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Max'sKansasCityQuote
lucifrshmr
My Stones story starts in 1967. After getting swept up in the Beatles fever in 1964, then moving on to The Beach Boys by 1965, my musical tastes grew as i was and by 1967 after getting a Stones primer from one of the 'older' guys in the neighborhood, I was hooked.
By 1969 I wanted to see them live at the Spectrum. But at 15 years old my Father had other plans. His opinion was he didn't want me hanging at the Spectrum with a bunch of " pot smoking hippies", his words. If I went, he also told me I was moving out, "my house, my rules."
At 15 I decided I really wasn't ready to live on my own just yet.
So I waited..
By 1972 I was ready. A friend and I slept out at the Spectrum parking lot the night before tickets went on sale. In the morning it was crazy. I remember getting stuck between the ticket windows in the mad rush, and by the time I got to the window and got my tickets for the 2 shows that were being sold I was soaking wet. But I had them, and I was the happiest person in the world. I was finally going to see them live.
A few days later they announced a third show, but at the expensive price of $6.50 a ticket, I didn't have any money left. But I was still happy, I was going to two.
The night of July 20th my friend and I were sitting in the back of the arena in the second level. We didn't want to stay there, and during Stevie Wonder's set we hatched a plan. At the end of his set we would try to get closer. And boy did we.
By the time the lights went out for the Stones I was standing in front of the stage between Keith and Bill. Right in front of James Karnbach as I would later find out.
It was like the "Blues Brothers" movie for me when John Belushi sees the light at the church. Between Rocks Off and Gimme Shelter I saw the same light. I'll never forget that feeling.
The next day we figured why not go down and hang out at the show. Back behind the Spectrum was the ramp that went into the basement where the dressing rooms were. We sat on the wall and started having a conversation with a small black man dressed to the nines. His name was Stan. It seems Stan worked the stage security for the tour. He took a liking to me and my friend. Then another tall black guy joined the conversation, his name was Ollie. The four of us had a great time talking, drinking and passing a joint I had brought around. After a while Ollie had to go back inside for some work he had to do, but right before he left I raised my camera and said, "hey Ollie, how about a smile", and this is what I got.
A few minutes after Ollie left Stan pulled 2 tickets out of the inside of his jacket pocket and asked us if we wanted them. Well that was a silly question. My friends girlfriend was with us and after a little discussion my buddy decided to stay outside talking with Stan while his girl and I went in to see the show.
The seats were not the best, but instead of dragging her down to the floor we stayed in the seats and watched the show.
When the show was over we went back to the parking lot to hang out with Stan and just as I was crossing in front of the ramp coming out of the dressing rooms a car almost hit me. As I was backing up I noticed a face in the back window looking at me........Charlie. He gave me a smile and a wave, and he was gone.
We hung out with Stan for a few more minutes, but before he had to go he leaned over to my friend and I and asked us another silly question. Would we like to go up in the hotel and meet the Boys? He told us to meet him in the lobby at a certain time and bid farewell.
But that's another story.
For the evening show on the 21st my friend and I did the same thing as the night before, and wound up right in front of Keith.
I've seen many shows since 1972, and had some very good luck. I had the good fortune of being in front again in 1975 at the Spectrum, in front for the 1981 shows at JFK Stadium, eating dinner with the crew back stage in Chicago opening night, standing in front of Keith at the "10 Spot" show in NY, making friends with Freddy Sessler and doing lines with him at The Palace in NY, getting better seats then Tony Soprano for the HBO show at the Garden in '03, high-fiving Mick at the Voodoo Crew show at the Troc in Philly, and much, much more.
But I'll never forget "the light" in 1972.
That is a great story(s)... and pictures/stubs.. thanks for sharing... someday let us know how it went at the hotel.
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JuanTCB
MSG 1/14/98
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lucifrshmr
My Stones story starts in 1967. After getting swept up in the Beatles fever in 1964, then moving on to The Beach Boys by 1965, my musical tastes grew as i was and by 1967 after getting a Stones primer from one of the 'older' guys in the neighborhood, I was hooked.
By 1969 I wanted to see them live at the Spectrum. But at 15 years old my Father had other plans. His opinion was he didn't want me hanging at the Spectrum with a bunch of " pot smoking hippies", his words. If I went, he also told me I was moving out, "my house, my rules."
At 15 I decided I really wasn't ready to live on my own just yet.
So I waited..
By 1972 I was ready. A friend and I slept out at the Spectrum parking lot the night before tickets went on sale. In the morning it was crazy. I remember getting stuck between the ticket windows in the mad rush, and by the time I got to the window and got my tickets for the 2 shows that were being sold I was soaking wet. But I had them, and I was the happiest person in the world. I was finally going to see them live.
A few days later they announced a third show, but at the expensive price of $6.50 a ticket, I didn't have any money left. But I was still happy, I was going to two.
The night of July 20th my friend and I were sitting in the back of the arena in the second level. We didn't want to stay there, and during Stevie Wonder's set we hatched a plan. At the end of his set we would try to get closer. And boy did we.
By the time the lights went out for the Stones I was standing in front of the stage between Keith and Bill. Right in front of James Karnbach as I would later find out.
It was like the "Blues Brothers" movie for me when John Belushi sees the light at the church. Between Rocks Off and Gimme Shelter I saw the same light. I'll never forget that feeling.
The next day we figured why not go down and hang out at the show. Back behind the Spectrum was the ramp that went into the basement where the dressing rooms were. We sat on the wall and started having a conversation with a small black man dressed to the nines. His name was Stan. It seems Stan worked the stage security for the tour. He took a liking to me and my friend. Then another tall black guy joined the conversation, his name was Ollie. The four of us had a great time talking, drinking and passing a joint I had brought around. After a while Ollie had to go back inside for some work he had to do, but right before he left I raised my camera and said, "hey Ollie, how about a smile", and this is what I got.
A few minutes after Ollie left Stan pulled 2 tickets out of the inside of his jacket pocket and asked us if we wanted them. Well that was a silly question. My friends girlfriend was with us and after a little discussion my buddy decided to stay outside talking with Stan while his girl and I went in to see the show.
The seats were not the best, but instead of dragging her down to the floor we stayed in the seats and watched the show.
When the show was over we went back to the parking lot to hang out with Stan and just as I was crossing in front of the ramp coming out of the dressing rooms a car almost hit me. As I was backing up I noticed a face in the back window looking at me........Charlie. He gave me a smile and a wave, and he was gone.
We hung out with Stan for a few more minutes, but before he had to go he leaned over to my friend and I and asked us another silly question. Would we like to go up in the hotel and meet the Boys? He told us to meet him in the lobby at a certain time and bid farewell.
But that's another story.
For the evening show on the 21st my friend and I did the same thing as the night before, and wound up right in front of Keith.
I've seen many shows since 1972, and had some very good luck. I had the good fortune of being in front again in 1975 at the Spectrum, in front for the 1981 shows at JFK Stadium, eating dinner with the crew back stage in Chicago opening night, standing in front of Keith at the "10 Spot" show in NY, making friends with Freddy Sessler and doing lines with him at The Palace in NY, getting better seats then Tony Soprano for the HBO show at the Garden in '03, high-fiving Mick at the Voodoo Crew show at the Troc in Philly, and much, much more.
But I'll never forget "the light" in 1972.
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schillid
Wonderful story... great show WE saw, eh?
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Palace Revolution 2000
I don't know if anyone noticed this, but in this thread two pretty obscure shows have been mentioned; witnessed by members here.
Chacho saw Denver '72. The evening show (the 'actual' show) has not been well documented. There was a matinee show added, and from what I have seen there is more known about that one.
But even more obscure is Auburn '69. Seen by deeppurple. It would be great to find out more about it.
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stonesdan60
1978 - JFK Stadium: First Stones show. Great to finally see them but they looked like ants and the PA wasn't very powerful. Still a fun day.
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71Tele
Tucson 1978. Linda Rondstadt in hot pants.
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tomkQuote
stonesdan60
1978 - JFK Stadium: First Stones show. Great to finally see them but they looked like ants and the PA wasn't very powerful. Still a fun day.
The PA wasn't powerful? Really? First I've heard of that. Interesting,
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tomkQuote
71Tele
Tucson 1978. Linda Rondstadt in hot pants.
Don't know if I'd want to see her in hot pants nowadays.
She was a good-looker back then, though.