SUMMER CONCERT SPECTACLE WITHDRAWAL

These two photos have absolutely nothing in common.(lol)......or do they?





SUMMER CONCERTS ARE ON MY MIND. KEEP IN MIND I AM JUST AN AUDIENCE MEMBER AND DON'T SEE MYSELF SECRETLY AS A PERFORMER. NOT EVEN BEHIND MY SHOWER CURTAIN.




One of my favorite concert stories I remember is about a concert of Michael Jackson's........(Saw Michael in concert in the mid 80's as well as with the Jackson 5 in the 70s)



NOTE: (I apologize to the close friends over the years that had to wade through all my Freddie Mercury QUEEN concert stories that opened with my "sweaty palms" and "jailhouse rock" ..("Keep Yourself Alive" to 60,000) ...stories of Springsteen and Streisand ....and to Elizabeth who went to see Michael Jackson with me 25 years ago..I really blew it, I am sorry.



Concert Moments:


The Amnesty International show from the first row was an intense experience......Lets not go there now. Well, ok i will say......Biko and meeting Kris Kristofferson, and the Cadillac Ranch that closed Maple Leaf Gardens for good. Interesting moments. I don't want to fade away.


To Recap....The Amnesty Show at MAPLE LEAF GARDENS.....Opened with KD LANG who was followed by TRACY CHAPMAN....who was followed by PETER GABRIEL.....who was followed by STING....who was followed by BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN....UNREAL entertainment for a great cause. (Like I really cared)



A concert that I attended as well was the WHO's Farewell concert. It was alot of hype and tension, and quite frankly the concert wasn't their best.. They delivered a few more Farewell shows over the next couple of years. Daltrey's screaming on "Won't get fooled again" will never be equaled however.



It's about openings. The insane moment of a good opening. My friend Marc told me about an ELO opening at exhibition stadium with a SPACESHIP slowly prying itself open and LASERING the crowd to the song.."TELEPHONE LINE"...Sounded wild.



Anyway, back to Michael.


Michael Jackson was playing Wembley Stadium and was about to meet Lady Diana before the show...He met her briefly back stage and she told him that her favourite song was DIRTY DIANA....a song that Jackson had just removed from the performance in reverence to DI... He didn't know what to do. He couldn't possibly play this song. He told her that he was sorry that he didn't feel comfortable singing it that night. She was slightly disappointed but carried on with a smile and took her seat.


So when the lights dropped down on 70,000 screaming fans. Jackson opened the show....With a thumping rendition of DIRTY DIANA...The crowd and the princess were firmly placed in the palm of his glove. (Forgive me)


Two of the most powerful alternative concert experiences occurred in Toronto with my friend Cory... Philip Glass doing Koyanisquatsi live with the film projected in the background...and Tangerine Dream live...Both had me stumbling out of their metaphysical world in a daze. Could have been the Marijuana, but I believe it was the Art.



Throw in Billy Idol and The Cult in there, LENNY KRAVITZ, PRINCE and INXS and I am getting you briefly up to speed. Did I mention STYX's Paradise tour.


I don't go to alot of live shows anymore, but am considering going to see Pearl Jam this Summer. It will probably be the last opportunity to do so.



What is it about the Summer and the need for a spectacle?..I have spectacle withdrawal I think....A concert event, not just a show. I still get that itch. I never did see Pink Floyd with those giant Pigs.


I hope this old heart of mine can still take it. Might be interesting to pass out as Eddie Vedder delivers a soulful rendition of Jeremy though.