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...
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Showing 1 response by 2muse

I went along with some friends that were driving up to Monterey Pop Festival in '67. We were all broke, so no chance to actually buy tickets. After hanging out on the grounds and listening in at the festival, the guy with the van suggested spending what little we did have by going up to the Fillmore. We didn't recognize the band - "Who"? They were certainly an eye (ear) opener, but then another band took the stage that weren't even on the program. I think it was Santana's first concert. I was more than impressed!
Much later in my "maturing" years, I had friend that got me into a "Dead" concert standing right up front at the stage. I have always liked their music, but the "wall of sound" was too much for my delicate ears. I had to leave. Not very bad. And I am still enjoying my hearing.