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Friday Fun: Historically Speaking

09:01 AM, Friday 11/13/09 22 |   |

Were you at the original Woodstock? How about the US Festival, The Beatles at Shea Stadium, Live Aid or the first Coachella?

History is the Friday Fun subject today. Were you an audience member, worker, roadie or even a member of the press at what turned out to be a truly historical concert event? Was history made before your eyes (or ears)?

But it doesn’t have to be the concert itself that made it into the history books. Perhaps you attended a show that was supposed to be just another stop on the tour, but something unexpected happened. Like when The Who’s Keith Moon passed out during a 1973 San Francisco concert and was replaced by a drummer from the audience. Or when Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler tumbled off the stage in Sturgis.

Or maybe you were in the audience when tape was rolling, resulting in a famous album. Were you Alive! with KISS in Detroit, did you Get Yer Ya Yas Out with The Rolling Stones, get unplugged with Nirvana or dance The Last Waltz with The Band?

Now is the time to dust off those memories and tell us about your historical concert moments. Not just for today’s comment thread, but for the concert-loving generations to come, so that they may learn from your experiences.

22 Comments leave a comment

  1. 2
    MKM510 wrote:

    09:18 AM, Nov 13, 2009

    I was at the first Farm Aid (where Sammy Hagar and Eddie Van Halen played together for the first time), the opening concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and probably the most historic show I saw was Elvis' final concert on June 26, 1977 at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.

  2. 8
    morrisonrocks wrote:

    09:26 AM, Nov 13, 2009

    Here are some memories:

    1. She & Him at the 2008 Newport Folk Festival playing during a thunderstorm.

    2. Seeing David Bowie perform just weeks before his heart attack.  He played for 2 hrs and 15 mins!

    3. Lenny Kravitz getting mad at his roadie for not being able to tune his guitar.  He was opening for Aerosmith so I am not sure if he skipped an "Are You Gonna Go My Way" encore or not.

    4.  Never forget recent performances by Kevin Dubrow (Quiet Riot),  Kelly Groucutt (ELO), and Ron Asheton (The Stooges).

  3. 5
    Dave 28 wrote:

    09:35 AM, Nov 13, 2009

    I was the Slayer concert in Augusta, ME where they Filmend the Reign in Blood concert dvd.

  4. 10
    Metallion1976 wrote:

    09:43 AM, Nov 13, 2009

    The longest show of Ozzy's career was at the old Arena in Winnipeg.  Apparently it was recorded (sound only as there weren't too many video cameras) and they mentioed it on his website after the show that he never played that long before - the show was about 2 hours 45 minutes.  Jason Newsted played double duty as Voivod also opened the set with Finger Eleven in between.  I believe it was June 2003??

  5. 84
    JohnnyCotts wrote:

    10:07 AM, Nov 13, 2009

    I was at Woodstock 99.  it was ok, at best, but I probably wouldn't go again if it was the summer of 1999 right now.  There was no shade or covering from the sun, water and food was WAYYYy over priced and you couldn't get from one main stage to another.  I watched the RHCP performance when the riots started.  I saw fire towards the back of the crowd, but didn't think anything of it at the time.  

  6. 102
    trooper wrote:

    10:28 AM, Nov 13, 2009

    I don't remember the exact day but in 1993 Metallica was in Puerto Rico for a concert in an outdoor venue and was a rainy day.We wait on our seat or the field but a hour and a half after the schedule hour for the concert IT WAS CANCEL!!!!!!!('Cause the weather conditions) Just a riot start and I start running out of the venue and later we know that there was some people arrested and a little damage to the venue.WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE RETURN OF THE BAND TO THE ISLAND.

  7. 14
    Tfronky wrote:

    10:44 AM, Nov 13, 2009

    Two firsts for me. One, I was at the first Monolith Festival at Red Rocks in 2007. Second, I was at the very first show of the first ever Lollapalooza back in 1991 at Compton Terrace in Phoenix, AZ. Reznor got pissed during NIN set and stormed off the stage about four songs in, Navarro got pissed at Farrell while Janes Addiction was playing "Ocean Size" and also stormed off the stage. What a night.

  8. 231
    Evster wrote:

    11:06 AM, Nov 13, 2009

    Two come to mind:

    1. Seeing Paul McCartney and Tony Bennett dancing cheek to cheek at the 2004 Bridge School Benefit Concert

    2. Partying with 2 Million crazy Brazilians on Copacabana beach for a free Rolling Stones concert in 2004. Craziest part? When the show ended not ONE of them left! And that ain't nothin' compared to the party that'll be goin' down in 2016!!!

  9. 231
    Evster wrote:

    11:08 AM, Nov 13, 2009

    Correction: Rolling Stones concert was in 2006.

  10. 2
    Bucknastay wrote:

    11:22 AM, Nov 13, 2009

    I guess this is recent history, but the first ever Them Crooked Vultures show at Chicago's Metro in August. I count that as the best show that I have ever been to, and I believe that this band is the first supergroup that has come out in a long time.

    Another memorable time was Lollapalooza 08 during Rage Against the Machine. The band had to stop the set numerous times because the crowd was beginning to get too dangerous. I was right up front for Testify, but had to leave because I broke 2 of my ribs on the railing. It was an amazing show though.

  11. 7
    andrewl wrote:

    11:41 AM, Nov 13, 2009

    Seeing Paul McCartney front row (General Admission) at Piedmont Park on August 15, 2009 in Atlanta GA. It marked, to the day, the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock and Paul commented that he couldn't think of a better way to commemorate the occasion then with an outside concert. Amazing show!

  12. 103
    TENYEARSGONE wrote:

    11:51 AM, Nov 13, 2009

    Live aid was great until Duran Duran came on right after Zeppelin! Could have been a lot better if there was not the 3 song deal. Woodstock 95 was a wild 3 days and more then 3 to recover!! The best was the Ronnie Lane shows for two nights at The Garden with Clapton, Page and Beck on the same stage with countless other great artists! Also just went to night two of the The Rock & Roll HOF!



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