I have my guesses, but I’m wondering if these now-frequent rock concert features can be traced to specific bands and maybe even years.
I would guess that crowd-surfing began with performers themselves, doing the thing where they fall into the crowd and let themselves be passed around before being returned to the stage. The practice from there spread to the fans just doing it themselves.
As for stage-diving, I’d be surprised if it didn’t have its roots in the punk rock era. Did bands do it first? Or was it always audience-driven?
Lighters-in-the-air seems like its been around a LONG time.
Did any of these spread from a particular band?
These are WAGs, but I’d guess Iggy (the Stooges) for hopping into the crowd (and probably bleeding on them).
Stage diving IIRC started with what I would call LA Hardcore: Black Flag, Big Black etc.
As a performer I used to hate stage divers, because it is only those backstage who get to see how hurt people get.
picmr
yup. iggy is the first person i’ve ever heard of to “stage dive.” supposedly at crosley field in cincinnati, in 1972(?). there are tons of pictures of it.
ironically, festival seating has been banned at all of the larger venues in cincinnati since the 1979 stampede at a who concert that killed 11 people.
By 1986, the practice of stage diving and crowd surfing had been thoroughly established at fine DC clubs such as the DC Space, the Hung Jury Pub, and of course, 9:30. I cut my teeth on the sport at a Scream/Bad Brains show that year.
I’m curious to know, since I’ve more-or-less retired from the scene, if folks are still as “polite” in the crowd as they once were. One of the last times I was out there (about two years ago) I got some nasty Doc scuffs on my hands because nobody would pull me up once I hit the floor. Damned selfish, if you ask me.