Grapost

Queen - The Spectrum - Philadelphia, Pa. 1978-11-20

on Queen, 1978 Nov 20

Freddie came out in a white body suit with red and green diamonds on it, which at the time, I thought was kind of strange. Not the Macho look I was accustomed to with other rock bands. This was before MTV so alot of times you didn't know what a band looked like except for some photos in magazines. After watching him prance around a while I started to suspect he was Gay. Turns out I was right. The band gave a strong performance as it always did. My only complaint was they rarely turned the stage lights up. It was dark with various colored lights most of the time and just a spotlight on Freddie at times. I took some photos but they all came out dark because of the poor lighting. I uploaded a couple of the better ones.

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - The Spectrum - Philadelphia, Pa. 1978-09-23

on Neil Young & Crazy Horse, 1978 Sep 23

This was the Rust Never Sleeps Tour. The concert was just like the Home Video and live album that were released of this tour. Took some photos which I still have. Uploaded a few here.

Uriah Heep - The Scope Arena - Norfolk, Virginina 1975-08-16

on Uriah Heep, 1975 Aug 16

Don't remember much about this show. The most asked question I get about it is; "was David Byron drunk?" Didn't fall down during the show so I guess he wasn't. I still have 13 Heep photos from this show. I've uploaded a few here.

Rod Stewart & The Faces - The Scope Arena - Norfolk, Virginia 1975-08-16

on Rod Stewart & The Faces, 1975 Aug 16

There is some debate as to Rod being in Norfolk on this date. Rod websites have him listed as being in Tampa, Florida on this date.and in Norfolk on the 20th. However, I received documentation from a Uriah Heep fan for the 16th. Heep was also on the bill. My roll of photo negatives from this show have the Rod photos first and Heep photos second so I couldn't have taken the Rod photos on the 20th.

KISS - The Spectrum - Philadelphia, Pa. 1977-12-22

on KISS, 1977 Dec 22

Kiss was at their peak at this time. They were getting a ton of coverage in the press. I wasn't really into them at the time, but because of all the publicity, decided to go see what it was all about. Well the music, makeup and theatrics lived up to the hype. Never seen anything like it before at that time. Still have a lot photos and slides I took at this show. Uploaded a few here.

Bad Company - The Spectrum - Philadelphia, Pa. 1979-07-01

on Bad Company, 1979 Jul 1

Bad Company did 2 shows at The Spectrum in July 1979. One on the 1st and one on the 22nd. I believe I attended the first show. Don't remember anything about it. Took some photos and uploaded a few here.

The Who - The Spectrum - Philadelphia, Pa. 1979-12-10

on The Who, 1979 Dec 10

The Who did 2 shows at the Spectrum in 1979 on back to back nights. The 10 and the 11th. I believe I attended the first show. Pete looked ragged as he did in most photos at that time. But he still did his jumps and arm windmills. Was interested to see how new drummer Kenny Jones would play the old Who songs. He was steady and competent but nobody could expect him to be as wild as Keith Moon. Still have the photos I took at the show and uploaded a couple here.

There are audience audio recordings of both shows available for download on the internet.

on Bad Company, 1979 Jul 22

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Van Halen - The Spectrum - Philadelphia, Pa. 1984-03-20 Or 21

on Van Halen, 1984 Mar 20

I can't remember if I attended the first or second show. Anyway I got in FREE! I went down to The Spectrum without a ticket hoping to buy one from somebody who had one for somebody who couldn't make it that night. No luck. But finally Good Luck struck.

I was standing outside near one of the exit doors and a bunch of kids were running up to it, jumping on it together at the same time. Finally the door popped open and a bunch of us rushed in. Once in, I managed to elude the grasp of a security person and just ran as far and as fast as I could.

Eddie had a broken right thumb at the time and was playing with cast on it. The thing I remember most was Dave coming out for the encore in those butt-less pants wiggling his ass at the crowd.

I saw them when they opened for Black Sabbath at the Spectrum in 1978 but didn't know it. I didn't know who they were at the time. It wasn't until 20 years I found out it was them that opened for Black Sabbath that night.

Rush - Tower Theatre - Upper Darby, Pennsylvania 1977-11-26

on Rush, 1977 Nov 26

This is one of my favorite concerts. The best sound of any show I ever attended. Did alot of songs from 2112 and it sounded just like the record. Took some photos and uploaded a few here.

The Jackson Victory Tour - JFK Stadium - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1984-09-29

on The Jacksons (Victory Tour), 1984 Sep 29

This show was canceled due to heavy rains and electrical generator problems. The concert was rescheduled and occurred the following night 1984-09-30.

Had down front seats. But had to stand on my chair the entire concert because everybody else was standing on their chair and nobody would sit down.

There were alot of complaints and negative publicity about the ticket price of $30.00 which was twice what was the norm at the time. Still have my ticket stub.

The Rolling Stones - JFK Stadium - Philadelphia, Pa. 1978-06-17

on The Rolling Stones, 1978 Jun 17

On June 17, 1978, The Rolling Stones performed before a crowd of 100,000 fans. Opening acts included Bob Marley's former bandmate Peter Tosh and Foreigner. After The Stones finished their set, rowdy concert goers began throwing anything they could get, onto the stage that was shaped into The Rolling Stones "tongue" logo. Damage to the stage was estimated at a million dollars as smoke came pouring out marring an otherwise great day of vintage Rolling Stones.

I managed to work my way down near front of the stage so I could take some photos. Brought with me a plastic bucket I picked up near a concession stand. Stood on the bucket so I could see over people's heads to take photos. The jerks in back of me keep whining about me blocking their view, so I would give them a chance to stand on the bucket for a while to shut them up. Left as soon as the show was over. Didn't know about the stage destruction until I read about it in the paper the next day. People were pissed because The Stones played a really short set and felt cheated. Took a bunch of photos which I still still have. I uploaded a few here.

There is a Bootleg CD audience recording of this show in circulation. Read a review here:

http://www.collectorsmusicreviews.com/rolling-stones/rolling-stones-jfk-dog-n-cat-dac-078/

Rod Stewart & The Faces - The Scope Arena - Norfolk, Virginia 1975-08-20

on Rod Stewart & The Faces, 1975 Aug 20

Don't remember much about this show except Rod twirling the microphone stand around and everything on stage being white including the amp cabinets. Took some photos and upload a few here.

Kansas - The Tower Theater - Upper Darby, Pennsylvania 1976-12-30

on Kansas, 1976 Dec 30

There was another show the next night. I believe this is the one I attended. My cousin got us front row seats for this. The sound was really good. Dave Hope kept looking at me alot during the show.

The thing I remember most is that a fan threw a Joint at Steve Walsh in the middle of a song and it landed right on the keyboard as he was playing. He held it up for all to see, then set it down, and went back to playing. Took some photos and uploaded a couple here.

Jethro Tull - NHK Hall - Tokyo, Japan 1974-08-23

on Jethro Tull, 1974 Aug 23

This was the first of 5 shows at the NHK Hall in 1974. Don't recall which of the five I attended.

I was in the U.S. Navy stationed in Yokosuka, Japan at the time. A buddy asked if wanted to go with him and got a ticket for me.

Took the train up to Tokyo and was surprised to see neon signs for McDonalds, KFC, and other U.S.fast food chains. The Japanese pronounce McDonalds as Mawka-Doo-Nawlds. Really funny.

This was the first concert I ever attended. The theater was small and the sound was really good. I wasn't at all familiar with Jethro Tull.

I remember a big puff of smoke and the band coming out of it. Martin Barre was jumping all around and I couldn't believe somebody could play the guitar while jumping around like that. My friend would lean over and tell me the name of each song they were playing. Cross Eyed Mary, Aqualung, etc.

Lucky for me I was asked to go.

Eric Clapton - Budokan - Tokyo, Japan 1974-10-31

on Eric Clapton, 1974 Oct 31

This was the first of 3 shows at Budokan. I believe this is the one I attend because it is the only one of the 3 in which Layla was the last song.

Was in the U.S. Navy at the time stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. A friend invited me to go and got the ticket for me.

The Budokan is a circular round arena. There were no seats in the 2nd level where I sat. Instead there was just rows of tiled concrete ledges like in the old Greek And Roman amphitheaters. Each row had depressions like clam shells for each person to sit in.

The thing I remember most is when Clapton played the opening licks to the last song "Layla", a bunch of girls with bouquets of flowers rushed down the aisles to the front of the stage and threw them at him and then hung on the edge of the stage until the end of the show.

There is bootleg audience recording of this show on CD.

Madonna - Veterans Stadium - Philadelphia, Pa. 1987-07-11

on Madonna, 1987 Jul 11

Since this was a stadium show the sound wasn't that good. Sounded like a transistor radio. Large crowd though.

I had tickets down on the field level but the stage was so high, and with people standing up, you could hardly see her. So I left my ground level seat and went up to the concession stand level and stood and watched the show from a gate entrance.

Thing I remember most was when she did True Blue and came out in the blue dress.

John Fogerty - Tower Theater - Upper Darby, Pennsylvania 1997-07-17

on John Fogerty, 1997 Jul 17

Couldn't wait to see this show because John would be doing the old CCR songs. Saw him in 1987 but he only did solo material.

Had a seat on the lower ground floor level with a good view. The stage had the swamp scene backdrop and John kept saying he doesn't like to talk much and would rather just play, and would just zip into the next song with only a few words being said.

Introduced the amp he used at Woodstock 1969 when he played Born On The Bayou. This was a regular occurrance of his shows on this tour.

Being a 60's kid, those songs had a lot of memories for me and because of that, this concert was the most enjoyable one I've ever been to.

The sound was average but it didn't matter to me. I sung myself hoarse singing along to all those old CCR songs.

Olivia Newton-John - The Spectrum - Philadelphia, Pa. 1982-08-12

on Olivia Newton-John, 1982 Aug 12

Took my 12 year old niece to this show. This was the Physical Tour and my niece was Olivia Nuts.

The show was exactly like the Home Video Concert Release from the same tour. They opened the show with the career biography film and when it was done, she came out on stage through an opening in the movie screen.

The music was inoffensive but not sophisticated enough for my tastes.

Watching my niece singing along to Physical and having the time of her life was more enjoyable to me than the show.

KISS - The Spectrum - Philadelphia, Pa 1985 -12-17

on KISS, 1985 Dec 17

Took my 2 nephews to this concert. The oldest one was 13 and just starting to take an interest in Rock N Roll. Told him I would take him to a concert and looked in the paper to see what was available.

Black And Blue opened the show but I don't even remember them. Nothing really special about the show.

Our seats were in the second level and my nephew kept bugging me to take him down to the floor up to the stage so he could see Kiss up close.

Bought them a Kiss scarf, jacket patches and stuff and the next day they ran all over their neighborhood showing them to their friends and bragging about being at the concert.

Sad part is the younger boy drowned 18 months later.

Rick Springfield - The Spectrum - Philadelphia, Pa. 1983-07-14

on Rick Springfield, 1983 Jul 14

Sparks opened the show but I have no memory of them.

Planned on taking 2 of my teenage nieces who were enthralled with Rick 'cause he was cute. But at the last minute something "more important" came up and they didn't want to go the night of the concert. Hey we all know how fickle young kids are. Ended up taking my Mother and the kid's Mother.

The big problem was the screaming teenage girls. Oh my god did they scream. Just like a jet roaring overhead FOR THE ENTIRE SHOW! I have never heard such screaming in all my entire life. Just like it was during a Beatles concert.

It was then when I realized why the Beatles stopped touring because, as they said, they couldn't hear themselves play the audience couldn't hear them either.

I liked some of the songs on Rick's albums Working Class Dog and Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet but I never got to hear any of them that night. Whew!

Jimi Hendrix - Santa Clara County Fairgrounds - San José, California 1969-05-25

on Jimi Hendrix, 1969 May 25

Carlos Santana attended this concert and says it was a life changing experience for him.

Stevie Nicks watched the show from the side of the stage. She and Lindsey Buckingham performed at the show as part of the folk ensemble "Fritz".

Jimi Hendrix - Stora Scenen / Dans-In / Gröna Lund, Stockholm, Sweden 1967-09-04

on Jimi Hendrix, 1967 Sep 4

The location listed for this show is wrong for this date. The correct location is Stockholm, Sweden

Black Sabbath - The Spectrum - Philadelphia, Pa. 1999-02-18

on Black Sabbath, 1999 Feb 18

There is a Camcorder video of this show in circulation.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer.- Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont, Illinois 1997-09-19

on Emerson, Lake & Palmer, 1997 Sep 19

There is a Camcorder video of this show in circulation.

Jeff Beck - Madison Square Garden, New York City 1989-11-11

on Jeff Beck, 1989 Nov 11

Shared the billing with Stevie Ray Vaughan.

There is a Camcorder video of this show in circulation.

Heart - Orange County Fair Speedway - Middletown, New York 1988-06-26.

on Heart, 1988 Jun 26

There is a Camcorder video of this show in circulation.

Van Halen - Continental Airlines Arena - East Rutherford, New Jersey 2004-06-23

on Van Halen, 2004 Jun 23

There is a Camcorder video recording of this show in circulation..

Motley Crue - Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania 1998-11-07

on Motley Crue, 1998 Nov 7

There is a Camcorder video recording of this show in circulation.

Jimmy Buffett - Jones Beach Marine Theater, Wantagh, New York 1994-06-01

on Jimmy Buffett, 1994 Jun 1

There is a Camcorder video recording of this show in circulation

The Moody Blues - Jones Beach Marine Theater, Wantagh, New York 1990-08-04

on The Moody Blues, 1990 Aug 4

There is a Camcorder video recording of this show in circulation

Poison - Orange County Fair Speedway, Middletown, New York - 1989-06-02

on Poison , 1989 Jun 2

There is a Camcorder video recording of this show in circulation.

Wham - Veterans Stadium - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1985-09-08

on Wham, 1985 Sep 8

Took my Niece to this show. She was hooked on Wham after seeing their videos on MTV. Chaka Khan and Katrina And The Waves opened and gave an energetic performance.

Had seats fairly close to the right side of the stage. The women in the audience were all enthralled with George Michael's dancing, squealing when he wiggled his butt and commenting "oooh he's such a good dancer".

Just like the first time I saw Queen and thought Freddie was Gay after seeing how he moved his body, I had the same thought when watching George Michael. He moved in ways most straight men can't.

Andrew Ridgeley would walk over to the edge of the right side of the stage and play, and everytime he did the fans would throw stuff at him. My niece was upset by this and kept saying, "why do they keep throwing stuff at Andrew"?

Newspaper reports at the time claimed Ridgeley didn't even bother to plug in his guitar during the show because his relationship with George had deteriorated and the band was about to break up.. So that may be why the fans were throwing stuff at him.

(March 12, 1986: By JONATHAN TAKIFF, Daily News Staff Writer: At the Wham! performance last September at Veteran's Stadium, Ridgeley didn't even bother to plug in his guitar.)

All in all, a pleasant day in the sunshine with my niece.

Katrina & The Waves - Veterans Stadium - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1985-09-08

on Katrina & The Waves, 1985 Sep 8

Katrina opened for Wham with George Michael. They gave an energetic performance and that is about all I remember.

Van Halen - The Spectrum - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1978-08-29

on Van Halen, 1978 Aug 29

I went to see Black Sabbath and at the time didn't know who Van Halen was so I took little notice of them or their performance.

It wasn't until 20 years later that I found out it was them who opened that night.

John Fogerty - Mann Music Center - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1986-09-6

on John Fogerty, 1986 Sep 6

Really looked forward to this show. John Fogerty touring for the first time in 14 years. Bonnie Raitt opened for him. This was an outdoor show.

Parking was in a field with trees near the venue. I remember all the drunks showing up and taking a piss right next to their cars or on a nearby tree.

Of course John wore his flannel shirt with hankerchief in his back pocket. I remember stage smoke coming up behind him when he played Eye Of The Zombie.

This was around the time there was a big crackdown on cameras and recording devices at all concerts nationwide. Security was scanning the seats looking for them

A couple times there were disturbances during the show as Security roughed up and dragged through aisles,and ejected from the building, people they caught with cameras or recorders.

Enjoyed the show despite the ruckus.

Green Day - Philadelphia Civic Center - Philadelphia, Pa. 1995-11-01

on Green Day, 1995 Nov 1

My niece wanted to go to this show, her first concert, and I brought her mother and brother along too.

The Mother was concerned about how loud it would be and brought along ear plugs for the kids. I laughed at that. Turns out the show was loud but not to the point where ear plugs were needed.

Green Day gave their usual energetic performance. A big Mosh Pit started on the floor and I was amazed how forcefully the kids threw themselves into each other.

My niece wanted to go down and join them but settled for standing up and jumping around.

The worst part was trying to get out of the archaic Civic Center parking garage after the show, which took over an hour.

Norfolk Scope - Norfolk, Virginia 1976-03-26

on Electric Light Orchestra/journey/ robert palmer, 1976 Mar 26

Don't remember anything about this show. However, I did take some photos. I've uploaded a few here.