Best and Worst Rock Concert Moments

I'm not sure if it was the best or the worst, but I was one of the 32000 people who bought a $12, three-day-event ticket to Stompin' 76 in the rural hills of southern Virginia.

The only problem was that 150k to 200k people actually attended! The young Bonnie Raitt headlined along with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Earl Scruggs Revue Vassar Clements, John Prine, Lester Flatt & Nashville Grass, David Bromberg, Ry Cooder, and bunch more.

We were parked (camped) a mile-and-a-half from the concert area which was considered very close, since people were walking as far as 11 miles one-way of jammed-packed roads which actually backed-up all the way back to and on the Interstate. It was so packed, we couldn't leave if we wanted to. When all of these people showed up, the promoter's security company said "we're out of here" and walked out. After that, the Pagan Motorcycle "Club" provided security. Miraculously, no one died, great live music from morning to late night, and yes we had a wonderful time. Also, someone who will be 32 years-old this August 7th was born at that event. I remember the announcement over the PA. You know, they just don't seem to do events like that anymore!

. . . and yes there is a website commemorating that very event.

Jim S.- Same scenario w GD in Springfield w my GF. She is small and claustrophobic. It was miracle we didn't get pushed through the glass or trampled. She was picked up off her feet and "popped" through the open door into the lobby backwards!

Probably "best moment" was opening chords of Rolling Stones Boston Garden show in 72. Not the best music or the best show, although it was great. But the excitement and anticipation made your hair stand up on the back of your neck!

SW,

Glad she was alright (she was, right?). The first and only time it ever happened to me was the Allman show. You feel pretty helpless. I can't imagine how the kids at the Who show felt.

I have been to a half dozen or so indoor festival seating Dead shows and everything with the crowd was always pretty cool. The nuts with the bottle rockets, roman candles, and firecrackers were a little scary, but... I am surprised it got that rowdy.

Jim S.

As Slipknot1 mentions above, I attended several concerts in the 70's at Rich Stadium.
They use to have all day concerts with several bands.
This was back in the day when you could take a cooler full beer or other alcohol into the stadium to your seat.
This particular concert was to begin at 11am
and end at 7pm.
The headliner were the Stones.
My buds and my seat were directy behind 4-5 hells angels.
These dudes began drinking heavily from 11am and through the afternoon.
The last opening band ended at 5pm then it was time for the Stones.
5p came and went,6p came and went,7p came and went,8p came and went,9p came and at 10p the Stones finally entered the stage.
By that time,every biker in front of us had passed out.
The one that was sitting in front of me turnded around in his seat, and saturated my pants and shoes with the must foul smelling vomit imaginable.
I dont know which was worse. Having to sit for 4 hours in the hot summer heat waiting to hear the Stones and getting puked on,or listening to a 'whole' 1 hour set of the most dreadful performance I've ever heard.

Worst experience:
1970: Go over to girlfriends on Friday evening (after talking on the phone for an hour deciding to stay in since there's nothing to do). Get to her house and she tells me her brother called to invite us to see The Doors, but she said no because she thought it would be nice to stay in for the night. AHHH!!!!