I was sent one of those ‘challeges’ on Facebook – quickly name 50 concerts you can remember. I steer clear of most events where a mob responds in unison. I know that’s wrong. I should go to more sports events and see more live music. While the Triumph of the Will part of sports makes me nervous, concerts make me envious. I’d rather be performing. Neverthless, in my few years on the planet I have seen a few remarkable shows that attest to a particular Forrest Gump like relationship I’ve had with live music. This Facebook challenge was a memory jag.
I had to start with the Beatles premier on ED Sullivan because it is unique and amazing that I was in the audience. I went with my best friend and our respective middle school girlfriends. One of their fathers worked for CBS. The next 30 acts or so (with asterisks) are concerts where I was in the opening band – starting in high school and onward 40 plus years.
Growing up in proximity to R.I. and NYC and being older (I mean, experienced) facilitated some of the others (James Brown, Dylan’s first electric, Yardbirds, and the Café a GoGo) – so I have annotated them. The folly of youth and other tools may have blurred some dates.
However, these are all true.

1. Beatles (IN the studio audience of Ed Sullivan Show!)
IN THE OPENING ACT:
2. Young Rascals * (Hartford and Westport 1966)
3. Grand Funk Railroad * (Boston 1969)
4. Iggy and the Stooges (The Jail in Providence 1969)*
5. Jay Giels Band *
6. Manfred Mann *
7. The Chambers Brothers *
8. Buddy Miles *
9. Bruce Springsteen * (in a high school auditorium in R.I. 1972!)
10. The Youngbloods * (Central Park)
11. BB King ** (Montreaux Jazz fest)
12. Chambers Brothers*
13. Buddy Miles*
14. Guess Who *
15. The Turtles *
16. Herman’s Hermits *
17. NRBQ * (at Max’s Kansas City)
18. Go Gos *
19. Mahavishnu Orchestra *
20. Split Enz* (tour)
21. Ramones*
22. Irma Thomas * (touring with LaVern Baker)
23. Jimmy Buffet *
24. Peter Paul and Mary *
25. Joe Jackson *
26. Ramones *
27. Split Enz ***
28. The Wailers * (for a week at a Palls Mall in Boston)
29. Little Feat * (for a week at a Palls Mall in Boston)
30. Bonnie Raitt *
31. The Cars * (Wang Center)
32. The Kinks * (Providence Civic Center) Read more…