# The first big rock concert you went to **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2002, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791 "2002-05-02T03:41:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![blur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dbc845/32.png) [@blur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blur)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/61 "2002-05-03T12:58:10Z")
First Arena Concert - 1989 - The Cult opening for Metallica on the Justice for All Tour First Club Concert - 1990 - White Zombie (as an unknown punk band) opening for Slayer on the pre-album tour of Seasons in the Abyss First Stadium Concert - 2000 - Metallica headlined, Korn, Kid Rock, System of a Down and Powerman 5000 opened. ---
**Author:** ![blur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dbc845/32.png) [@blur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blur)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/62 "2002-05-03T13:05:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Big Kahuna Burger \* > \*\*(we’re driving down to New Haven and taking the train from there) to go see them August 3 \*\* Hey BKB, make sure you check the time the train leave NYC that night. I had to leave concerts from MSG midway through because the last train to New Haven left early, since it had to hit all the stops in between. I’ve also been stuck in the city after missing it, which was no fun. ---
**Author:** ![tsarina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@tsarina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsarina)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/63 "2002-05-03T13:32:25Z")
In June of 1995, when I was 13, Collective Soul played a free concert at a park in Toledo. My friend Jenny went with me, and all was well until my parents insisted on standing behind us, my mom clutching her purse, my dad looking pretty annoyed… we were so embarassed. When the smell of pot smoke finally wafted out to our section, they got us out of there pretty quick. ---
**Author:** ![tavalla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tavalla/32/89_2.png) [@tavalla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavalla)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/64 "2002-05-03T14:02:28Z")
First big concert? That would be ‘Australian Made’ at Endeavour Field, Australia Day, 1987. Mental As Anything, I’m Talking, The Triffids, The Saints, The Divynls (Chrissie Amphlett flashing her knickers every ten seconds or so), The Models, Jimmy Barnes and INXS. Got through the gates about 11am, the concert started at 1pm and ran til 9, 9.30 that night. No shade, so I had the absolute worst sunburn ever - I practically glowed in the dark, and I was in pain for three days, not to mention the peeling, yuck - but it was a pretty decent day out. ---
**Author:** ![Sassafras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@Sassafras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassafras)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/65 "2002-05-03T15:28:16Z")
Omigod the memories. It was Kiss at the Lakeland Civic Center and I was fourteen. What was my mother thinking? **gulp** that would have been about 1978!!:eek: I remember hearing people talking about passing “bowls” around and I had no idea what they were talking about:rolleyes: . My next concert was AC/DC in '79 and I was an old pro by then. ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/66 "2002-05-03T15:40:40Z")
1970 - Santana ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/67 "2002-05-03T17:02:40Z")
Here we go: In order of their appearance, all at one show at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia Pousette-Dart Band Gary Wright Peter Frampton Yes (with Patrick Moraz on keyboards) ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Kahuna_Burger)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/68 "2002-05-03T18:30:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blur \* > \*\* > Hey BKB, make sure you check the time the train leave NYC that night. I had to leave concerts from MSG midway through because the last train to New Haven left early, since it had to hit all the stops in between. I’ve also been stuck in the city after missing it, which was no fun. \*\* I’ve checked it out, it leaves at 1 and the concert should end about an hour before that. I still have to get from MSG to the train station (Union I think, not Grand Central, it’s the one that’s NOT at MSG). Still, I might try to persuade my parents to give us an hotel room in the city, or close to it, for the night. ---
**Author:** ![nnancy1964](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@nnancy1964](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nnancy1964)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2002, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/69 "2002-05-09T12:37:56Z")
Jethro Tull at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, 1978 or 79…🆒 it was amazing! ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2002, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/70 "2002-05-09T16:08:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hook \* > \*\*I think I have you all beat so far: I saw the Rolling Stones as opening group for Roy Orbison in late 1965 in the Agicultural Auditorium at the old Sydney Showground. As was mentioned before, the girls screamed so loudly, none of the songs could be heard. > For any other Sydney residents from that time, we finished the night at Surf City listening to Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs. A great way to start out! \*\* Hey, another Aussie! Welcome to the SDMB, **Hook**! Now’s when I make you feel old. 🙂 My first big concert (discounting the piddling affairs in my years of minority) was the **Big Day Out** Festival way back in 1998. (For the foreigners, Big Day Out is a summer show that tours Australia in New Zealand every January/February. It’s usually headlined by a few big international acts and several first-string Aussie acts.) At the 1998 festival, I can remember seeing Hole, Marilyn Manson, Fatboy Slim, Manic Street Preachers, Korn, Groove Terminator, Powderfinger, Jebediah, the Living End and a few more decent bands. I had just turned 18 so I was allowed in the licensed drinking area. Tickets were about $65, IIRC. Pretty steep, but well worth it for the full day’s entertainment. (Ha! To save money, my friends and I bought OJ and vodka the day before. We used syringes to inject the alcohol into the sealed OJ bottles, which the unsuspecting gate-people let us in with.) The show kicked off around 10am and went until 11pm-ish. It was a stinking hot day (the bouncers were reduced to hosing down the crowd) and I was badly dehydrated by night. No regrets, though; it was fucking fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2002, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/71 "2002-05-09T22:14:49Z")
Peter Gabriel in San Francisco -12,000 people, 1982 or 83. (Amazing show, still one of the best ever). The Who - Oakland Colliseum, Day on the Green, 60,000 people, 1983 or 84. Opening groups included T-Bone Burnett and the Clash. That was a lot of fun. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2002, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/72 "2002-05-09T22:25:35Z")
I’ve only been to two in my life. Survivor/REO Speedwagon double-bill in the Seattle Colliseum (before it was Key Arena) In early ‘86. REO was doing Wheels are Turnin’. I don’t recall if Survivor had an album attached to the show. Billy Joel in the Tacoma Dome, 'round about '90 or so. The Storm Front tour. ---
**Author:** ![bloom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2002, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/73 "2002-05-09T23:50:41Z")
Duran Duran 1983 Many more in between and since, but I have to mention The Who in 1989. Apparently no one told them the definition of the word farewell. BKB, Metro North runs out of Grand Central Station. ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/74 "2002-05-10T20:21:52Z")
First concert ever: Donny Osmond and the Osmond Brothers, circa 1978, Washington, D.C. First “big rock concert” - does the U2 Joshua Tree tour count? 1987 in Munich, Germany. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/75 "2002-05-10T21:17:31Z")
My first big concert? The famed SImon & garfunkel show at Central Park, New York, in… 1981? The sound was great, but I couldn’t get within half a mile of the stage, and trees were blocking the view. Every ten minutes or so, a breeze would blow the branches aside, and I could vaguely see someone strumming a guitar… but I honestly don’t know whether that was Paul Simon or a member of the band. Regardless, it was a wonderful show, and a fun evening spent with 499,999 of my closest friends. ---
**Author:** ![Stinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@Stinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stinky)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/76 "2002-05-10T21:37:43Z")
My first was when I was 4 years old. My dad took my syster and myself to see 3 Dog Night for her birthday. I didn’t make it to anouther one for 8 years. Then I made up for it, by seeing Kiss, Led Zepplin and Pink Floyd in a two year peroid. Others I have seen: Mettalica The Who Rolling Stones Def Lepard Scorpions Dokken AC/DC Poison Ratt Quite Riot Talking Heads Ozzy Black Sabbeth Greatful Dead Beastie Boys Cheap Trick Bachman Turner Overdrive Van Halen Queensrich ZZ Top The Black Crows Stone Temple Pilots Marilin Manson Greenday Korn Red Hot Chili Peppers Joe Satriani Steve Morse The Dixie Dreges Cypress Hill Alice In Chains Mothers Finest George Thurogood Jane’s Addiction Kid Rock No Doupt 311 Plus many more I can’t remember right off hand and many opening acts. As you can tell I go to as many shows as I can. many of these I have seen more than once. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/77 "2002-05-10T21:40:58Z")
Va ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/78 "2002-05-10T21:50:12Z")
Err . . . Van Halen, 1984. I couldn’t hear again until 1985. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2002, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/79 "2002-05-11T01:41:28Z")
Queen and Billy Squier at the Capital Centre, Landover, MD. Whoo! I even got let out of juvie early to go. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Sexchange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@Dr.Sexchange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Sexchange)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2002, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791/80 "2002-05-11T11:05:07Z")
Well I’m still a youngin’ but I’ve seen a few (though I’ve missed out of a bunch I would’ve KILLED to see because of my year long “exile” to europe) First one was back in Victoria BC, mustve been 93 or 94 maybe, **Weird Al Yankovic** , that was awesome. My first “rock” concert. Then a few years later I went to the local Rock Radio big show with **Deftones, Papa Roach, Jimmy’s Chicken Shack** (or whatever its called),\*\* Dandy Warhols, Kottenmouth Kings,\*\* and a bunch of other bands I don’t remember. The only band I liked at the time was Deftones, and I don’t even like them anymore, so I don’t really know why I even went. Then over the next year or two I saw some smaller shows, but none the less awesome, **The Misfits** (the new, crappy ones, but a good show anyway), **the Melvins, with Hank III** and I’m pretty sure I’m forgetting something. But there you have it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-big-rock-concert-you-went-to/106791.md?page=5)