It Was Twenty Years Ago Today!
Actually, it's more like fifty years ago. There have been any number of recent threads where people relate how they saw so and so back in 1972 at such and such a place. Examples would be the Allman Brothers opening for the Grateful Dead at the Fillmore East, the James Gang opening for Led Zep on their first American tour, the Airplane, QMS and Big Brother at the Aragon, etc etc.
My question is -- HOW DO YOU EVEN REMEMBER THIS STUFF?
Don't get me wrong, I remember any number of concerts from the late 60s onwards, but I suspect I've mis-remembered or outright forgotten probably just as many. I just couldn't tell you how many times or exactly where or when I've seen McCoy Tyner, Hall & Oates, The Blasters, The Feelies, Steel Pulse, Marshall Crenshaw, Parliament/Funkadelic, Buddy Guy/Jr. Wells, Roomful Of Blues, etc. Somethings are just a little blurry.
Did you write this stuff down in diary?
I saw Montrose open for Slade at the Rainbow Ballroom in Fresno. Bill Church the bass player had family here. His sister was a year ahead of me in high school. They essentially played their first album and nothing more. Sammy only sang, no guitar. They didn’t play the opening for Space Station #5, and lacked the slide entry on Bad Motor Scooter. It didn’t take long for them to evolve and get past the primitive show they first put on. The only thing that grew faster than the bands popularity was Sammy’s ego. By the time they were a headliner his dressing room was separate from the rest of the band. He has what is now known as LSD or Lead Singers Disease, it’s progressive and sometimes fatal. I think that show was in 1973, but I didn’t take notes. My brother hangs out with Bill’s younger brother Bob as they both play drums. It’s always interesting to see opening acts like Van Halen go onto great success , but that’s another story. But what’s for sure is time marches on and I don’t run anymore. Cheers , Mike B. |
@fastfreight - in 1975, Pink Floyd were touring on 'Wish You Were Here', and premiering new material that would come out as 'Animals'. I was there and got some great photos, too. |
First, you stole my thread title, LOL. https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/it-was-20-years-ago-today Second, my memory is shot from a mis spent youth, but I can still remember certain concerts with crystal clarity, the last time that I saw Rashaan Roland Kirk, after the stroke, comes to mind. I can even see one of the pillars at the Vanguard that night that partially obstructed my view of the bass player. Memory is a funny, very selective, thing. |
