I've been saving my show stubs for years and I didn't quite know what to do with them. I decided to post them on a blog with as many details as I could remember from each show. I've been to, at least, twice as many shows as I have stubs for. Sadly, I either lost the stubs or the shows took place in clubs or venues that didn't issue tickets. I'm sure this project is much more fun and interesting for me to do than it is for anyone else who reads this. If you've been to any of these shows and have any thoughts, please leave a comment.
This was the year that I turned 15 years old. Being born & raised in Waterbury, CT, all of these shows are from that area.
August 3, 1979
Chicago - The Pinecrest Country Club, Shelton CT
Opening act: John Stewart
This was my first concert. I grew up hearing Chicago around the house and a few of my friends (mostly girls) liked Chicago as well. The Pincecrest was an outdoor venue and the stage faced a huge lawn. I remember standing on the grass at the front of the stage. I was right in front of Donnie Dacus. He was the guitar player that replaced Terry Kath, who had commited suicide the year prior. Dacus was flamboyant and worked the stage and left an indelible impression on me because I had been a fledgeling guitar player for about a year at that point. It was fun seeing a show where I knew every song and because they were so seasoned they put on a great show. They had a pretty big stage with ramps on the sides and I distinctly remember Dacus sliding down the ramp on his knees as he wailed on his guitar. It was so long ago that can't remember specific songs or most of the details.
September 5, 1979
Kiss - Springfield Civic Center, Sprinfield MA
Opening act - Judas Priest
Nobody was a bigger Kiss fan than me. I had every album, I had the picture discs, I had the dolls, models and lunchbox. If they were in a magazine (even one small photo), I bought two so I could cut out the photo and put it in a scrapbook. I had a kiss poster or photo on every flat surface of my bedroom. I wore Kiss makeup just for fun. I had always wanted to see Kiss live and my father managed to get some tickets from a friend. I went to the show with my Dad and his friend; this woman who had a huge dragon tattoo on her breast, was friends with Kiss' tour manager and peed in the parking lot on the way back to the car. Before the show the Tour Manager spotted her and she asked if we could go backstage after the show. He said he wasn't sure, he thought it was possible. "Just wait right here after the show and I'll come back and get you" he told us. I was ecstatic to say the least. I left my seat and wedged my way into the crush of people on the standing-room-only floor so I could get closer to the stage.Unfortunately this was 1979 and kiss was in this weird, almost disco phase (remember "I Was Made For Lovin' You"?). Paul's costume was a bright, colorful, glittery, gay jester sort of outfit and ace's was covered in big, shiny jewels. Fortunately, they still rocked like Kiss and they blew the roof off the place.
I had never heard of Judas Priest before and they opened with "Hell Bent for Leather". Holy Crap! I was blown away. They were loud, aggressive and every song rocked. I had never heard a singer like Rob Halford before. I was hooked and I knew I would be buying my first Judas Priest album the following day.
Kiss had the huge stage with big, circular ramps and put on the giant spectacle that they are known for. Each band member rose up through the stage, highlighted by their signature color. It was everything you would expect from a Kiss show; rockin' party songs, flames, explosions, blood and flashing & flying (literally) guitars. Gene Simmons even flew up into the rafters at one pont. I was in heaven. The set list was King of the Night Time World, Let Me Go, Rock And Roll, Move On, Calling Dr. Love, Firehouse, New York Groove, I Was Made For Lovin' You, Christine Sixteen, 2000 Man, God Of Thunder, Shout It Out Loud & Black Diamond. The encores that night were Detroit Rock City, Beth and, of course, Rock And Roll All Nite.
After the show I made my way back up to our seats and we waited for Kiss' Tour Manager to come back out to get us. We waited about 15 minutes and the Dragon Woman started to get impatient. She said "he probably forgot about us, he's probably not coming back". I asked if we could wait a few more minutes but she was already walking up the stairs toward the exit. A few days later my father informed me that the Tour Manager did come out looking for us but we had already left. They weren't really letting people backstage but because she was a friend, Kiss agreed to let us come back and meet them. I don't need to say how bummed I was. Actually, I still am.
