Biggest Live Miss 23 years ago today............

When I lived in NJ, a bunch of my high school friends were all going to pile into a few cars and drive up to an outdoor concert called Woodstock. I said, "I'm not going to spend a weekend in some farm pasture, getting rained on, just to listen to some rock bands." They went, and I didn't. How was I supposed to know at the time that it would turn out to be the most important rock concert of all time? Oh, well! At least I'm honest and admit I wasn't there.

TWL -

Mine is a similar story. After hitching from Indiana for several days - with more than a few classic adventures along the way - I arrived late Friday night. My last ride was from a guy going there with tickets and even a motel reservation (rememeber, no one was expecting the crowds). When we got stuck in the traffic jam we said the hell with it and spent the night drinking in a bar. Saturday morning the town was *overflowing* with fellow freaks. The crowds were a bit too much for me and I just hitched on out of town. By Saturday night I was outside of Buffalo and moving on... Although I was at Woodstock, I never heard a single sound. So close, yet so far.

Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, "Brain Salad Surgery Tour", and Pink Floyd, "Animals Tour". I had tickets, but ended up selling them, AT THE DOOR. Different reasons for both missed shows...but same post reaction. I've been kicking myself in the ass for over 25 years!!! Oh, and let's not forget that I didn't buy Springsteen "Born to Run Tour" tickets because the best seats that I could get were 23 rows back, THREE WEEKS AFTER they went on sale (price was $6.50). Yeah, why don't you ALL give me a "boot in the ass" for that one! But, in the long run, I did get to see hundreds of great acts, and met quite a few rock artists from the golden years (early '70's to mid '80's). Always saw shows up close (I saw Jethro Tull about 6 times...best seats were front row!) and got to meet Leon Russell personally, on a one to one basis, backstage after a concert in 1977! (One of the nicest, most genuine guys in the business.) Got to see the Jam about 15 feet away from the stage, just before they split up (1981?) They were playing just a short 4 city tour in the USA. Saw them at the old "Channel" in South Boston. Anyone remember that place? Pretty cool set-up...the drinking age was still 18 back then...several bars throughout...and plenty of nooks and crannies to smoke a "doobie" as well, as if anyone cared back then anyway! I also saw the last concert at the "Bradford Ballroom" (Bradford Hotel, again in Boston). The Buzzcocks headlined...after the show, the place got TRASHED, riot police called in, end of that concert venue!