Best and Worst Rock Concert Moments


I will start this off. 1975 Jethro Tull concert at the Seattle Center Coliseum. About midway through the show an M-80 goes off in the crowd in the middle of a song and Ian Anderson holds his hand up in the air and counts to three with his fingers and the band stops playing in mid measure all at once as though some one had flipped a switch. The whole place goes dead quiet for about 15 seconds or so. Anderson says something like "Well, that was bloody ******* RUDE! If you want us to keep playing then you better cut that crap right out and have a little more respect for your NEIGHbor. Do you really want us to play some more?". The crowd slowly starts to applaud and then it builds to a crescendo. As the applause starts to die down, Anderson holds his hand up in the air, counts out loud to three and the band cuts back in full force absolutely mid-measure where they left off.

When the song ended I have never heard such intense applause in any arena or hall for any song at any show. I was completely dumb struck by how Anderson handled the situation and by the musicianship of the whole outfit. Maybe it was a staged event, but I doubt it. Either way, it was really something else...
Ag insider logo xs@2xknownothing

Showing 2 responses by chashmal

Grateful Dead 1981 (or something like that) at Radio City Music Hall. Best/worst I cannot decide. Made a mistake in measuring pulverized dried mushrooms due to already tripping status. Ended up eating about 1 full ounce worth.

OK, I was feeling it come on, way too much, and I waited for the show to start. An acoustic set. I waited and the band came out. They were tuning up, and took a long time in doing so. I waited and got distracted and began to think about other things. By the time I remembered I was at a concert they were finished playing. I remember absolutely nothing. The best part: I was in the third row.
Jppenn: the actions of a neurotic primadonna under the pretense of genius. What a crock.

Yeah, I know, he is a good pianist. So what. Like we never had one before?

But to hell with him and that tired old act. He squats on the pot just like the rest of us. ....the nerve...