What was your first rock concert?

[steve(thelil)]

The first national act I saw live was the Four Seasons, but I don't count it as my first rock concert because 1) it was a benefit for a youth center,2) Tony Bennett was the headliner and 3) I WENT WITH MY PARENTS. It was at the Westchester County Center in 1965 or perhaps 1966.

The first REAL rock concert I attended, with members of my band the Whigs, was the Blues Project, also at the Westchester County Center, probably in 1966. It was so damned exciting.

[stonemonkts]

Led Zeppelin - Madison Square Garden- July 29, 1973 (I saved all concert stubs...paid $5.50 for this show)

[Harry]

J. Geils Band in Central Park 1972

[LennyH]

KISS. 1976 at The Spectrum in Philly.

[Monte Smith]

Nice punk/post-punk festival in London 1987. Supporting acts were Wire, The Fall, Psychic TV and Gaye Bykers On Acid. Highlight of the thing for me was a girl standing near by who refused to keep her top on. I'd probably been in England for about a month, thought, "It's like this, huh?" A couple weeks later I was at Wembley for New Order. Much better music.

[mjb]

I am impressed that people have such particular memory.

From the fog I recall in 1966 being somewhere in London (or Kent) seeing Pink Floyd (well Syd Barrett is who I most recall). I am pretty sure that was before I saw Soft Machine.

Those may not qualify as "concerts" I suppose.

I do know I was at Royal Albert Hall for Crosby Stills Nash and Young in early 1970.

First concert in Toronto was Neil Young solo at Massey Hall 1971.

[BeBop]

Led Zeppelin - Madison Square Garden- July 29, 1973 (I saved all concert stubs...paid $5.50 for this show)

Led Zeppelin in Oakland, July 1977.

[Monte Smith]

I saw all the bands that I wanted to see (New Order, The Cure, the Pixies (twice), Morrissey (missed The Smiths), Lloyd Cole, Nirvana) and retired from what they were still calling rock in the early 90s after a violent reaction to paying to see Phish.

[Monte Smith]

Hater.

Though, was the aversion based on the music, or the fans around you?

Never the fans. No, it was the 30-min vacuum cleaner solo by the drummer. Seemed like 30-mins, I was high.

[Monte Smith]

That's right run, punk.

[jaka]

Trying to sort memories from a time when I spent way too much time in classical concert halls, attending shows by the Ensemble InterContemporain on a weekly basis...
Hmm, actual first one must have been a gig by some obscure punk band.
First notorious one: Peter Gabriel @ Bercy, Paris, 1987

[BFrank]

Jimi (top ticket)

[BFrank]

Second concert

[steve(thelil)]

Too bad BFr didn't get to see anybody legendary at his early shows!!

[BFrank]

Too bad BFr didn't get to see anybody legendary at his early shows!!

True.

[Gentle Giant]

To no one's surprise, Beach Boys, Providence Civic Center, 1978. Charles Lloyd opened but I didn't appreciate it at the time.

The next concert was Boston, same year, and then a local radio station's Chrismas concert, featuring headliners The Cars, with Pablo Cruise (who also supported special guest John Belushi on Jailhouse Rock), Eddie Money, and Livingston Taylor.

[Mike Schwartz]

December 1969; remembering because I saw a playbill online seats priced at $3.50, $4,50, $5.50

Blood Sweat & Tears were the headliners, with 2 opening acts 1) Appaloosa who I remember nothing about, and The Allman Brothers who I remember quite well who I thought were just OK [ which sums them up for me all the years since too].

[7/4]

Mahavishnu Orchestra, mk. II. 1974
Wollman Skating Rink in Central Park, NYC.
Dr Pepper Festival (or whatever it was called at that point.)

...and if that isn't rock enough for you, I saw Brownsville Station open for ZZ Top later that Summer on the same stage.

[steve(thelil)]

Mahavishnu Orchestra, mk. II. 1974
Wollman Skating Rink in Central Park, NYC.
Dr Pepper Festival (or whatever it was called at that point.)

...and if that isn't rock enough for you, I saw Brownsville Station open for ZZ Top later that Summer on the same stage.

I was at Mahavishnu in 1974. In what way was it MK II?

I went to shows there all the time. I think it was the Schaeffer Music Fest in those days. When I first started going, in 70 or 71, tix were $1 and $2. It kind of blows my mind that money was so tight that we frequently bought the $1 seats OR didn't even pay and hung out and listened from outside the arena.

[Mike Schwartz]

Mahavishnu Orchestra, mk. II. 1974
Wollman Skating Rink in Central Park, NYC.
Dr Pepper Festival (or whatever it was called at that point.)

...and if that isn't rock enough for you, I saw Brownsville Station open for ZZ Top later that Summer on the same stage.

Went to a few of those outside the venue free; you could hear the performances quite well, and in a few spots could see the musicians.

The only one I can recall was the group [trumpeter Bill] Chase.

[Jazzooo]

Man, so many of you are so fucking YOUNG! I had no idea that I was older than almost everyone on this thread until now.

First rock concert: Spirit, with opening act Poco. A peak experience. 1967.

Second: Johnny Winter And, with Rick Derringer opening for...Poco! Another best experience of my life.

Then we got into festivals in San Diego, and I'd pay $4.50 to spend a day on the field in Balboa Stadium watching Lee Michaels, Santana, Chicago, the Dead, Canned Heat and a few others. All in '67 or '68.

By '69, I was going to auditoriums and listening to Shelly Manne's fusion experiment, not too bad.

[Jazzooo]

57. I was precocious though, and started going to rock concerts early. Heck, I was playing in a band and making money when I was 10.

[Ron Thorne]

57. I was precocious though, and started going to rock concerts early. Heck, I was playing in a band and making money when I was 10.

'57 was a very good year ... the year after I arrived in Alaska with my parents. The year after I started playing drums.

I didn't start quite as early at playing for money, but at 16, I was playing with a really good band. And, played with a guitarist friend from high school, backing several acts appearing in Alaska who didn't bring a complete rhythm section, including Gene Vincent & Carl Perkins. Heaven~

[BFrank]

Wow.........now I'm feeling OLD!

FYI, my first jazz concert was Freddie Hubbard (w/Lenny White, Junior Cook, George Cables, Alex Blake) and Charles Lloyd (don't know who was in his band) - 11/20/71.

[Mike Schwartz]

57. I was precocious though, and started going to rock concerts early. Heck, I was playing in a band and making money when I was 10.

I'm older than you [62], but was into jazz bands, so rock concerts were not that compelling to me and tagged along with friends.