First Concert Experience

I saw a bit with CNN personalities discussing their first concert experiences, and thought it would be fun to do likewise here. What was the first concert you went to? Did your parents take you, or did you get to go by yourself? How cool was it?

I was taking a class last year, and as an ice-breaker, the instructor had us go around the room and introduce ourselves and say what our first concert had been. It was a great ice-breaker, and I 've used it with some of my own classes since then, so I'll jump right in and see if I can sweep some cobwebs from our middle-aged brains!

Uriah Heep. On a first date. WAY cool. I later saw them again on another first date, this time with the man who became my husband and eventually my former husband. Then a few years after I divorced, I went to a seminar and the guest speaker/musician was Ken Hensley (who had been the lead singer). The fickle finger of fate...

Now, who remembers them?

I really can't remember. But I definitely remember my first Jane Fonda movie, Cat Ballou in 1965.

The first (and only) big concert was the 'Beach Boys' in Central Park (NYC)
in the early seventies. I really enjoyed it pouring rain and all. It's not that I don't like music just don't like crowds.

Almost forgot! The New York Philharmonic
use to give concerts in the city parks during the summers.

My first would have been at college, at Penn State. The ones I remember--but I don't remember the order--were Billy Joel, Seals and Croft, and Roberta Flack.

As a teenybopper..

Paul Revere and the Raiders :)

I went with my bestest friend all by ourselves to the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP8G4clUJBY&feature=related

I thought it was 1963, but PhaedraB is quite right in post 12, it was 1964 because my Grandmother had died the year before. Thank you PhaedraB.

I was 11 years old, and on a Tuesday I sent a postcard to a local rock station, KFWB "Channel 98" in Los Angeles. On Saturday morning our neighbor Doris Bowers called to tell me to call the radio station QUICK because my name had been called to win a ticket to see the Beatles perform at the Hollywood Bowl.

I called. I won A Hard Day's Night record album, $9.80, "Bobbin' Head Beatles Dolls" (which I wish I had now), and, a ticket to the concert. My dad said I should sell the ticket and make a lot of money. Nope. Not me.

My dad drove me to Hollywood, took me to what must have been a shuttle bus stop and told the driver to take care of me and return me there after the concert. I was told the number of the bus to get back on to.

I was in section R. I screamed my lungs out. I could almost see the stage. All the adults around me were probably terribly amused. Lots of them probably smoked dope, too, because I remember thinking the cigarettes smelled funny.

I got off the bus. There was my dad. He asked me if I liked it and I said "Oh, yes!" and all the people at the bus stop laughed. I must have had stars in my eyes.

It was one of the best nights in my life.

I cannot imagine sending a child to a rock concert alone today, but nobody thought a thing about it then, even in LA, even at the Hollywood Bowl.

That is just fantastically wonderful.

that sounds absolutely wonderful! How terrible that you only got one ticket!!!!

I went to my first concert with a boy I met at my cousin's wedding. He took me to see WAR and EL CHICANO. I was fresh out of nine years at Catholic school.

My big brother told me that I would be handed a type of cigarette and to not freak out -just to take it and pass it on. I didn't smoke it of course but the place was so filled with smoke and a sickening sweet smell that when the concert ended and I stepped outside and the air hit me, I fainted.

#7 That is SO awesome! Isn't it great to have lived in a time where a 10 year old could take a bus alone to a Beatles concert in Hollywood? Wow.

My first concert was also the Beatles, in 1965 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. (karenmarie, it must have been 1964 for you; the Beatles did not come to the US in 1963). I was 13. Four of us took the bus there. The seats were kinda crappy, but the energy was amazing. Top ticket price was $5.50.

The following year, the Beatles played two shows, matinee and evening, at the International Amphitheater (long since demolished). We went to both. The afternoon show was the first show of their last American tour, ever.

The night before, my dad had driven four of us (one sister, two friends) downtown to hangout outside the hotel where they were staying. I had a handpainted sign in my purse that I had made to wave at the concert the next day. One of my friends saw a newspaper photographer and asked him if he wanted to take a picture of a sign, which he did.

The next day, as we were waiting for the bus to take us to the Amphitheater, we stopped in the neighborhood grocery store to pick up newspapers. On the front page of the Chicago Daily News--above the fold, no less--was a picture of the four of us holding that sign. I've still got a copy of that paper somewhere.

PhaedraB - you're right about 1964 because I definitely had the front bedroom at home, and that could only have been after my grandmother died in April of 1964. So the concert had to be after that. Summer of 1964. Thanks for helping me get it straight.

Beatles trivia 'r' us!

Paul, John, George, Ringo. What's yours?

Pete Best!

7: karenmarie
outstanding!!

My first was KISS, freshman year of college with a bunch of girls from my dorm. A lot of fun and I wrote the band's name with the S's like lightning bolts for months afterward (years maybe; I probably still would today, yikes), which really bugged my boyfriend.

Jethro Tull, '73 or '74, at what was then the San Diego Sports Arena, with several friends. Steeleye Span was the opening act. Ian Anderson leapt over an amp in purple tights, a yellow cod-piece and that greatcoat and I SAW GOD!

>6 mckait::
Paul Revere & the Raiders and Dusty Springfield played at Grad Nite at Disneyland in 1970.

#19 OsideNative - I went to Grad Nite at Disneyland in 1971. (Ganesha High School, Pomona) The girls had to wear pants suits or dresses. No jeans.

>20 karenmarie: karenmarie:

We weren't even allowed to wear pants suits. Had to be dresses and the hem had to fall two inches below our kneecaps. They measured. I remember hemming that dress up later so I could wear it in real life. LOL
Did you have a photo taken in front of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln?
Oceanside HS, Oceanside.

i don't know what my first concert was. I think I was performing in concerts long before I ever went to hear one. I sang with a children's choir that got to perform with Arthur Fiedler and the Pops Orchestra (in San Francisco, not Boston) every summer. I might still have a program with his autograph on it somewhere in my Mom's garage. I remember doing some concert version of Casey At The Bat when I was about 8 or 9. (After a little research, I think it was probably The Mighty Casey by William Schuman)

this is a very fun thread!

now, what was your favorite concert??
and when?

In the early 80s, it must have been, I saw Heart. Fabulous concert.

I also saw the Grateful Dead about a dozen times. Lots of fun!

#21 OsideNative. Amazing. One year to the next, dresses to pants suits. I do remember that there was a list of rules relating to the pants suits.... same material for top and pants, bottom of top had to be x inches below your hips.... you get the idea. I also remember the first time I saw Great Moments when I was very young.... when he stood up it made the hair on the back of my neck stood up too. It was an amazing thing. Still gives me shivers to think about it.

Okay, mckait.

Favorite concert was Paul McCartney and Wings in their Wings over America Tour in June of 1976 at the Forum in Los Angeles. It was a birthday present from my boyfriend. It was an amazing concert.

Alternate favorite concert was Harry Chapin at a very small venue in New London Connecticut in ... 1977-1980 because that's when I lived there. I can't be more specific. Just him and his guitar on stage. Afterwards, he mingled in the lobby with us and signed programs. He was one of the most charismatic people I've ever met. The energy just poured off him and his eyes were like diamonds. I was devastated when he died in that car crash.

Karen, your post about Chapin give me goosebumps. I have always liked him, as well. I have met people who have that same energy~ Kevin Todesche is one. He is now director of the ARE, but when I met him he was an ARE author and speaker. He walked into the room one day, I was working selling books for his and his wife's workshop. I suspect that part of it was the recognition factor, as he and I shared a past life experience.. but his charisma is phenominal. To meet him is to love him instantly.

Favorite concert: SuperJam 76 at Busch Stadium. Fleetwood Mac, Jefferson Airplane, Jeff Beck (I think), and I don't remember who all else. It was an all-day affair, and to see the Airplane in person was the highlight of my life (even from the nosebleed seats!)

Janis Joplin & Santana in 1969 ~ memorable!

I am totally jealous of that one.

The Beatles never came to Aruba--so my first concert was Chubby Checker, a very poor substitute, but about the most famous person to come to Aruba at that time when no one had even heard of Aruba.

Like several above, my next concert was Paul Revere and the Raiders. I was visiting my friend in Norfolk, Va. Her father was in the navy, and they were filming on the aircraft carrier he was stationed on, so we got to be in the audience.

Most memorable concert was Donovan at the Royal Albert Hall in London. He threw daffodils to the audience at the end and I got one. I kept it forever.

ahhhh Donovan! Love him!

Not necessarily the best, but certainly one of the most memorable: a Bread and Roses benefit in Berkeley. 1977 or 78. Among the performers I remember were Joan Baez singing Amazing Grace, Arlo Guthrie (wearing a powder blue suit!), Mickey Newbury, and Hoyt Axton, who was drunk or high on something and wouldn't leave the stage.

Very first concert was as a Junior in high school to see Chicago in 1970 at Kutztown University (PA) Field House. We we're sooooooo not cool, we actually wore dresses amongst all the college girls with bandanas on their heads and blue jeans.

Someday, when my 16 year old is 55, and he's asked this question, he'll answer -- "Billy Joel. My crazy parents took me when I was 5!"

BTW -- I LOVED Harry Chapin! Saw him in a small venue in Scranton in the late 70's!

A friend of mine was at Woodstock - when he was four!

This is a fun thread :o) Love all your stories!

My first concert: Jesus Christ Superstar at the Las Vegas Convention Center in either '71 or '72. I remember not really wanting to go to a 'religious' themed event and I had only heard the title song on the radio or something; I was just a totally clueless 11th grader (maybe 10th? I forgot), but my date had free tickets...

Does Elvis count? I saw him perform at the Hilton International Hotel in LV in '72.

In '73, our class rode a bus from Las Vegas to Vacation Village in San Diego (which was more fun than Disneyland), then spent the next night at Disneyland's Grad Nite. Girls had to wear formals and boys had to wear suits/ties.

Does Elvis count???? Are you kidding me?

Yup, I loved Elvis, but he was considered old-fashioned by my peers...didn't have that 'dangerous' edge that rock concerts had, but he put on a great show back then. humming "Memories" while signing off

Favorite: pretty much anything at Ravinia, just north of Chicago, where the pre-concert picnic on the lawn is as fun as the performance.

Worst: a mid-‘80s Phil Collins concert at Pine Knob, outside Detroit. We drove 4+ hours, were thrilled when Phil came onstage and sang “I Don’t Care Anymore” … :-( and then he announced he had a sore throat and the concert was over, everyone go home.

I was an Elvis fan.. still love that voice of his. Incomparable!

eta

TERRIBLE!!

>38 detailmuse: Wow, they so should have refunded your money for that, at the very least. How bogus.

>35 nobooksnolife: The King of rock 'n' roll? Yes, I'd say he counts!

Worst: Jefferson Starship Concert in 1971 at the Hollywood Bowl. They would not play White Rabbit. Everybody wanted White Rabbit. I'm sure they were bored with it and wanted to show their new stuff, but most people were disgruntled by the end of the concert.

Other worsts are Crosby at a small venue in Orange County CA drunk and rambling about Glasnost and Joe Cocker drunk at the Forum. I seem to recall he had a 6-pack on stage.

>35 nobooksnolife: I remember wearing a formal to Grad Nite at Disneyland, too, but mine was 1975.

#43 wonderful story, Angela58! It is interesting to me that most of us describe a first rock concert experience, myself included.

My first concert experience, however, was going to the Los Angeles Symphony on Saturdays for 10 cents when I was 7-10ish. The schools arranged it - busses left from the school, returned you to the school. I went several times and fell in love with classical music. I guess that trumps my Beatles experience when I was 11.

I got a late start, but I think my first concert was Bob Marley at Pauley Pavillion (UCLA) in 1979, but I have to confess I had no idea who he was and I wasn't formally in the audience; I was working food service (lots of people buying HUGE AMOUNTS of candy and food - odd that).

I remember thinking, "Who is this guy? He's great!"

We had a school outing to see Carmen and another to see the Tales of Hoffman. I enjoyed them but I must say that my enjoyment of opera was enhanced exceedingly with the advent of supertitles.

The Young Rascals at Queens College on a snowy night. First date. First time driving at night in the snow. Sat in the bleachers. Much fun.

@ fugitive re: food ~ LOL

First theatre experience I recall was seeing Maria Tallchief dance the Firebird in St Louis (ca 1964?) I can still clearly picture her entrance leap. Gave me ballet fever for years.

First concert on my own was seeing Cat Stevens in Denver in about 1972. I was practically in the rafters.

First: surely something at the college where my dad worked. I was so young and it was so hard to stay awake through a performance that didn't even start until my bedtime! To this day, I choose matinees instead of evening performances.

>46 ejj1955: I love supertitles at the opera. It's fun when everyone gets the jokes!

the guys down at the end of the street played kick-ass rock, even when i was 11 or 12 i knew that was the thing. turned out they went on to become the Cyrcle (sp?) and had a hit with a paul simon penned "red rubber ball".
after that, i think the first concert i paid to see was peter, paul, & mary.

wow tcw, that is very cool ! :)

The first concert I ever attended was during eighth grade. My friend's father took the two of us to Baltimore to see Little Stevie Wonder. Other than riding on DC Transit and a few experiences in Washington, it was my first experience of being in a vey small minority; I'm not sure there were any other white people in the building, although I feel sure there must have been some. I wasn't worried by it, because everyone seemed to be having a good time. I was just beginning to understand civil rights and race issues, and he concert experience, while it didn't involve the intimidation or threat that many black folks would have felt in a comparable but reversed situation, gave me the beginning of an insight into what it was like to be in such a minority.

First concert: the Bee Gees at the (original) Spectrum in Philadelphia. The guy I went with was the son of a co-worker; this co-worker, a very nice woman, was trying to play matchmaker for her boy and talked me into going out with him a few times.

We had seats sort of behind stage right, up pretty high. It wasn't a very good angle for viewing the show, but we got to see how a lot of the special effects were done!

My favorite "concert" :
my first "formal" date with the man I eventually married was an Opera Company of Philadelphia performance of "The Marriage of Figaro." That would have been, hmm, the fall of 1990. Partly for sentimental reasons, that's the one I'd pick.

The worst performance I ever attended: I went with my mother and aunt to see Engelbert Humperdink at one of the casinos in Atlantic City. What an ego! Even my aunt (who had loved him) was
turned off by his attitude.

I never went to a rock concert in the 70's...I was a real nerd and scaredy cat kind of girl lol...also I really ddin't and still don't like crowds. So the first and only concert...Columbia MO, 1981ish, Kenny Rogers and Dotty West (told you I was nerd! but remember Kenny Rogers was a pretty big deal in the 80's) Also, that same year, we went to see Gallagher (does that count??)

I like going to the theater, ballet, concert hall just fine, but a big mega- rock concert just doesn't appeal to me, no matter who it is.

Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Rick Wakeman at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia probably around '73 or '74. The 'Special Effects' would be laughable now but they were the talk of the town then.

>58 theretiredlibrarian: loved their duet "What are We Doin' in Love," and it has a Missiouri connection for me, too -- drove solo from Michigan to Mexico MO in the summer of 1981 to visit my grandma ... it was during my "country music period" and I heard that song over and over for days.

Wow!...I've enjoyed hearing about all your experiences, but am so envious of many of the concerts you guys had the opportunity to attend.

Although I'm old enough to have attended concerts in the late 60's and early 70's, I didn't attend my first "Rock Concert" until the 1980's:

Madonna in Brockton, Mass. I was seated on the floor only a few rows back. When Madonna came on everybody stood on their folding chairs throughout the entire concert. I wish I had the balance I had then. The parking lot was so jammed on leaving that I took a 2 hour nap before even moving my car.

I also remember John Mellencamp at the Boston Garden in 1980's too. From where I was seated you could only see the bottoms of the groups legs.

Oh yes...I guess this is kind of a concert: In the 1964 NY World's Fair I saw Bobby Vincent sing If "I had a Hammer" in the New York State Pavilion.

What fun memories...great topic!

lol, I was so into Kenny Rogers at the time...had "Love the World Away" sung at my wedding! Also knew all the words to "The Gambler" and "Coward of the County"

>61 stevetempo: Steve, I went to the World's Fair, too. Talk about memorable--my first Belgian waffle, seeing the Pieta--it was quite an experience!

>63 ejj1955:

Thank you for the memory jog:

I don't remember the Belgian waffle (too bad for me), but I have clear and very distinct memories of the Pieta (my first real awareness of fine art), not to go off topic (sorry) too much, but that Fair had such a big influence on me. I can still remember the Bell picture phone, Sinclair Dino-Land...

>64 stevetempo: And my first trip through Disney's It's a Small World, After All . . .

frank zappa, flo and eddie show 1971

Re: the '64-65 World's Fair -- I used a touch telephone for the first time there, and I beat the computer 3 times in a row at Tic-Tac-Toe. Also yes, the Pieta was (and still is) magnificent. The Carousel of Progress was moved to Disney World after the World's Fair closed.

Back on topic - I used to go into NYC a lot when I was a teen. I saw Bob Dylan at Gertie's; Tom Rush, Richie Havens, countless others at the Bottom Line; also Gordon Lightfoot (several times), Roger McGuinn, Tom Chapin and others at various other venues. Here in the Austin area, I don't get out that much... I go to the Cactus Cafe (almost exclusively) and have seen John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky and Adrien Legg (all on at least 4 occasions), and the Austin Lounge Lizards. Tom Rush opened for Leo Kottke at the Paramount Theater.

About 1976 my boyfriend took me to see Gino Vanelli when I was 17 or so. I doubt anybody remembers him, but he was a Canadian who had really big hair and a few hits at the time. His opening act was a singer named Phyllis Hyman, who has also disappeared. At the time this was an incredibly big deal and I was shocked my parents let me go.

What did he sing? That name seems so familiar to me...

Holy cow, I'm pretty sure I have a Gino Vanelli album on vinyl! I went to Wiki, though, and none of the song titles there rang a bell. His biggest hits seem to be "I Just Wanna Stop" (1978) and "Living Inside Myself" (1981).

I went to YouTube to find some of his songs but the one that really sounded familiar was "Love Is a Night."

Wow, talk about a flash from the past!

Another big hit for him was Brother to Brother.

I had one of Gino's first vinyl albums, Storm at Sunup, when he was trying to be, I don't know, jazzy and musical, before he decided to crank out the pop hits. It had a hilarious cover picture of Gino with the hair and open shirt, and a woman looking out the window or something. Somehow I haven't gotten around to picking up the CD.

Oh my! The first concert I went to --- I was probably 11 or so and went with a girlfriend to the Philadelphia Convention Center (I think). Back in those days, as a couple of you mentioned, we were dressed up in our Sunday best. We went to see Herman's Hermits, and they were just fine. But the opening act, which blew everyone away - no one knew what to make of them - were The Who. Complete with the destruction of their instruments at the end of their set!

I just saw Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young within the last 10 years - great show. But one of the best, musically, was the Chicago/Beach Boys concert. They played separately, then together.

The coolest concert I managed to get tickets to - The Concert for Bangladesh.

Thanks for the walk down memory lane!

The Who as an opening act! Epic!

Not my first concert, but my wife's ...

About 1974 my wife (age 14) went to an Alice Cooper concert in Phoenix, Arizona. She was with her mother who was a voter registrar and was there to help register people to vote on behalf of the United Farm Workers. A riot broke out with people trying to get in who didn't have tickets with thrown bottles and fights and everything. My mother-in-law told her "You are NEVER going to a concert ever again!"

First concert age 14 Alice Cooper and a riot. I am so envious!

My first concert was a free rock festival in a park. I started late going to concerts, but made up later while at university. I used to go 2-3 times a week to concerts. Unfortunately, earplugs were not in fashion at the time and my ears are peeping all the time.

I once went to a classic concert and in front of me was a family with 3 small kids (6-10). Apparently this was their first time and they were well instructed. Everything went fine untill the soprano came down the stairs. They marvelled at her dress, her big bossom and her skill not to fall down despite the long dress, but still kept quiet.
Then the Soprano started to sing.
Wide open eyes, suppressed giggles and questions if this was normal.
It took 10 minutes before they calmed down. The 5 rows behind them had big smiles the rest of the day.

Daddy Cool at the Ballarat Civic Centre 1971 (Ballarat, Victoria, Australia). I wonder how many of you remember their first big hit "Eagle Rock"?

Chicago at Madison Square Garden. It was probably 1975 or 76. We must have taken a bus into the city from NJ but I don't remember. I still have the Chicago button I bought. And a program. I remember programs! I'd have to find them to know the exact date.

#25 karenmarie I loved reading your post about Harry Chapin. I saw him in a free concert in Central Park in 1980 (or was it Spring 0f '81). Even got his autograph and patted his shoulder. He was so nice and so talented. So sad the way he died.

>68 varielle: I sure remember Gino Vanelli! I grew up near Montreal, his hometown. He still pops up on golden-oldie shows here.

I have only been to five pop/rock concerts. My first was Gordon Lightfoot in Sherbrooke, Quebec in 1977 or 78. He was pretty loaded and badmouthing his wife or ex-wife. It was a very small venue, a movie theatre.

Best concert was Bruce Springsteen, in 2003 in Ottawa. We were very close to the stage. He looked at me and gave me a big grin (I thought it was my imagination, but my date turned to me and said "he smiled right at you!").

The others I've seen are Elton John, Blue Rodeo and Ian Tyson, all in recent years in Ottawa.

Of course, you know, the memory might be failing.... but I think that's it.

Thirty years ago, I got to see the Beach Boys - Surfin' the Rosenblatt. (in Omaha) They set up the stage in deep center field and the "cheap seats" were the blankets and lawn chairs on the field. It cost more to sit in the bleachers, but they were a mile away. We were about 20 yards from the stage. It was so cool.

Everybody was still alive (It really hurts to say that, since Carl and Dennie are gone now), Brian was with them, and the place was rockin. I was 6 months pregnant, and I swear the baby had a back-beat.

My first concert was in 1969 or 1970 in San Diego. The Who played at their entire rock opera "Tommy" and I became a life-long fan. My second concert was a few weeks later when I saw Three Dog Night with Blues Image (remember "Ride, Capitan, Ride"?) as the opening act. Unfortunately, I did not become a life-long fan of either of those groups.

My first concert was to see Don McLean. It was early 70s around the time of American Pie and Vincent. This was in England so it was quite a thrill for me to see an American! Other early ones were Ralph McTell and Al Stewart - all one man and his guitar. When I got to university in the big city I saw more groups.

In 1967 my first concert was Paul Revere and the Raiders and Billy Joe Royal at Memorial Hall in Joplin, MO. It sat 3000 people, and the place wasn't half full. There was another performer also, but we got there late and missed him/them. It cost us a whopping $2 to get in! My second concert was in Tulsa OK, and I saw The Carpenters. It seemed like there were millions of people there; in reality, probably a few thousand. I don't like crowds, and I don't like paying much for concerts - I'd rather have a record or (now) CD that I can hear for years instead of a couple of hours.

T Rex - I was soooooooooooo in love with Marc Bolan.

We were a Country Western family. My first concert was the Grand Old Oprey which came to my hometown regularly in the late 60's. We went to all of those, and to the fair concerts around about, this was when many of Country's greats traveled the circuit as they became big stars. I loved the county fair concerts because us kids got unlimited ride passes.

I got to meet and talk with many of those people, and get to know a few for bit. My favorite person was 'Minnie Pearle', whom I remember as a very kind, humble and caring woman. Of course, I did not appreciate the significance of all this until I got older.

Then I heard about a band called the Beatles, and I was hooked on Rock 'n Roll.

Thanks, Alldone. Until your post, I forgot all about Loretta Lynn coming to perform at my small high school in north central Washington State in 1973 or so. Why in the world her manager thought that was a worthwhile gig for her is beyond me! Since it was in my high school gym, I have to say, I'm not too surprised it slipped my mind as my "first concert." The first concert I attended that felt like a CONCERT was Barry Manilow in Spokane in 1975 or 1976. I went to another concert by him a couple of years later and an America concert around that same time. That's it. My total "rock" concert experience. All other concerts have been symphonic.

The Beatles at Shea Stadium, 1965.
But I was a spoiled kid. My parents loved Broadway shows and frequently took me and my sister. Then there was the fact that my uncle was a NYC cop and we saw every holiday show at Radio City Music Hall for years. The line would be around the block and we'd go in a side door! We also got special treatment at the World's Fair. Oops, is that corruption?

Nah. Nepotism.

And Lucky.

Can't beat lucky corrupt nepotism for getting you a head start in life.

There's a whole Pro/Con thread in that!

#86 Barry Manilow! Oh, maybe I need to correct myself! I said earlier (msg. 56) that the Bee Gees concert was my first, but I saw Manilow at one of the Atlantic City casinos around that same time, with my Mom -- not sure which was first. Maybe because of the casino setting (and the Mom), I tended to categorize it as seeing the "show," whereas the Bee Gees were a "rock concert" at the Spectrum in Philly, and I was on a date with a guy. (I saw Manilow at the Spectrum several years later, with college friends.)

THE GRATEFUL DEAD! FILLMORE EAST! NO PARENTS! Just my two boy cousins that I adored and me, I was 13 or 14 -- 67 or 68 I guess. I still have my ticket stub somewhere. After we all went and had these huge banana splits. Hmmmm.

It has been a long time since I've had a really good banana split. I need to rectify that.

Uh oh. But you're right -- where have all the banana splits gone...... it's all grapefruit sorbetto -- no, wait, make that honeydew/pinenut/cilantro sorbetto.

What a cool topic. My first concert was Blood, Sweat and Tears in St.Louis way back in 1972. I'm pretty sure my parents protested to no end, but I went anyway and to this day, that's what matters. BST put on a great show, but I hope they fired their booking manager because the place was practically empty and it was a big arena show. I don't know who dropped the ball on that one, but BST sure held up their end of the bargain.

This topic dovetails so perfectly with my current MAJOR Pink Floyd revival and reading of Comfortably Numb.

#94 my best banana split was in Munich, West Germany (before reunifiction) in 1979 during Oktoberfest. I'd been in Europe for 2 months and there was a Baskin Robbins in Munich! I was appalled that I had to pay US equivalent of about $6, but it was sooooo worth it. Yum.

Though we didn't have much money when I was a kid, my mother sometimes managed to scrape together enough money to take my two sisters and I to an occasional musical in, then, pretty rustic Phoenix, AZ. We saw "My Fair Lady," "Camelot" and the like.

My first concert was probably Robert Goulet back in 1969 or 1970. My wife and I worked together, but weren't dating. I bet her she couldn't quit smoking. If I was wrong we'd go see Robert Goulet. The rest--to use a cliche--is history. Pretty smooth on my part, huh? :-)

Has there been any talk on this thread about guilty pleasures?

My wife and I aren't into "American Idol" or the like, but because I'd caught snippets of "Britian's Got Talent" on U-tube, we gave "America's Got Talent" a chance and got caught up in it. The winner will be revealed this Wednesday after Tuesday's final show where the final 4 acts will perform. So, guilty pleasure, we bought tickets to see the best of the acts on the "America's Got Talent" tour October 6.

Anyone else want to reveal a guilty pleasure concert?

karenmarie and other Harry Chapin fans: I too was devastated when he died.

My son, Steven, got the best souvenir ever ever, a kiss from Harry. Steven was 5 or 6 at the time.

We were in line after the concert to get Harry's book of poetry autographed. I was carrying Steven. When we got to Harry, he said:

"You're still awake. I'm impressed."

Steven buried his head in my shoulder. I said "He slept a bit off and on."

Harry said, "I've got a little blonde one at home myself." He kissed Steven on the top of the head? cheek? And signed the book.

Steven will be 36 in October, but still remembers getting a kiss from Harry.

My oldest brother took me to see Foghat Engergized for my 14th birthday at the Paramount Theater in Portland, Oregon. Ninth row center. Best night of my life up to that point! ;-)

My first concert was the Monkees. I didn't want to go but I was babysitting for a neighbour and she bought me a ticket to take her daughter. I was 16 and totally embarrassed -I swear I was the oldest person in the audience. This was in Detroit in, I think, 1967. Anyway, the MC announced the opening act, a band playing in the US for the first time. The lead guitarist and singer was this black guy wearing a lavendar shirt with huge sleeves. I thought, great, a Motown act - I loved Motown. All the little girls started to boo and scream for the Monkees but I was in awe. I had never heard anything like it before. I don't remember anything else about that concert, I have no idea what the Monkees sang, but I remember that opening act - The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

I have told this story to dozens of people throughout my life and no one has ever believed me but I swear it's true.

#101 Lost, I have a friend who saw that same tour in North Carolina. He was a sales guy with a radio station when he related the tale {in the 1970's}. He admitted he helped boo Hendrix off stage! I liked the sales guy for that reason, pretty straight forward and always positive. Hard to imagine Hendrix doing that night after night - I guess sometimes you just have to pay the rent.

>101 lostinalibrary: That is so darned cool. Wow.

>102 DugsBooks: This is the first time I have heard of anyone else who saw one of these concerts! I used to tell people all the time but they would just look at me like I was nuts or lying. The only one who ever seemed to believe me was the man who I eventually married. Years later, though, he told me he had just seen Davey Jones on some show and he talked about it. My husband admitted that he had assumed I had 'remembered it wrong' because I was such a huge Hendrix fan but he hadn't wanted to hurt my feelings by telling me this (personally, I figured he had been afraid I would dump him for calling me a liar but, by this time we had been married for quite awhile, so I let it pass). Anyway, apparently, Hendrix only played three concerts with the Monkees so your friend and I were very, very lucky.

Wonderful thread.

Well, I went to see a bunch of light opera - G&S; 'The White Horse Inn'; etc. - with my parents when I was at school, but sadly I wasn't in well enough with the right set to go and see bands like Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Led Zep when they were playing the 76 Club in Burton Upon Trent, so probably my first concert was The Enid at the Drill Hall in Burton. They're touring again now, so I saw them last year, and they are doing a major concert with a symphony orchestra in Birmingham later this year so I hope to get to that as well.

What I call my first concert was Sassafras in 1976 at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester. My first or second night at uni, and I was too shy to ask if any of my flatmates were going along as well. Followed that up with lots of the bands around at the time at the FTH and the Ardwick Apollo - and in the students' union building. My favourites then - and now - were Uriah Heep (so the second post in the thread by tloeffler really struck a chord), and when I was in Manchester a few years ago I got the chance to see them again at some venue called the Academy: I got in a taxi and asked to be taken to the Academy ... and he pulled up outside the union building - the concert was in the same hall where I had seen so many bands at the tail-end of the '70s.

Best concert? Three stick in my mind. Genesis in '82 or '83 at some vast tennis stadium in New York. Forest Hills maybe? Reef at Guilfest a few years ago - they replaced Catatonia who cried off, and they just blew me away. But the best had to be at Guildford Civic 15 or so years ago ...

My friend and I got the last two tickets, so were perched pretty much over the stage on the balcony in the last two seats. Lights down; smoke billowing; stage lights lights come up and there's this scruffy bloke "Sitting on a park bench ... eyeing little girls with bad intent" and we never sat down or stopped rocking for the next couple of hours. Magical.

I was a late bloomer. The first concert I went to was the Cap Center in Washington, DC, where I saw the Police (awesome). We sat behind the stage and I was amazed how Sting just worked the whole crowd. The Go Go's opened for them and I really enjoyed them, too.

>105 Noisy: Love the story about seeing Jethro Tull. They were one of the first rock bands that I loved, but I never saw them in concert.

I did, happily, get to see "hey, which one's Pink?"

Yes outside, in Hartford. Steve Howe with fully beaded moccasins. Rick Wakeman, and of course, Jon Anderson. Roundabout and all the other classics.

"...mahlins cumoutta the sky, n they stand there..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xql99I1VSdI

Then a lot of Allman Bros at tiny venues. Then the Grateful Dead. Then more Dead. Then still more Dead.

I do miss Jerry.

Couldn't stand it any longer I had to look up the Monkees & Hendrix tour. Here is a link to the Monkees website with the information

http://www.monkeesrule43.com/tours.html

It states: "- Jimi Hendrix opening act for 6 or 7 dates on U.S. leg of tour (7/8-7/16) "{of 1967}". I found the N.C. date my old sales buddy saw.

A very short radio blurb from the time of the concerts on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oms2593gXPM

Thanks for prompting me to finally corroborate the North Carolina concerts dates! I wonder if any recordings or videos are around?

>109 DugsBooks: Wow, love the promo. I have been trying to find proof for years without much success (except what my husband had told me). I had checked some sites devoted to Hendrix but I have never seen any mention of it - it never occurred to me to look on a Monkees site or youtube. You have no idea how happy you and your friend have made me - I even phoned my son long-distance just to tell him that I had read about someone else who saw one of these concerts - he wasn't quite as impressed as I was - I think he just hopes I'll shut up about it now - but, for me, finally, after all these years...vindicated!

>110 lostinalibrary: I know how you feel. I have to go back and read descriptions of what was at the World's Fair in New York in 1964-65 to make sure I saw what I thought I saw! (The Pieta, for one thing; Belgian waffles, for another! Also, Disney's "It's a Small, Small World," a giant talking statue of Lincoln, and a revolving audience/stage thingy showing the progress of GE home appliances, or something like that.)

I have a vague recollection of seeing the Dave Clark Five at Middleton Towers near Morecambe when I was six or seven (1964-5). However, I haven't been able to find evidence that the DC5 went anywhere near Middleton Towers, so I could have made that up.

The first proper concert I went to was 10cc at Manchester Free Trade Hall, March 1975. The band had just released The Original Soundtrack. I can't remember much about the gig, but according to my diary, I enjoyed it.

Best concert ever: the Rolling Stones at Don Valley Arena, Sheffield in 1995. I went there with a couple of workmates, half-expecting to see a bunch of tired old men going through the motions, but they blew my socks off. The band played for hours and I didn't want the night to end.

Hmmm... That was a long time ago! It was definitely something at Ravinia, outside Chicago. Outdoors. Blanket seating. I'm thinking it was America. But it could have been Barry Manilow (dare I admit that?!)

>113 megwaiteclayton: I've never understood why some people really dislike Barry Manilow. Some of his songs are pretty good. "Weekend in New England," is great.

I'm not a big fan of Barry, but I love love love his Christmas song, "I Guess There Ain't No Santa Claus." Funny, sweet, sad, and sexy all at once.

I'm not sure but I think it was Elton John. I had recently graduated from high school, and it was a date. My parents never took me to a concert.

I went to see Elton John at the Ardwick Apollo, Manchester in 1982 with my then-girlfriend. The acoustics were awful, but he was great.

I have only a vague memory of the concert I attended when I was five. It was a piano recital in the University's Schwab Auditorium. My mother and I sat in the balcony so I could be removed if I became too antsy. I was given crayons and paper, but I found it fascinating. I had been taught to sit still and listen to classical music concerts on the radio. My mother, a music teacher, also practiced piano and organ. I was expected to sit still and play quietly. Of course I loved to listen. Gradually I became a part of the concert scene myself. By the age of 13 I was performing in band concerts.

Rock is generally not my scene. I leave that to my 40ish son who lives for classic rock concerts. I prefer acoustic folk performances. I did have a ball at a Dr. John performance not too long ago, and also adored Richard Thompson's premiere of a rock opera as part of a String Bass Conference sponsored by the University a few years ago.

I saw Bruce Springstein junior year in high school in '78 at MSG in NYC. Took the bus in alone from NJ. My friend and I had seats in the nosebleed section!

End of summer 1971. Led Zeppelin at the Forum in Los Angeles. They played 'Stairway to Heaven' in public for the first time: no one had heard it before.

(One more bragging right: Spring 1974. Second row at the Roxy Theatre on the Sunset Strip for the original cast - with Tim Curry - of Rocky Horror. A girl I knew wanted to go so I took her for her birthday. I wasn't even sure what it was when she asked me to go. We bought tickets at the door. I still can't believe it.)

>121 SteveSilkin: Oh my god. I want to go back in time and live your life in the 70s,

ejj - i am grateful for many phenomenal performances i go to see. and just this year, just two months ago:

i called my friend dan. watcha doin' saturday night? he asked why. well you free? depends. ok ... i told him my daughter was in a music video that was going to be projected on a wall for a record launch party and i could feel him trying to find a way to bow out gracefully when i pounced and pulled the change-up: 'and so guess who gets her tickets to see... PRINCE!' he practically hit the ceiling. 'Oh man, we're going to see Prince!!!' so i told him: 'and you know, this is significant, because exactly 40 years ago, we went to see one of his main antecedents at the same place. do you remember?' he didn't. 'sly and the family stone,' i told him. 'oh yeah,' he said, 'but sly isn't really a main antecedent for prince ...' well, three nights later, we were watching prince, when out comes a bass player ... 'who's that?' dan asks. 'that's larry graham!!' i said. sly's bass player! the guy who invented funk bass! they played two sly songs. that was pretty cool. prince had special guests every night. on my night it was graham and sheila e., the night before i went it was alicia keys. i told a friend at work she had to go, so she got tickets and went the next week. 'who was your special guest?' i asked. 'whitney' she said. 'ohmigod! did people go nuts?' 'oh yeah,' she said.

the next weekend, i went to a benefit concert for the school where my wife works. one of the parents is stevie wonder, so he was performing there. it was at a hotel ballroom, so i thought he'd show up, sit down at the piano and sing a few songs. wrong. he had a full band set up, came on at about 10, brought his kids up to sit in and jam with him, and was having such a good time that he played until 1. he improvised a version of coltrane's giant steps and the band had to keep up. there was even a keyboard cam, so i could see his hands while he was playing superstition live. i heard the people who organized the show were scared because they thought the hotel would get mad at them for keeping the music going that late. i found out later he'd been one of prince's special guests a few days before.

so the good times aren't over yet!!

Amazing! I remember when some youngster sort of shrugged off Stevie Wonder, and I had to say, oh, no, he was/is a great musician . . .

That reminds me, I have intended to buy Stevie Wonder's SECRET LIVES OF PLANTS in CD format for ages now. I have the tape, but haven't got a tape player any more. I think SECRET LIVES is absolutely his best. For years when I wanted to meditate I'd play that and the Parsons Project EYE IN THE SKY among others.

for me, it's talking book, for 'superstition' and 'i believe when i fall in love with you it'll be forever' ... but secret life of plants is good, too.

I'm fond of "Original Musicquarium" (I'm sure I mispelled that!)

I think "Innervisions" is the one I remember best, but I'm not sure I've given this enough consideration to say it's my favorite. Need to acquire some of his work on CD since I sold my vinyl.

The Lovin' Spoonful at Bucknell University -- don't remember the exact year but it would be 1968 or 1969. Went with a couple friends -- boy did we think we were something. We were something alright...just not what we thought we were!

My first concert experience was Kris Kristofferson singing "Me and Bobby McGee." OMG--what a hunk!

If memory serves (it may be hazy!) my first true concert experience was Heart with Firefall opening in Seattle. More memorable was several years back taking my daughter to her first concert. Maroon 5, Counting Crows, and John Mayer at the Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington. Beautiful Venue!

Not my first concert but I always like this, now apropos, Song by Jethro Tull

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyscN9A7EaA&feature=related

Van Halen, opening for Ted Nugent: 1976 at the godawful Capitol Center.

I'm embarrassed to admit that my first concert experience was "The Village People". My best friend and I went when we were about 16. We even rushed the stage. Thankfully, my tastes improved a lot after that and I saw great shows like Queen (twice), The Carpenters and Simon and Garfunkle.

134: If down under means what I think it does, what a place to have been instead of at the Maryland Ted Nugent show: Radio Birdman, The Saints....

Does anyone remember the Schaeffer (Beer) Music Festivals at the Wollman Skating Rink in Central Park?
Early 70's my then boyfriend, now husband of 35 years saw: Frankie Vallie and the 4 Seasons, Sha Na Na, Judy Collins and Patti Smith (not all on the same bill of course).

Mid 70's at college saw Billy Joel just before Piano Man was released, Linda Ronstadt, Paul Simon, Janis Ian.

Also, in the late 60"s saw Richie Havens and Lee Michaels (Do you know what I mean?)

Black Sabbath--1970 or '71--Va Beach Dome

The very few others whose first concerts weren't pop events can perhaps share the sweetness of my memory of hearing the Chicago Symphony Orchestra playing Riegger, JS Bach, Creston -- and the FIVE NEAPOLITAN SONGS of Hans Werner Henze, sung by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. I remember it vividly almost sixty years after the fact -- and am still grieving his death a year ago (exactly twenty years older than me). Of-course I saw many other artists too -- some of them before (I suspect) many of you were born. Those are good memories, and we are all lucky to have them. -- Goddard

My first big concert was seeing Yes at Wembley Arena about 1979 - I wasn't really into them but my boyfriend's friend had got tickets so we all went. I remember being blown away by Starship Troopers.

My best concert was when I got tickets to see the Eagles at Twickenham stadium as a joint 50th birthday pressie for my husband and myself. 80,000 people singing Hotel California!

Glad to see a few other 60 somethings who attended the 1965 Beatles Shea Staduim Concert. Most of that day is still etched in my memory bank. My Aunt Peg booked a bus tour for my cousin, her best friend and me from Newburyport, MA to the 1964-65 World Fair in NYC followed by the Beatles Concert.

The Worlds Fair was amazing and too much to take in for one day. I remember several attractions; riding in a convertible (yellow with black interior Bonneville), the Lincoln exhibit which made its way to Disneyland, its a Small World Ride and talking to someone on at California Disney via picture telephone. Loved the food from all other the world.

The Beatles concert was in the evening and we were in nose bleed section but did not matter we saw the Beatles enter via Wells Fargo truck onto a tiny stage in the middle of the field. Everyone was screaming you could not hear the music but no one cared the Beatles were alive and in person!!