What I was doing 40 years ago today
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40 years is a long time.
40 years ago today, I was in my 1972 Chrysler Newport Royal driving from Boston, MA to Annapolis, MD after catching my first Bruce Springsteen Darkness Tour show; totally amazed. I had already attended any number of concerts at that point of time and that last night in Boston blew away every show I had seen before. I was also pinching myself because I was on my way to show 2 of 13 on MY first leg of that tour, Boston to Morrison, CO and then back to NJ for a break before picking back up again in August.
When it was all said and done, on August 21 at The Capitol Theatre in Passaic, NJ, I had attended 27 shows on what many consider the best tour of all time by any artist. After that evening, I sold my tickets for future dates somehow knowing that I had gotten more than my fair share of rock and roll history and to continue would have me cross the line from fan to addicted fanatic.
For many years afterwards, while still being a fan of Mr. Springsteen, I did not go to any more of his shows. I knew it would be damn near impossible to top those run of shows so; why chase the dragon?
As most of my social media followers know, I finally did catch a few (cough-cough) more shows after my hiatus. But as befitting Flashback Friday, my mind has been found flashing back to driving around the United States, fueled on a passion for live music and lack of a “real” job.
I guess a lot hasn’t changed in 40 years, after all.
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _________
I Was 15 Then anticipating
I Was 15 Then anticipating Getting My driver Liscence Soon ___thai stick was still around with great friends Surfing Zuma beach
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance minimum goad Newberry
It's funny, because the past
It's funny, because the past couple of days I've been thinking quite a bit about where I was 40 years ago myself.
As a high school teacher I'm obligated to participate in my school's graduation ceremony, which was yesterday and as always is long and booooooring, and as I sat there doing nothing it suddenly came upon me that it was 40 years ago that I graduated high school myself.
I knew that already of course, but I hadn't been thinking of it much. As I thought about my own graduation so long ago it was cool and slightly awesome to watch those new grads go through their moment and have so much ahead of them, and to think about how over the course of time things have transpired for me.
I guess in some ways things don't change much, 40 years later I'm still bumbling around a high school campus and going to shows and ballgames, and in other ways it's amazing to think about time and how it flies, and how fortunate I've been to be able to ride it out this long.
I was so young then, and yet somehow I feel so much younger now (except for the arthritis, lack of hair and ever-growing waistline).
Keep on chooglin' everybody!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
Didn't see 'The Boss' until
Didn't see 'The Boss' until that Fall. But some Bruce fan has compiled the local press articles here:
https://brucebase.wikispaces.com/1978-11-01+-+JADWIN+GYM%2C+PRINCETON+UN...
Those were actually tough tickets !! Hard to find. A fellow 8/9-th grade classmate scored me one, his Dad worked at Princeton University in the Alumni Relations dep't. My Mom also worked there, in the Music dep't and was not able to locate the rare Bruce ticket.
Would love to hear a Tape of that show.
In answer to original question, most likely mowing the lawn for allowance $ and riding my bike. They did not allow young people to drive back then.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
My first dead show was that
My first dead show was that year, along with Muddy Waters, Allman Bros (with Cher), Genesis, Joe Pass, and a long list of other legends.
Was working at "Brothertons Farmhouse" on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena CA as a dishwasher / busboy. The cook was an ex-com (murder) fresh out of San Quintin, and the line cooks skid row bums (part of the owners unit in WWII), half of them died in the 1.5 years I worked there.
The preferred acid came from Cal Tech, and was the Mickey Mouse, Goofy, or Flying Saucer blotter. A lid of mexican weed (6 fingers in a bag) was $10, and Oaxaca spears were $20, Thai sticks (last of the real stuff) $15, Hawaiian and other exotics varied.
I got my first guitar that Sept (had played piano and sax).
In-n-out on Foothill, Tony's Pizza on Huntington Dr, Bobs Bigboy on Colorado, and Will Wrights Soda Shop (had french macaroons!!!) were the bombs (or resulted in bombs)!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
40 years ago I was awaiting
40 years ago we were awaiting the birth of our first child, living in the OR woods in a free 14'x20' cabin with no indoor plumbing. Did have power and phone, though. We had a couple of goats and a cat. First Autzen GD show was upcoming as well. I wasn't working a full-time gig - just odd jobs. Thai stick - the real thing! - was around, as well as some early sinsemilla.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lord Kalvert
I sold my 69 Les Paul Deluxe
I sold my 69 Les Paul Deluxe Gold Top - a date that will live in Infamy.
Never should have done it
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: skifurthur
Would love to hear a Tape of
Keep reminding me and I will burn you a copy.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bluelight
I purchases a Pearl White
I purchased a Pearl White (Glossy) 5-way Toggle Switch Rosewood fretboard - Fender Stratocaster with Tremlo-Bar from Sam Ashe in Huntington.
Pretty guitar. But the maple neck -no-tremlo-bar version of the same guitar is a great guitar. That's the guitar John Oates plays.
Saw The Bob Weir band open for the Starship at Nassau and became a big fan of Bob's music, still am
Mr. Tofu?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Woz
Ah, 1978....saw my first
Ah, 1978....saw my first Grateful Dead show, Rolling Stones, Neil Young and a whole lot more. It was a year that forever changed my life. I dosed at the Dead show (9/2/78) and well, have never been the same since....
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: skyjunk
I attended the richfield
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sun so hot, clouds so low
I was a six year old trying
I was a six year old trying not to get damaged by my 5 older siblings....
Jamming out to Aqualung because a 6 year old can totally relate to snot running down his nose..
"Hey this is MY song!"
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bluelight
>> Neil Young and a whole lot
>> Neil Young and a whole lot more. It was a year that forever changed my life. I dosed at the Dead show (9/2/78)
I also saw the Neil Young Rust Never Sleeps shows at MSG and Nassau 9/78
In my world yes Neil was it. I forgot about that Wozy.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Thumbkinetic
40 years ago today I was
40 years ago today I was still a few months from my 1st GD show.
35 years ago today I was still getting over this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfT73LL_THo
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ausonius
I was getting ready to head
I was getting ready to head down to Santa Barbara to see the Grateful Dead.
Saw one of the Bruce Winterland shows in December, only non Dead show I ever saw in the place out of eleven shows I saw there.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Woz
We were at the same Neil show
We were at the same Neil show then Bluelight.......MSG Rust!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
No to the day, but almost 40
No to the day, but almost 40 years back, a big Rock show at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia.
Peter Tosh Opened, then Foreigner.
https://bootleg-rambler.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-rolling-stones-1978-06-...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: donster
I arrived at college that
I arrived at college that year with my James Taylor & Barry Manilow albums to meet my roommate from Queens : You-think-you're-deadehead-I'M-A BIGGER-FUCKIN-DEADHEAD=THAN -YOU in a high voice, at high speed and in a heavy New Yawk accent to several of his new neighbors
He was my roommate
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Charlie
If DJ Carol Miller WNEW kept
If DJ Carol Miller WNEW kept her pants on and her mouth shout for a second about Bruce Springsteen maybe i wouldn't wanted to throw up every time I heard his name. Bruce is very, very talented , a great guy!!! Sometimes early on I thought he was a B Dylan wanna b Then he did some bubble gum music, I couldn't related, Already saw the Dead. Bruce who? The Boss what? I give him credit,he can put on a rocking show. 40 years ago on was on my way to R.R.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: .............
Went to my first 3 concerts..
Went to my first 3 concerts...
Aerosmith Derringer
Aerosmith Derringer
Aerosmith Foghat
Then, caught Fleetwood Mac, Dylan, and a whole bunch of southern rock shows til my first Dead show in 81...think my first Springsteen was 82 , may have been 83
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: skifurthur
If DJ Carol Miller WNEW kept
She was rather over the top; wasn't she? lol
Honestly, the only song I can say has a bubble gum flavor is Hungry Heart. Although his manager convinced him to release that song himself and take it back from The Ramones before they had a chance to record and release it, one the greatest missed opportunities in rock and roll. That song was perfect for a Ramones wall of sound treatment and Joey's voice.
I'm assuming you mean Red Rocks, where I finished my first leg of the Darkness Tour. I am not assuming it was to see Bruce Springsteen.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Rob W
In keeping with the June 1st
In keeping with the June 1st date referenced by Skifurthur, I was enjoying my last day as a 10 year old, probably looking forward to some cool Star Wars toys as birthday presents the next day!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: skyjunk
Happy Birthday Rob, enjoy
Happy 50th Rob, enjoy your day
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Bluelight
Happy Birthday Spac84
Happy Birthday Spac84
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
I was 13 and finishing 8th
I was 13 and finishing 8th grade. I was already my 6'2" height and didn't have braces yet, so there was a convenience store that didn't ask for an ID and would sell me beer. My friends and I drank and were starting to smoke weed regularly. I hadn't been to a big Rock show yet. Some of my friends were getting electric instruments and starting bands. Video arcades were a thing then, and we'd get high and go there and to headshops.
My folks sent me on long trips to New Mexico and to Sweden that Summer.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: LowCountry
A Newport Royal? dang, had to
A Newport Royal? dang, had to google that make. Growing up we always had mopars. Duster, Satellite, others I forget. oh yeah, a Volarie wagon too. First road trip to Hampton (83) - a bunch 18 yr olds heading south in a maroon Volarie. alas, no, none more, "Corinthian leather"
That 78 tour was pretty f'n special. When I pop on some Bruce, cap theater's, cleveland, winterland's - are an easy choice.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: skifurthur
Some interesting remembrances
Some interesting remembrances of the release of Darkness On The Edge Of Town...40 years later. http://www.backstreets.com/Darkness40.html
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Rob W
>>>Happy 50th Rob, enjoy your
>>>Happy 50th Rob, enjoy your day
It's actually my 51st but thank you!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ausonius
"First road trip to Hampton
"First road trip to Hampton (83)"
First show for the current girlfriend (now wife) of a good friend. He decided that she was show worthy. We thought that she was going to think we were all loony tunes but she loved it all. I'm sure the smoking Help/Slip/Franklin's helped.