Before They Were Famous Concerts

[Patch'sD]

Have you ever seen a band at the Corner Bar or Some other place where they are a Big Name Now , but was just starting out then.

At a place called My Father's Place in Roslyn, NY. I was able to see two housebands every Monday night. One was Blonde and the other was Bob Marley. I also saw the Boss at CW Post in December 1975, It was the concert where the famous "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" was recorded.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I saw Bon Jovi back when they were an opening act (for who, I can't remember, since they were so much better than the headliner at the time).

They're not exactly famous, but Toad the Wet Sprocket played a free concert at our college right before their first (and pretty much only, I think) hit single came out.

 

[Beth76]

We saw the Gin Blossoms when they opened for Toad the Wet Sprocket. They were both great! We bought the G.B.'s single well before it was released on the radio.

 

[wvrevy]

This was before my time, but my (now former) step father once kicked Billy Ray Cyrus out of the Nitro Moose Lodge

Apparently, Billy was getting a little lewd in his performance, and some of the blue hairs were getting upset, so my step father (as an officer of the lodge) had to ask him to leave.

Does that count ?

 

[missypie]

In the summer in Downtown Dallas, some of the building managers hire bands to entertain outside over the lunch hour. I remember walking by and listening to the Dixie Chicks for a few minutes.

 

[PamOKW]

Saw Billy Joel in concert at the Ithaca College sports arena/gym shortly before "that never happened again." So glad this freshman went along to see "Billy Who?"

 

[wvrevy]

Originally posted by Bob Slydell
I saw Bon Jovi back when they were an opening act (for who, I can't remember, since they were so much better than the headliner at the time).

Weren't they opening for Ozzy way-back-when ? I think that's who was with him when I saw him the first time....can't remember (short term memory loss...wonder what caused that ?)

 

[snoopy]

I saw Eva Cassidy playing here in Washington when she was a nobody. Sadly, she didn't become a somebody until after her death. What a rare talent she was.

I've seen a bunch of groups on the fringes of success, ranging from a long time ago (Little Feat) to pretty recent (Third Eye Blind).

 

[Bob Slydell]

Originally posted by wvrevy
Weren't they opening for Ozzy way-back-when ? I think that's who was with him when I saw him the first time....can't remember (short term memory loss...wonder what caused that ?)

Hmmmmm, I don't think I ever saw Ozzy in concert, so I don't think so. For some reason, a hair band comes to mind, like Cinderella or Ratt (they all kind of blend together at this point )

 

[Patch'sD]

I remember seeing Bob Dylan like in 73 or 74 with the Band Opening for him.

 

[wvrevy]

Originally posted by Bob Slydell
Hmmmmm, I don't think I ever saw Ozzy in concert, so I don't think so. For some reason, a hair band comes to mind, like Cinderella or Ratt (they all kind of blend together at this point )

Cinderella didn't hit 'til after Bon Jovi, so it couldn't have been them....Might have been Ratt, but I saw them a few times too and don't remember Bon Jovi openeing...Maybe a different tour

Gee...Can't tell I was into the whole hair band thing, can ya' ?

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

I saw the Barenaked Ladies about a billion years ago (ok, 12 or so, I think I was 15, possibly 14.) when they opened for the Violent Femmes, I liked them better then the Femmes.

Saw Pearl Jam when they were starting to get really famous.

 

[Saffron]

I saw Bonnie Raitt at the Temple University Fairgrounds back in 1976. She was just starting to get her singing career jump started. She already had at least 3 albums out, but no one really heard of her. The concert was in a giant tent! LOL! Everyone I ever saw there was fantastic! I'm sorry they stopped having the concerts. I saw Crosby and Nash there when just the two of them toured together and it was one of the best concerts I ever saw in my life. They had the a movie of the ocean and whales swimming in the ocean as a back drop for the stage. I loved it. That's one of the most memorable concerts I ever saw, but they were already famous. But I digress.

Kansas played at our community college when it first opened up. The concert was in the gym.

 

[Doug123]

Most of the people on the DIS won't know them NOW, but I saw Iron Maiden as an openning act twice; one for Richie Blackmore's Rainbow and once for Judas Priest.

Oh, those heavy metal days. I think my ears are still ringing.

 

[wvrevy]

Originally posted by Doug123
Most of the people on the DIS won't know them NOW, but I saw Iron Maiden as an openning act twice; one for Richie Blackmore's Rainbow and once for Judas Priest.

Oh, those heavy metal days. I think my ears are still ringing.

Hey, I was 6th row for Maiden in Charleston WV....Anthrax opened for them, if I remember correctly Eddie Rules !!!

 

[KarenC]

Okay...I'm old...I saw Styx in the high school gymnasium and used to listen to Survivor (Eye of the Tiger) when they were a bar band.

 

[aprincessmom]

Saw the Black Crowes many, many times when they were Mr. Crow's Garden -- they used crash at my house when they were on the road

Lived next door to Dickie of the Mighty, Mighty Bosstones when they were just local faves -- spent many a night out listening to them

Saw Huey Lewis and the News open for Loverboy

Saw INXS open for some hair band whose name escapes (you can tell who impressed me more )

edited to add:

Saw Cyndi Lauper do a performance at Syracuse for a happy hour in the school sponsored bar (held about 150 people tops)

 

[Tina]

Bon Jovi opened for Ratt in the mid 80's on Ratt's first headline tour in mid-size arenas. I saw them, too.

I saw Metallica on their first huge tour when they opened for Ozzy in 1986. I didn't know who the heck they were, but I sure liked 'em. I went out and bought Master of Puppets the next day and was hooked. Too bad they suck now.

 

[gallaj0]

I saw Guns N Roses open for Aerosmith back before they were headlining themselves.

I've also seen the Dropkick Murphy's play bars around Boston, before they made it to where they are now; but I don't know if they would be considered "big" in other parts of the country.

 

[wvrevy]

Originally posted by Tina
Bon Jovi opened for Ratt in the mid 80's on Ratt's first headline tour in mid-size arenas. I saw them, too.

I saw Metallica on their first huge tour when they opened for Ozzy in 1986. I didn't know who the heck they were, but I sure liked 'em. I went out and bought Master of Puppets the next day and was hooked. Too bad they suck now.

Was it Metallica opening for Ozzy on the "Blizzard" tour ? I have seen them about 5 times, so that would explain why I can't seem to remember it (yeah...that's it ).

That's really driving me nuts