Re: Firecrackers at shows

[Jonathan Bayer <jonathanbayer@xxxxxxx>]

All of the shows i attended were either in Ohio or New York and  
firecrackers were  a pretty common problem (primarily in the summer).  
I particularly remember seeing the Stones in 78, very close to the  
4th of July  where firecrackers prompted multiple announcements from  
the stage to cool it or the Stones wouldnt preform.

People always seemed to be throwing things at shows back then - I   
remember Eric Bloom from BOC getting hit with an apple in 1979 (i  
think the drummer started eating it) and someone throwing a plastic  
milk carton full of beer at Ted Nugent  at a big outdoor show with  
JGeils, Scorpions and Def Leppard (he stopped the show and wanted the  
person identified so he could jump in the audience and kick his ass)

With respect to the West Coast, check out to Seattle July 17, 1973 (v  
1/2) - opening announcement ("nobody digs fireworks  . . . please  
cool the fireworks ."  Announcer then goes on to say that the show  
would be 1 hour 45 but if people cool the fireworks and dont bump  
into the optic effects close to the stage, the band will go for 3  
hours!)


On Jul 29, 2008, at 2:14 PM, cathy kelty wrote:

> I wanted to give belated thanks to Nech for his rememberances of  
> the MSG show.  I sadly missed Zeppelin by the skin of my teeth a  
> couple of times, but man do I remember the vibe at the many  
> concerts I went to in the '70s, and you capture it so well!
>
> One thing that always sticks out for me in reviews of Zeppelin  
> shows is the mention of firecrackers.  There's no arguing my memory  
> of concerts is hazy, but, I just don't recall people setting off  
> firecrackers at shows I went to.  I think I would've been really  
> pissed, it's such a rude thing to do!   Had to be frightening for  
> band and audience alike.
>
> Makes me wonder, was that a mid-west and east coast thing?  Do any  
> fellow left coast folks recall firecrackers regularly going off at  
> concerts?
>
> I mean, it's a wonder Winterland didn't burn to ground filled with  
> freaks, hippies and teenagers as it was... :-)
>
> Cathy