. Question - does anyone know who opened for them? I have absolutely no recollection. This was in Richmond, Virginia. Another great post, Pete. Much appreciated! 🤘
google kansas 1978 tour opening acts. Most headliners use different bands based on what part of the country they were touring in at the time.
Pete, great stories!
I also spent almost every weekend at Sundance in Bayshore, saw many great shows there including Slayer with Toby Scaglioni drumming
I was always good at "being the 3rd caller" to local FM stadio contests, and won tickets to Queen/Thin Lizzy at Nassau Coliseum. Queen was too loud but Lizzy was great, blew 'em off the stage.
@ Queen got booed during the operatic vocal section of Bohemian Rhapsody just before the big guitar riff. The stage went dark and that part of the song was a tape of the studio album because there was no way they could duplicate that live. Lizzy was the opener, by the way...
@@pjet8042 That seems a bit illogical on the fans' end because that's literally how Bohemian Rhapsody was played live, even up to today.
Seems a bit petty, considering this is the only "complaint" that this comment mentions about their performance.
People forget Queen were pretty dead, were in England til Live Aid
My most memorable concert -- Rush, Hollywood Sportatorium 1981. Neil Peart was late to the show. So, they wouldn't allow entry until the band got a sound check. The crowd went nuts and crashed the gates. They sent in riot police (btw, the backup band was Riot) and helicopters. They tear-gassed us. If you've never been tear-gassed, it's like hot peppers rubbed in your eyes, with snot and spit running uncontrollably from nose and mouth as you gag for air. Many injuries and arrests. But, amazingly, the show went on. Best show, Moving Pictures tour. This show is documented on Wikipedia: Hollywood Sportatorium. One of the reasons Rush hates FL.
Best concerts I ever saw: Led Zeppelin, Queen (NOTW tour), King's X, The Ventures, Van Halen, and Kansas. Regrets of early 80's concerts I missed: Ozzy w/ Randy Rhoads, Judas Priest & Iron Maiden, and Fates Warning / Attacker / Obsession.
The Ventures was that 1997?
I saw Ronnie James Dio's final concert performance in 2009 in Atlantic City with Heaven and Hell. Doesn't get more memorable than that.
Here is a story:
Have you ever attended Two totally DIFFERENT concerts in the same night?! I DID!
December 3, 1975
To begin, In the Philadelphia suburban region, the towns of Blue Bell Pa., and the town of Bryn Mawr,Pa., on the suburban mainline are about 15 miles apart!
So, MY dilemma, a tough concert choice HAD to be made!
Up at Montgomery County College, Blue Bell, Pa. Hall & Oats with fabulous opener DAVID SANCIOUS and Tone were playing.
Meanwhile SAVOY BROWN featuring guitarist KIM SIMMONDS and future UFO keys/ guitarist Paul Raymond ( I just saw SAVOY/ Kim again, 3 days ago 5-18-2019! ) were playing at the Bryn Mawr MAIN POINT, a local Phila regional club!
David SANCIOUS had just released, "Transformation ( Speed of Love)," his 2nd album on EPIC records, and a critical FUSION tour de force!
So off to see David Sancious!
The Hall and Oats, D Sancious show began with a blistering set from Mr. SANCIOUS! It was hard to believe this great musician
actually played with Bruce Springsteen the year before- totally different!
In 45 minutes, Sancious' set was done! I recall even now the calculations I put into motion, the moment I realized there would be no Sancious encore!
Let's see...Bryn Mawr...still early...what about Hall and Oats ?!
POOF! I was out the door, running to my 1968 Olds Cutlass!
There were no super highways to Bryn Mawr! I knew the roads, it was Saturday, so traffic was light! I sped the whole way, cops be damned!
I actually made the Savoy Brown gig, and...SNUCK in! I had ONLY missed 3 songs...!
To this day, 43.5 years later, I have STILL yet to see Hall & Oats!
Thank you for sharing your concert experiences, so cool to hear the history of early to late 80's hard rock concerts from your perspective. I'm definetely interested in seeing your part 2 video and how the early to mid 90's affected your concert experiences. Did you see some of the "Seattle Grunge" bands?
Saw Babes In Toyland,but my mate saw Nirvana,of which,I could have also gone!!!
Cool video. I lived thru sms experiencef many of the shows you mentioned. Btw, dig the Barry Goudreau disc behind you. Dreams was a great tune in the summer of '80. Keep up the videos.
I saw ZZ Top the first time they ever came to the UK (circa 1981). We managed to get front row tickets at Hammersmith Odeon to see them. Who came into the photographers pit between the stage and the front row? Only Lemmy, who stood right in front of me throughout the gig and who obviously enjoyed it all. I particularly liked it when they started playing 'Cheap Sunglasses' after donning very cheap dayglow sunglasses. Lemmy immediately put his shades on and danced along to the song. Great memory.
Great episode! Everyone needs a fun loving 6 foot 6 inch metal head to hang out with.
When you mentioned the opening band for the Sabbath show you saw in 1982, I remembered seeing that tour (in Iowa) but couldn't remember who the opener was at the show I saw. So I Googled the show date to find out who the opener was. I instantly ran into a link to a high quality soundboard recording from that tour of the show that I was AT. Ten minutes later, and I have it downloaded, and I'm hearing it again for the second time, 37 years later.
These are amazing times. (but the music was way better back then)
What memories! My first concert was also Ozzy. Diary tour June of 82' at San Diego Sports Arena. I remember it seemed very short and at the end I was like that's it? Of course Rhodes had just died a few months earlier. Major bummer. I just went back and read about the plane crash again. Damn.
Really great show! Enjoyed it a lot, especially 'cause I got some similar experiences which brought back great memories.
And thanks, you also answered -partly- my question I've asked you after yesterdays' Q&A.
In March 2001, I took my 12 yr old son to see Nazareth. He's been listening to them from day 1 (and still loves them in 2020). After the gig, we went to the Naz dressing room, and chilled out wirh the band. Dan McCafferty signed my boy's 1975 vinyl album of 'Dan McCafferty. Drummer, Lee gave my lad the drum sticks he'd played with that night. And Jimmy Murrison was very nice to us also. Whilst this was going on, I had a chat with keyboardist, Ronnie Leahy. When I complemented him on his non Naz work, he really appreciated it... esp when I mentioned his contribution to Jon Anderson's 'Song of seven.'
Memorable: Rush on Hemipsheres and Permanent Waves tour at Nassau Coliseum. The Hemispheres one was a day before the Islanders were to win their first Stanley Cup at the Coliseum and the band came out in Islander jerseys for the encore. Local faves The Good Rats opened with guitarist John "The Cat" Gatto disappearing from the stage during a long solo then reappearing thru a door in the upper level of the Coliseum (one of the first wireless guitars!)
First: Dio, Sacred Heart tour 1986, Festival Hall, Melbourne
Best: Linkin Park, 2012ish, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne (1st concert with son)
Worst: Kiss 1994ish, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne (no make up, no energy, no interest, guy to my left had worst BO ever, guy to wife's right threw up). Left early
Loudest: Motorhead 1990ish, Festival Hall, Melbourne - too loud to hear
Disappointing sound: Def Leppard 1992 Rockit tour, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne - echos in the rafters
Weirdest crowd: Dream Theater, 2014, Palais Theatre Melbourne - crowd in front of Rudess all bald, crowd in front of Petruci remained seated until 3/4 way through show.
Favourite Venue: The Palace, Melbourne - big pub with beer, Nirvana, Cheap Trick (x2), Yngwie Malmsteen, Prefab Sprout etc etc
My 1st show was Ozzy speak of the devil tour, Randy just passed & Brad Gillis filled in. I was so upset about it all, but he continued to tour. Great show, Brad was fantastic!
You got to see Randy Rhoads I envy you ! Btw that polka dot V guitar Randy played was a Karl Sandoval
I got a good one. Mike Oldfield Group at the Tower Theater Philadelphia 1981. All-Star band: Pierre Moerlen on drums, Morris Pert on percussion, Maggie Riley singing like an angel, and Oldfield was amazing on bass and lead guitars. Pekka on bass, Tim Cross on keys. Five Miles Out Tour and a great show. Got to see Ommadawn, Tubular Bells, Platinum, Taurus Two, and more. We had seats in the last row on the floor, but there was a ledge right behind us and sat on that all night. Perfect view of the stage. The copious amounts of THC consumed helped .
I had the chance to see Metallica 4x (2004, 2009, 2011, 2015) Megadeth 4x (2004, 2007, 2010, 2012) The Rolling Stones (2015), Ac/Dc (2015), Roger Waters 2x (2012, 2017), Tool (2017), Black Sabbath (2014), Deep Purple (2017), Alice Cooper (2017), Lynyrd Skynyrd (2019), Testament (2010), Slayer (2010), The Foo Fighters (2018), The Black Keys (2013), The Smashing Pumpkins (2018), Red Hot Chili Peppers (2015), Neil Young (2018), Pearl Jam (2016), Slipknot (2009), Muse 2x (2013, 2016) ... pratically all in Quebec City, Canada....a couple in Montreal and Toronto... And I've juste learn that Rage Against The Machine is coming up this summer !! Can't wait !!
My first concert was todd trundgren /utopia and the outlaws odd combo for sure but excellent none the less the outlaws at this time were very big with songs like hurry sundown,ghost riders in the sky and three very good harmonizing guitar players,just great...Todd to was unbelievable with his drummer on the frame of a Harley hog surrounded with drums and cymbals above the stage spinning round and round and later he had a big movie screen with animation (i believe that he drew)with the words of the songs that he sang as he instructed us to sing along by following the bouncing ball GREAT FIRST CONCERT
My first concert was November 1982 Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso in Havana, Cuba...
Lot's of great concerts Pete! My first concert was 1974 Black Oak Arkansas (Jim Dandy to the rescue ) My last was TOOL in 2003. So long ago. Never got to see Ozzy, Sabbath, Blackmore, or Dio.😭
Anyway,.. yes do a Part 2👍!!
🤟
I was also at the RUSH/Rory Gallagher show at MSG in 1982. SIGNALS Tour. That was my first RUSH show. I saw them on every tour after that for the rest of their career, including the Radio City Music Hall shows (pre-Grace Under Reassure).
I know you don’t like Guns N’ Roses but they played The Chance in 87 a few months before they blew up. Would have killed to see them early.
Absolutely! Great band.
Cool stories Pete. Love the red light story :)
Great show a part 2 would be very much appreciated.
I would be interested to know what’s is the furthest you’ve traveled to a gig, or how far you would go to see a favourite band.
I’m seeing Metallica in Vienna in August and going to Rio in October to see Iron Maiden. Making a holiday experience out of a concert involving a favourite band is cool.
I’ve travelled to Ireland to see U2, London several times for the Stones and Bon Jovi.
really enjoyed this. Got me thinking about my shows.
Great stories Pete. Our first stories are almost identical. I got into Sabbath in 1979 during the transition from Ozzy to Dio. My first show was Ozzy/Motorhead at the Aragon ballroom in Chicago.. and yes my dad dropped us off at the venue.
I haven't been to a lot of concerts, because I only like to go hear my absolute favorite bands/musicians. But I remember walking from the parking lot to the venue for
Billy Squire/Bad Company/Styx concert, and telling my boyfriend that "someone was going to spill beer on me tonight".
Well sure enough, the woman sitting next to me, spilled her beer all over my lap. Luckily, it was near the end of the concert so I didn't have to smell like a brewery for too long. But probably the best concert I've ever been to...🎸🙂🥁
Oh man Pete these stories are priceless! I love reliving these great shows through the eyes of an East Coast perspective. You’d die laughing if you saw the Polaroid of my buddy Paul’s beer goggles grin driving to Whitesnake in the car🤪Pine Knob Detroit
I'm a few years younger than you, Pete, and I never got to as many concerts. But I did manage to see Rush seven times between 1988 (Hold Your Fire) and 2015 (R40), and Dio four times (twice with Heaven & Hell, twice solo). The Dio show the day after Thanksgiving 2000 had Doro and Yngwie opening, and now I'm going to see Yngwie again next week (also saw him in 2017). I never saw Stevie Ray Vaughn live, but I did talk to him once via a radio call-in show!
Hello Pete, thx for another great show. It's always a pleasure to listen your enthusiastic love in music. But... i miss your great "History Of..." Shows; hope there will be another one soon. Journey, Styx, Foreigner, Kansas... this would be interesting... a lot of line-up changes in these bands.
Another suggestion could be a ranking or Top10 from some Solostuff from Pink Floyd. I would like to hear your opinion about the solo albums during the Floyd Activities: David Gilmour (ST), Wet Dream, Zee; About Face vs. Pros & Cons, Momentary Lapse vs. K.A.O.S., Division Bell vs. Amused To Death, this would be interesting. There a many Pink Floyd Reviews on RUclips, but the Solostuff is very rare. Maybe someday :-) All the best for you, Chris from Germany (sorry, if my english isn't perfect.
dude u saw voivod?! nice! damn I was born too young lol. today's my 20th birthday and I have only seen two shows, Linkin Park, and Judas Priest with Saxon, but I will see Blue Oyster Cult in October.
I remember seeing Rush and Riot back in 1981,Hollywood ,FL ..An actual riot broke out,and we all got teargassed...
During the Aerosmith reaction to the gig, you almost recited the lyrics to Hell's Bells Pete 😁👍
Rush promoting "All The Worlds a Stage" album. 5th row. Opening act UFO, Led Zeppelin twice LA Forum. "Physical Graffiti" & "Presence Tours". (tickets $20.00), Eagles, Jackson Browne & Linda Ronstadt. LA Angel Stadium "One Of These Nights" tour, Black Sabbath Santa Monica Civic filming for Don Kirshner Rock Concert TV, Rainbow "Rising" tour Greek Theatre? (Some outdoor location in Los Angeles), California Jam 1 & 2 Ontario Motor Speedway LA 1974,1976, Queen "Live Killers" tour LA Forum, Van Halen LA Forum 2 album tour. Backstage met Eddie, cool guy, Anthony cool guy, Dave. Ass h*le Just a few favorites..
Regrets: missed chances to see Jethro Tull, Horslips, Humble Pie at various times in the 70's.
My second big-name show ever was Black Sabbath, Orpheum, Boston, 1975. That was the "Sabotage" Tour. My son is so jealous that I saw the old school Sabbath with Ozzy lol.
First big-name show was Foghat/Black Oak/Montrose, same year, same venue.
The enduring memory is how damn LOUD those shows were. My ears rang all the next day. It blows my mind how those musicians could endure that night after night on tour. I guess they just get used to it, hey, they have to make some sacrifices to live the rock n roll life huh?
Great episode, yes to another
While you were living on Long Island did you ever catch the Good Rats?
No, never
I saw that Who tour, had a great time and the band was in great form. Sorry it want memorable that night for you Pete.
Yes I totally agree with you about this Seventh Star tour; Wasp 🐝 never showed so we got AOR and you’re right Pete! Anthrax opened up and I met Joey Belladonna in the Boston Garden 🪴 Wasp a no show. No surprises there @‘ 85 Sincerely yours, DJP ex PostMortem and Kilslug Boston Massachusetts USA
Really enjoyed that Pete - one of your best! Made me laugh.
Who eles remembers the "Rockin' in the Free World" tour? Neil Young, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden! Everyone was on the stage at the end for a huge jam! Great summer outdoor show (Exhibition Stadium, Toronto).
I loved going to concerts back in the day...great stories, Pete....I was hoping your dog would jump up and show her beautiful face, but her bouncy tail was a highlight, nonetheless.............best concert I went to was kiss, and judas priest....worst was gun and roses, and white lion, im glad I didn't purchase those tickets, they were both given to me
Best double bill show was Metallica Justice Tour with Queensryche on their OMC Tour which they played the whole record and songs from Warning and Rage For Order . Just fantastic . I also caught that Krokus tour in 1984 had front row seats it was a Blistering show they were on The Blitz Tour and played a lot of those Killer Headhunter songs !! Coney Hatch opened this was in Houston at The Summit so a Jersey , Bon Jovi style band didn't go over to well . As for Krokus HeadHunter was their heaviest and best record . Long Stick goes boom was ok . Was disappointed Krokus didn't stay with that more Metal sound from HeadHunter ??
Great video!!! Please, do part two. I got two questions for you that I hope you can answer. How about The Clash opening for The Who? There's a famous video for Should I Stay or Should I Go shot from this exact concert. And the second question: no AC/DC???? Cheers from Brazil!!
Motorhead for your first gig, how cool was that.😍🍺
Memorable: Yes - Relayer and Going for the One tours.
I wish there was some pro shot film footage from Yes' 1976 tour. Roger Dean and his brother put together a crazy stage set for that tour that featured a mechanical three headed crab.
@@ChromeDestiny - the Queens Park show has been around for a long time, had it on VHS tape: ruclips.net/video/LQ1piSjOMZw/видео.html
But it's outdoors at daytime so you don't get the effect of the "War of the Worlds" stage set. Plus, the sound mix is really bad, in parts you can't hear some instruments and Jon strumming a guitar during Gates is loud. It improves over the last third of the show though...
Fun topic, you went to alot of shows, must've been hilarious watching you and your friend trying to wave down your father to get the tickets back, love to see a part two.