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 3 responses by swampwalker

2 Grateful Dead "worst moments:
ca. 1971; young teen vigorously pleasuring himself right next to us in Hartford.
ca. 1972; open seating at Springfield MA Civic Center; large crowd waiting to be admitted, some moron opens 1 of a group of about 15 double glass doors. You can guess the rest...a miracle no one was badly hurt.

Gawdbless- hard to see what she didn't like about a "sensitive" guy like you ;~)
Jim S.- Same scenario w GD in Springfield w my GF. She is small and claustrophobic. It was miracle we didn't get pushed through the glass or trampled. She was picked up off her feet and "popped" through the open door into the lobby backwards!

Probably "best moment" was opening chords of Rolling Stones Boston Garden show in 72. Not the best music or the best show, although it was great. But the excitement and anticipation made your hair stand up on the back of your neck!
Best Moment-  Too many to count.
Worst Moment- Grateful Dead, Springfield MA, 1971/72-ish.  Open seating show in large indoor venue; maybe seating 12-15K.  Very close to the front of the crowd waiting for admission, when some bozo opens ONE of the plate glass doors and the whole crowd surges forward.  We were sure we were going to die, either trampled or pushed through the glass doors.  My GF (now wife) was lifted off of her feet and pushed backwards through a (luckily) opened door. 
Worst Moments- All of those times when I thought it was cool that my ears were ringing for several days after a show.  Worst offenders (as best as I can remember) Quicksilver Messenger Service and John McLaughlin/Mahavishnu Orchestra.  Wonder if I can get them to pay for my hearing aids...????