Before They Were Famous Concerts

[4greatboys]

I saw Inxs at the University of Houston before they hit it big. The venue was tiny so it was really great. You could see them very good and they sounded awesome. RIP Michael

 

[Cindy B]

My sister saw Simple Minds at a bar in Louisiana during high school. (Yes, high school, don't ask!)

The Hooters played at my high school freshman year.

 

[figment52]

I saw John Denver 4 years in a row at college before he made it big.

The first year he was free, the second year it was $0.10, the third year it was $0.25 and the last year he was $2.00. Six months later I saw him at Red Rocks in Denver, backed up by the Denver Symphony, and the tickets were $7.00.

Yes, I know I dated myself but I can still say I knew him when I didn't have to pay t o see him perform.

Mitch Ryder and the Detoit Wheels also played at homecoming either my junior or senior year in HS

 

[Dodie]

OOOH! I have a good one!!!!

When my parents and I visited Walt Disney World (just the Magic Kingdom back then) in 1975, there was a band playing just outside Tomorrowland on a stage that's not there anymore. We listened to them/watched them while we ate lunch.

It was KC and the Sunshine band!

 

[bananiem]

Originally posted by FroggyinArk
but my big before they were stars moment was at the ice house in fayetteville ar in 85 when my country boy self in cowboy hat and boots and wranglers was actually onstage with this really punk outfit called REM that no one had ever heard of,

My dh and I are still mad at ourselves for not seeing REM in Iowa City when we were in college. They came through a couple of times to play at the Crow's Nest and we never went. 'Course we wouldn't have gone together...we still hadn't met.

 

[Galahad]

Saw several Genesis concerts when they were playing in National Guard Armories in small towns. I think they were much bigger in the U.K. then but hadn't got going in the U.S. This was 1970-71-72 timeframe.

 

[Patch'sD]

How about this. This place that used to be called Speak Easy, Changed it's name to Speaks when they went from Disco to Rock. The opening band was Twisted Sister; Dee Snider Fame; Anyhow Speaks was the bar that was burned down by Henry Hill in the Movie Goodfellas.

 

[Mercy]

Back before the Police really became big, I saw them at a small theater in the round here in Maryland, it was called Painters Mill. It still goes down as one of the best concerts I had ever seen... so much fun.... the whole room was dancing!

 

[Micca]

I saw David Lee Roth at Baskin-Robbins. Oh wait, that was last week

I saw Billy Joel as an opening act for Harry Chapin. Met him after the show and he was so grateful that anybody wanted to meet him.

Also, saw Bruce Springsteen during the Born To Run tour. At the time he was very big on the coasts, but the "word" hadn't quite spread to the heartland yet. He played at a hall that holds about 5000 and it was about half full. We sat on the second row center.
There was no one in the front row OMG was it good

Also saw STP open for Megadeth. They came out before the show and said hi to about 20 people who were hanging out.

 

[carole88]

One day in the early 80s a bunch of us went to Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. There was a free concert in the afternoon. We hadn't heard of the band before but decided to check them out. They were so loud and didn't sound that great so we left. The band was Bon Jovi. Could kick myself now.

 

[lmj]

I was really lucky. In the mid eighties there was a hole in the wall club in Providence called the Living Room. I saw a few bands there that were just starting out. The best concert there was Bon Jovi. This was in about 1984 even before they opened for Ratt (I slept outside to get tickets to that concert). I also saw Poison there and Guns N' Roses. I went to that show by myself when I was about sixteen because I knew a guy I liked would be there. I told my mother I was going to a friend's house and drove the family station wagon. (Not my smartest decision but I'm glad I did it.) Another band that played there all the time was Extreme. My best friend was in love with the lead singer Gary Cherone who went on to briefly join Van Halen. I really miss that place.

 

[Robinrs]

My sister took me to the Brooklyn Fox to see a tour that Murray the K (a disc jockey) was promoting. He was so excited about a young boy, about 11, he was BLIND and sang up a storm. His name: Little Stevie Wonder.

He also had on the roster a teen group with an amazing lead singer. Her name: Patti LaBelle!

Gee, I wonder what happened to them????

 

[Patch'sD]

Hey Brooklyn,

Did you get a Nathan's Hot Dog and a ride on the Cyclone with that Concert. Little Stevie Wonder that's great. I was in Brooklyn the other night in Williamsburg picking up car parts.

 

[Simba's Mom]

OK, I think I've got everyone here beat for age. They're not a musical group but who remembers Cheech and Chong? I remember them doing a free concert in our coffee house type thing at college, before they were big, more than a few years ago.

 

[deadheadbelle]

Originally posted by Simba's Mom
OK, I think I've got everyone here beat for age. They're not a musical group but who remembers Cheech and Chong? I remember them doing a free concert in our coffee house type thing at college, before they were big, more than a few years ago.

Wow! How cool are you? I remember my brother had their album that had the giant rolling paper in it. I used to listen to that album & I'd laugh whenever my brothers would laugh. I had no clue what they were talking about. Where were my parent's????