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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my best and worst concert moments came on consecutive days

best-i traveled with a good friend of mine to see the black crowes on consecutive nights in richmond virginia at a club called the national,we traveled from the northwestern pa area so it was about 400 miles one way for us,quite a long drive but it was to see one of our favorite artists,when we arrived in richmnond we checked into our hotel so that we didnt have to try and find it after the show in an unfamiliar area,by the time we got to the club the line hadnt started yet so we were the first in line,within an hour two very attractive girls were the first to join the line behind us,it was great having 2 attractive black crowes loving girls to share 5 plus hours of conversation with us before the doors opened,when we finally got into the club the four of us went directly into the front row center since we had general admission tickets

the black crowes were amazing,they all looked liked they were having a good time and rich even managed to smile a few times throughout the set,they played for a solid 2 hours and the setlist was great as i had hoped and it turned out to be one of the better times that i had seen them,howlin rain was the opening band and when we got back to our hotel they were standing out in front of the lobby,after a few minutes of chatting with them the bass player and keyboardist came up to our room to hang out and party with us,it was the perfect ending to an already great day


worst-the very next day was pretty much the same as the first although we had met the 2 girls from the day before for a local bbq lunch before we all got in line again,we went in and again were in the front row center,i only had managed to make it through the first 2-3 songs before i had to go and find my seat because of an over indulgence of pain medication,i missed most of the set that night except for the last song or so,i was very angry with myself because i havent done something that stupid in well over 10 years

i will hopefully make up for it in detroit on dec 5th,ive got general admission tickets to see the black crowes again with the same friend and i will be leaving my pain medication at home this time,live and learn
One of the best moments - Eddaytona reminded me of the first time I got to see INXS. Men at Work were popular and touring. Went to their packed show at Bogarts in Cinti. and had a great time with my wife to be, and her husband at the time.

Couple of weeks/months later, Men at Work played the Timberwolf Amphitheater at a local amusement park. A friend of my brother's called that day with an extra ticket, so I went.

INXS opened the show. Had never heard of them. Shabooh Shoobah (spelling ?) had just come out. It was really hypnotic. Big clear sound and a new strain of melody. A little rock / a little dance. Just really enjoyed the opening set.

Men at Work was fun again, but a week or so after, I couldn't get an INXS song out of my head. Went through the trouble to find out who the opening act was (I couldn’t remember the weird name) and bought the album. I think I have bought every INSX album after that, but only the one Men at Work.

Jim S.
Best was Pink Floyd at OSU stadium in Columbus. Me and the ex had terrible seats, way to the side, behind a column. As the show started, we walked around the ground level looking for empties a little closer to the stage to jump into. I saw a roped off section about 3 rows deep, damn near middle stage. I asked a security guard what they were blocked off for and he told me "vip's". I told him the people we were sitting by were real high and kept f'n with my wife so we were looking for somewhere else to sit. He looked around for a second, lifted the rope and we sat with our feet up and watched the whole show from about 15 feet away. Not 1 "vip" showed to sit there.

The worst was a Stone Temple Pilots show at a small venue in Columbus, The L.C. it's now called, at a general admission seating show. Some pretty-boy on the second level decided to try to impress his girl by pouring some of his beer on people. The guy next to me just looked up and flipped him off. The jackass did it again a little later, and this time on me. I looked up and he and his girl were laughing histerically. I took my i.d. out of my wallet and handed my wallet to my buddy. I went upstairs, made my way to the front and tapped the guy on his shoulder and asked what his problem was. He turned around, shrugged, and turned back around. I ended up with a broked pinkie, and a night in the tank along with a fat fine for disorderly conduct. Nancy boy will NEVER pour beer on someone again though.
Tom Waits in New York, then in Columbus. Amazing performer, amazing set and lights,great songs.

Leonard Cohen in Paris. Incredible voice, increadible crowd. He played that song, oh what is it, "the partisan", the whole audience sang along in french. It's an old french song about the resistance, written in the 40s. He read some of his songs, spoke some, played like 3 hours.

Patti smith, bower ballroom. One show tom verlaine sat in, michael stipe served champagne and sang later, and sonic youth played later. another, she just sounded beautiful, could get as close to the stage as you wanted.