The first concert I went to was the Yardbirds with Jimmy Page on lead. This was right at the end before Jimmy took off for other more interesting musical adventures. They were playing in a small civic center in a hick Florida city and I think I was the only person there who realized what a great group was in front of them. Most of the crowd was interested in getting drunk and rowdy. I sat on the side of the stage by Jimmy's Fender Twin Reverb amp and proceeded to get my ears pummeled for two hours. I think they rang for a day afterwards. Jimmy was so pissed at the stupid crowd he stormed off the stage at the end of the show, muttering invective and looking dour. He was nice enough to give the geeky kid at stage right (me) a string of his love beads and a guitar pick.
