# Your first "real" concert? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 19, 2006, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037 "2006-03-19T20:31:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/81 "2006-03-20T13:51:33Z")
Mine was Lollapalooza 1992, on August 2, 1992 in Tinley Park, IL. The bands were Lush, Pearl Jam, Jesus & Mary Chain, Soundgarden, Ice Cube, Ministry, and the Red Hot Chilipeppers. I was 26 days from turning 15. ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/82 "2006-03-20T13:56:56Z")
First concert without parents - Bachman Turner Overdrive at the Charleston, WV. Civic Center in 1977. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/83 "2006-03-20T14:13:10Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > I can’t believe I am about to tell y’all this. > > Bobby Sherman. I was in the 2nd grade and had a gigantic crush on him. It would have been about 1968. :o My sister had his poster plastered on the wall of our bedroom. It was embarrassing for me. My first concert was Santana, 1970. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/84 "2006-03-20T16:10:56Z")
Duran Duran’s “Sing Blue Silver” tour in Los Angeles in 1984. I was 11 years old. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/85 "2006-03-20T16:49:19Z")
**Peter Frampton** at Madison Square Garden. It was the I’m In You tour '77 or '78. I think R2D2 made an appearance. I could have hallucinated it. ---
**Author:** ![Subterraneanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Subterraneanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subterraneanus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/86 "2006-03-20T17:34:10Z")
Paul McCartney and Wings at the Kingdome in Seattle, 1976. I thought the show was great. I’m pretty sure that’s because I was 13. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/87 "2006-03-20T21:00:53Z")
**Davey Jones** 1971, Steel Pier Show, Atlantic City (dragged along by older sister) **Genesis** 1978, Philly Spectrum, _And Then There Were Three_ tour (first concert as a teen) ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/88 "2006-03-20T21:03:37Z")
At age 16, October 1982. The \*\*Who’s \*\* “farewell tour” (liars!!!), with **The Clash** (last tour with Mick Jones) and \*\*T-Bone Burnett \*\* at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. (Only time in my life I ever ditched school and was terrified my parents would find out. The show was on a Friday with a 3 pm start time. Gates opened at noon, and since it was general admission, we all wanted to get there early, like 10 am.) ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/89 "2006-03-20T22:57:27Z")
My very first concert ever was Andy Gibb at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, with the Alessi Brothers as openers. I think it was 1978, so I was 12 at the time, tagging along with my older sister and her friends. I remember being disappointed because he just looked like a little white speck on stage. > [@scotandrsn](#): > > But the first concert of “my” music, where I actually obtained tickets on my own volition, was the Police “Synchronicity” tour in 1983, at Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, MA, when I was 16. Flock of Seagulls was one of the opening acts, and I caught the end of their act, but got there too late to see The Fixx. :mad: My friends and I wanted to see that show so badly. The Shea Stadium show was sold out, and my sister lived within reasonable driving distance of Foxboro and offered to take us, but my dad forbade it because “no daughter of his was going to follow a band around the country like a groupie.” :rolleyes: So my friends and I got tickets to the Pittsburgh show instead, and disguised the trip as a visit to Duquesne (since we were heading into senior year high school and considering colleges). Then by pure luck I got to see them play at Shea anyway nine days later, with backstage passes even. Both shows definitely made up for the time I spent grounded once my dad found out. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/90 "2006-03-20T23:11:49Z")
I had the good fortune to see Ray Charles in concert in 1963. He was one of those rare performers who can throw so much passion and energy into the music that the audience has the impression that this must be the pinnacle of his career. Having spoken to other people who saw Ray in concert, it seems that he did this “giving-my-all, pinnacle-of-my-career” kind of thing every single night, year after year. Some performers just go through the motions and collect their paychecks. Ray Charles went out and sweated blood (almost literally). Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Logan\_5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/fbc32d/32.png) [@Logan\_5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Logan_5)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/91 "2006-03-20T23:16:46Z")
I believe it was the Greg Kihn Band at ChicagoFest 1982 (not that pale imitator known as the Taste). That evening also included Chicago but they were playing at the same time. So I got see a little of them as well. However the first concert I went to that I chose and paid for was The Cure in 1987 on the Kiss Me Tour at the Rosemont Horizon (now the Allstate Arena). ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/92 "2006-03-21T00:18:07Z")
Backstreet Boys, with an virtually unknown opening act - Britney Spears, in the late 90s. I was about 11 or 12. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/93 "2006-03-21T01:00:48Z")
> [@pinkfreud](#): > > I had the good fortune to see Ray Charles in concert in 1963. He was one of those rare performers who can throw so much passion and energy into the music that the audience has the impression that this must be the pinnacle of his career. > > Having spoken to other people who saw Ray in concert, it seems that he did this “giving-my-all, pinnacle-of-my-career” kind of thing every single night, year after year. Some performers just go through the motions and collect their paychecks. Ray Charles went out and sweated blood (almost literally). Wow. I had the honor of seeing Ray Charles on his last stop in Louisville, KY before he died. I couldn’t name more than a handful of his songs, but it was easily one of the best concerts I’ve EVER been too. ---
**Author:** ![mrunlucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7993a0/32.png) [@mrunlucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrunlucky)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/94 "2006-03-21T04:19:12Z")
Eurythmics, with Howard Jones opening, at Red Rocks. Never liked Jones, still love Eurythmics. Still have the Eurythmics t-shirt too! ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/95 "2006-03-21T04:42:14Z")
I specifically remember Raffi as a child. I saw some county fair shows (Salt n’ Peppa, some Boyz 2 Men imitator). My first “real” concert was Garth Brooks in San Jose in 1997ish. Then I saw Gaelic Storm… ---
**Author:** ![Aunt\_Flow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Aunt\_Flow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aunt_Flow)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/96 "2006-03-21T08:27:23Z")
Is it really sad that I’ll be 28 this year and have never been to a concert? I’ve always wanted to go but…never could get to one :\ Seems like I’m in the minority! ---
**Author:** ![paulmarkj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@paulmarkj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulmarkj)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/97 "2006-03-21T12:22:29Z")
1976, The Who at Charlton Athletic Football ground, supported by Alex Harvey and Little Feat. It rained and I had to balance on 4 beer cans to get to see anything. Fantastic. The first festival I went to was Knebworth in 1978, with Led Zeppilen, The New Commander Cody Band, Todd Rundgren And Utopia, Southside Johnny and Chas And Dave. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slip\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slip\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slip_1)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/98 "2006-03-21T12:54:54Z")
Molly Hatchet, Bloody Reunion Tour in 1984. At Six Flags over Texas. My ears rang for _days_. And what was that funny burning smell? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/99 "2006-03-21T14:17:17Z")
> [@Aunt Flow](#): > > Is it really sad that I’ll be 28 this year and have never been to a concert? I’ve always wanted to go but…never could get to one :\ Seems like I’m in the minority! It’s not too late! Most people don’t look like Old-Geezers-At-A-Concert until they hit 35 or so. My friend and I graduated high school in '74 and we still go to concerts. You get to a certain age and you just don’t give a shit! There’s hope for you yet. Now IF you were in or near Chicago, and IF you were so inclined to attend a concert, I would direct you to TicketMaster: [http://www.ticketmaster.com/browse?category=1&rdc\_select=n60&rdc\_syear=&rdc\_smonth=&rdc\_sday=&rdc\_eyear=&rdc\_emonth=&rdc\_eday=&dma=&start=1&rpp=30&type=selected](http://www.ticketmaster.com/browse?category=1&rdc_select=n60&rdc_syear=&rdc_smonth=&rdc_sday=&rdc_eyear=&rdc_emonth=&rdc_eday=&dma=&start=1&rpp=30&type=selected) And I would advise against attending the Anne Murray concert in Peoria. ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037/100 "2006-03-21T14:31:18Z")
While I’ve been to many, many concerts I’d have to say **Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes** with opening band **MC5** was my first. Must’ve been around 1970-71. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-real-concert/349037.md?page=6)