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 glennewdick

Back in the early 90's Pink Floyd was getting ready to start their tour. They had rented one side of the Canadian Airlines hanger in Toronto to do their rehearsals I was working as a tech for the airline at the time and got to see a full dress rehearsal the night before the tour opened. I also had tickets for the show but that night was special.  The next week Aerosmith's plane landed for their concert, as everything was closed at the airport they asked us if we could fix a minor issues with the plane, very cool talking to them very down to earth guys. afterwards they gave us tickets to the show the next evening.