HMXers' First Concerts: Part I
Filed under: Behind the Scenes / 40 comments
Everyone remembers their first concert experience. It's a rite of passage for everyone who appreciates music and live performance. In this series of behind-the-scenes articles, we explore the first concert experiences of Harmonix employees. Some attended performances by classic artists like Prince, Springsteen, or Michael Jackson. Others were dragged to shows by their parents, or prevented from going to shows by their parents. A few HMXers had very special first concerts, and others had the average concert experience. For many HMXers these shows were defining moments in their lives that shaped future careers.
In Part I we present the HMXers lucky enough to catch some legendary artists in concert for their first live music show. Read on – maybe you shared a first concert with an HMXer. Have a better story? Share yours in the comments. And stay tuned for parts II through IV.
- "My first concert was Michael Jackson in the Orange Bowl for the Thriller tour. I was probably around seven. Michael came on after what seemed like many hours of delays. I was so tired that I slept through most of it." - Sylvain Dubrofsky, Senior designer
- "My first concert was Bob Marley in 1978. I snuck in innocently (as it was in Harvard Stadium, next to the projects where I lived). I was 12 and small enough to get lost in the crowd. I eventually (and quite accidentally) found my way into the backstage, where I found a backstage pass on the floor that I quickly put into my pocket. I still have the pass. I had no idea of the historic significance of this show (or the artist, for that matter). I just heard cool music, and saw what looked like a party, so I snuck in... Oh yea... It was awesome!" – Keith Smith, Senior tester
- "I wasn't quite fourteen for the first concert I ever went to: Prince and the Revolution (with opening act Sheila E.) on the Purple Rain tour at the Superdome in New Orleans on February 1, 1985. My best friend and I had been listening to the Purple Rain soundtrack obsessively since the previous summer (and to be fair, so had most of the U.S. -- that album was huge), and we just had to go see that show. What we didn't realize, however, being young and inexperienced with the whole concert-going thing, was just how bad the cheap seats at the Superdome could be: we were at the top of back part of the stadium, easily a good 400 yards from the stage. We wound up settling for watching the big projection screens on either side of the stage... with our binoculars." – Allen Holt, Senior Web developer
- "My first show was Springsteen at the Civic Center in Providence, January 24th, 1985. Drove there in a car that barely ran, bought tickets from a scalper, stayed up all night, and totally blew my history mid-term the next day. That D was so worth it." – Shari Eleftherion, Administrative assistant
- "My first concert ever was when I was ten. My mom tossed my brother and me into the car to go see B. B. King at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, NJ. I sat up in the balcony and watched as this awesome dude had a seat on the stage with Lucille -- the guitar has a NAME? WOW! -- and sang us the blues. The fact that he was able to hold my deficient and disordered attention at that age is a testament to his ridiculous skill. He also told us cool stories, like how on one flight, his pilot wanted to make an emergency landing... in the Swiss Alps." – Ryan Griffin, QA tester
- "Having grown up in ultra-rural Maine, the opportunity for concerts were very few and far between. The first one I went to was as a freshman in high school. My friends and I piled into a cramped, rusty Ford Escort and drove 2 hours each way to the Bangor Auditorium to see B.B. King and it was completely worth it." – Eric Pope, Senior tester
- "Kansas at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (upstate New York) in (I'm guessing) 1977. This was back when shed tour shows felt kind of dangerous, with a lot of drugs and fireworks and whatnot. I was 16. I remember that people were throwing frisbees back and forth across the crowd, and when the opening band came onstage (no idea who they were) the guitar player got hit directly between the eyes by one of those big heavy "professional" frisbees that were in style back then. It knocked him right over his amp, so that all you could see were his feet thrashing around. Gotta say, it was a great moment." - Greg LoPiccolo, VP product development
- "I saw the Beach Boys when I was eight at some big outdoor venue in Calgary, Canada with my parents and my brother and sister. At the time they were my favorite (my Dad had been schooling me on them) so it was a pretty awesome time." – Michael Georgeson, Artist
- "My friend had won tickets from WBCN to see the Ramones but he couldn't go, so he gave me the tickets. If I had known [it] was so far away, I wouldn't have asked, but somehow my parents were willing to drive all the way out there and hang out at some coffee shop until the show was over, then come and pick us up afterwards! Maybe if I have kids I'll understand why someone would do that, but in the meanwhile I'm just glad they did. I remember being right up at the front, getting shoved around by the crowd, and being shocked by people getting up on stage then jumping off with nary a concern for their own wellbeing or anyone else's. The kid next to me got a combat boot in the head at one point, but he didn't even seem to care! I remember the glossy look of the lights, the smell of the smoke machine and the massive sound of the floor tom as they wound up for what I now call a 'Big Rock Ending.' I remember coming out of that club covered in other peoples' sweat, and finding a world that sounded like I had a pillow over my head. We found my parents' car and clambered into the back yelling at everyone and each other. My life was never the same." – Jeremy Parker, Software developer
- "My first show was at the tender age of nine when my friend and his mom took us to see The Monkees at Lake Compounce. I kept wondering who all these old people were and why there were only three of them (as my only exposure to them, at the time, was the TV show which I did not understand was [filmed] decades prior)." – Eric Chon, Community moderator
- "Metallica with Corrosion of Conformity at the Fleet Center in 1996. Went with 3 friends of mine." – Joseph Pagliuca, QA lead
- "Eric Clapton at some arena in Providence, probably 1985. My parents didn't want me and my friend to drive down there by ourselves (we were 16) so my dad accompanied us. Lame! I think my dad thought it was cute when I asked him why it smelled like burning leaves." – Dan Schmidt, Senior software developer
Check out part II, and share your legendary concert experiences in the comments.
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Comments
AirmanRobertson...
... A few months after that concert, "Weird Al" Yankovic performed at the fair in my town. A couple years later, I saw (on separate days but at the same event, a music leadership conference (aka band geek convention)) I saw "The President's Own" US Marine Corps Band, and Rockapella. In 2006 I saw Trans-Siberian Orchestra's annual Holiday tour, and in 2007 I saw "Weird Al" again and got his autograph. The tech guys worked so hard to get us backstage because my friends and I went in uniform (Air Force), but there wasn't enough time. So instead they got us to the front of the line for autographs. It was so awesome.
Friday, February 20, 2009
AirmanRobertson...
I remember my first concert rather well. My mom called me on her way home from work, and told me she had just won 2 tickets on the radio to see Santana in Massachusetts. I had just finished my freshman year of high school, so I was... I want to say 13. After what seemed like an eternity in the car, we got there, our seats were great, not front row, but not very far back, I believe it was row N, which would be 14 rows back (plus an aisle, because the entrances to the concert arena were on the sides). This was during the Shaman tour, an album I still listen to all the time. Of course, this being a Santana concert, he broke out some of the old classics, though I don't remember him playing Black Magic Woman or Oye Como Va. It was a great concert, and afterwards, it took us over an hour just to get out of the parking lot.
Friday, February 20, 2009
steeziterik610...
Vans warped tour 07 best show ive been to ever.kill switch engage was amazing i was in the back but i jumped up and crowed surfed all the way to the front and jumped on stage luckily that was there last song because security wouldnt let me near them whiel they were on stage again...haha
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
SnortingLilacs...
Van Halen at the Wachovia Center in Philly on October 3rd, 2007.
The place was completely sold out and it was three whole songs into the concert before I could discern the music from the screaming fans, but it was amazing and truly unforgetable.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
gamrrpol...
Rush at the Tarrant (Fort Worth) County Convention Center, February 2nd, 1980. I was in 8th grade and my older brother took us. It was the Permanent Waves tour and was everything I ever hoped it could be.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
ZakeroTD...
My first concert was Ozzy with Rob Zombie in 2007 with In This Moment opening. So much pot and I couldn't smell ANY of it. Was quite amazing.
Best concert though has to be Metallica with Lamb of God and The Sword. Whole thing lasted over five hours. Five hours of headbanging, screaming and standing. Threw my voice out twice.
Monday, February 16, 2009
ravenscry...
My first concert was Dream Theater at Manhattan Center on the Awake Tour...
Monday, February 16, 2009
Grepok...
Mine was Boston and Styx. Great concert
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Beam-The-Chao...
My first concert? Shania Twain. *shame* I didn't really want to go, but my mom thought it would be a good "starter" concert.
My favorite concert? Rush, whom I saw last May. My life's ambition. And my dad's.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
nicholasenj...
Eagles Long Road Out of Eden tour this year.
Friday, February 13, 2009
golfer9506...
My first concert experience was (im sorry) Aaron carter when I was 9. I'm so amazed that I actualy was into that. My 1st rock concert experience was last year seeing PATD at the Time Warner Ampitheater in Cleveland. I was right in the middle of the mosh pit and we backed out durring the 2nd opener (The Hush Sound) and looped around the side. We got right up against the stage and the keyboardist from Motion City Soundtrack waved at me. I got him to sign my PATD poster afterwards. When Panic came on, it was chaos! I wont forget that forever.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Trev0702...
My first was relatively recent! I went to a concert for AC/DC *part of the black ice tour* on November 17 2008, at the Wachovia Center. It blew my mind. It was loud, but awesome. Everyone there was singing along, and i just loved it. Going to a metalica concert soon too.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
csmoffett...
It was KISS for me too -- 1984 during the Creatures tour. The Plasmatics opened for them and that was nearly worth the price of admission (for a 14 year old boy!). lol
Last concert was Cradle of Filth at the House of Blues in Nawlins.
Most legendary is a toss up between David Bowie's 3 1/2 hour set in an intimate theatre, Maiden's Seventh Son show or Queensryche & Metallica playing together during the ...And Justice tour. All three were amazing, but for different reasons.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
archangeljayvi...
My first ever concert was in 2007.
Fall Out Boy Friends or Enemies Tour at the Araneta Big Dome
Front Row Seats Baby! Haha!
It was like hell when everyone wanted to touch Pete Wentz's Hand!!!
Yay for me that I got to touch his hand... It was the super best first concert ever :))
- Arch Angel -
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sayburr...
1976 Kiss's Spirit of ’76 tour! Yeah, I was only ten years old. My brother is seven years older than me and he wanted to go to the concert but our parents had plans of their own that night so Bill was stuck baby sitting. Once he told his friends of his predicament they pooled enough money to get me in to the show. So, we drove for an hour to Jersey City from where we lived in Fort Monmouth. He stuck me in a corner and threatened to kill me if I was not there when he got back.
Most amazing thing I ever saw and I will never forget it and our parents never did find out.
It was actually recorded: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDqrDCrSbAA&feature=PlayList&p=0D23C8F2BDBE32B8&index=0&playnext=1
Monday, February 9, 2009
Khiro...
Smelling leaves. Haha ^^
Monday, February 9, 2009
Jimbo30...
My First concert was Iron Maiden In London, Earl's Court Arena. Wooo!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Stitchboy72...
This is the God honest truth! My first concert was called Clash of the Titans. It was Anthrax, Megadeth, and Slayer with Alice in Chains opening at Alpine Valley in Wiconsin back in 91. Ok so I'm old!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
KutlessRocker...
1st was Kutless. It was so awesome. But my favories were Skillet and Thousand Fook Krutch.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
sp345...
My first concert my mother dragged me to was Jerry Lee Lewis in 1969. And in high school I went to 2 different concerts. 1) Alice Cooper's Welcome to my nightmare,aweso- me- from what I remember great stage show. 2) Bachman Turner Overdrive with Black Oak Arkansas and Styx ahh the good old days.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Roland Van Owen...
Wife's 1st: RunDMC / Beastie Boys - Together Forever
Oldest son's 1st: Victor Wooten
Oldest son's fave (so far): Disco Biscuits
Oldest daughter's 1st: Styx and Kansas
Oldest daughter's fave: Mute Math
Other children's 1st: VHS or Beta w/ Dr. Dog, Darker My Love, Tickle Me Pink, ISM, HoneyHoney
Hopefully bringing up the next generation right. I've been asked before if we adopt. =;^)
Friday, February 6, 2009
Roland Van Owen...
With parental units (chronology uncertain):
Pete Seeger
Harry Belafonte
Beach Boys
The Lettermen
Peter, Paul & Mary
Marvin Hamlisch
Juice Newton
Oh god, of all those I hope Juice wasn't my first... but I still remember the detailing on her tour bus and thinking it was cool. Don't knock 'em, they were all performances I would revisit. Belafonte and Hamlisch are amazingly talented and have the cred to tour with top shelf supporting musicians a la Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, and Carlos Santana.
On my own (in order this time):
Triumph (Sport of Kings) w/ Yngwie Malmsteen (Trilogy) - otherwise known as the Rik and Yngwie guitar clinic
Boston - I drove 3 hrs to Rochester, NY for first show of Third Stage tour after the band's 8 year hiatus. They played new album start to finish. Only glaring omission was Smokin', a deliberate decision by Scholz and Delp. I still don't know why. Opener Farenheit was ****tastic.
The Who (1988 "Farewell" Tour) - Classic. 'Nuff said.
Friday, February 6, 2009
WhiteyMcTool...
First concert? The Unholy Alliance Tour in '06 at the Long Beach Arena with Slayer, Lamb of God, Children of Bodom, Mastodon, and Thine Eyes Bleed.
Slayer still has it, and it was the first time I'd ever seen that "wall" thing I heard Lamb of God fans do. Note to self: do not get stuck in the "Wall of Death." Ever.
Also, it was I think one of the few shows where both CoB and Mastodon performed, and seeing them both was way better than only seeing one of them.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Panda01...
My first concert was in '04. My mom took me to go see Vertical Horizon at the Celebrate Fairfax festival. We didn't live in Fairfax, it was pouring rain the entire time, there were only about forty people there, and I DIDN"T CARE. I stood right up at the stage, had a guitar pick HANDED to me by the bassist, and had the time of my life. It still is one of my best concert memories.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Shillelagh Law...
I was 13 for my first concert. Tom Petty touring for the Full Moon Fever album. Went with my best friend and his dad. The people in front us smoked so much pot all three of us got contact highs.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Telecaster1221...
My first concret was almosyt a year ago when I saw Van Halen at the New Orleans Arena. Now I really wish I got Rush tickets, and would be really happy if by some miracle I got Crue tickets.
Friday, February 6, 2009
karaokefreak...
Very nice stories. And thanks for making me feel young :D 1977... that is when I was born.
My first Concert was "the Cure". I was 12. Only a few months later i became 13 and got tickets for a Rolling Stones concert, in which the wolrd ended. It was raining so heavily, that the stones could not even get their famous Air-Dolls out
Friday, February 6, 2009
The_El_Gringos...
my first was when i saw Green Day on the American Idiot tour back when i was in 7th grade. that concert was absolutely AMAZING.
Friday, February 6, 2009
sparhero25...
First actual concert was Creedence Clearwater Revival at a state fair. They are a really good band, but a state fair!!??!! I mostly tell people my first real concert was the Rolling stones' most recent comeback tour. I wonder when the next comeback tour is xP
Friday, February 6, 2009
CreepersCrypt...
I had spent most of my teenage life begging my parents to let me attend a show. They were convinced I would end up in trouble, and refused persmission as long as they could. 3 days after my 18th birthday on August 18th 1996 I attended my first show at Bogarts club in Cincinnati Ohio. My buddy and myself stood front row center as NY loose opened the show for Marilyn Manson. Afterward we stood behind the building waiting for the band to exit to the tour bus. After what felt like an eternity the band emerged and gave out autographs to those of us who waited. Needless to say with a first time experience like that, I have become addicted to Live shows, and attend many shows on a regular basis still to this very day.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
AppleTrak...
My first show, I was 4. Arlo Guthrie with my parents. It was outside somewhere in New England.
The first show I really remember, I was 7. Loverboy (with opening act Huey Lewis & the News) at the Providence Civic Center. I went with my dad and uncle. We went to eat at a restaurant before the show, and randomly, sat at the table next to the Loverboy. Coolest memory ever for a 7 year old.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
cmenear...
Like Greg LoPiccolo, my first show was Kansas ('80 I believe), followed by AC/DC. Those were the days. I feel sorry for my son though, his first show as Green Day / My Chemical Romance (with me). That by far has been the most incredible show I've seen just because of the way they made the 15000+ feel like it was a 300 person, crowded bar. Awesome! I don't think my son will see anyone that will match them (but we've tried...NIN, Metallica, Seether/3 Days Grace/BB, DMB)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Vedicardi...
"I think my dad thought it was cute when I asked him why it smelled like burning leaves."
Bwahaha
Thursday, February 5, 2009
MronoC...
Alice Cooper, 2007, last day of summer vacation before my senior year of high school. I remember thinking, "this is what church should be like", everyone was on their feet singing along, and everyone knew all the words.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
eboy71...
I saw the Stray Cats in 1983 when I was 11, but that doesn't count as my first REAL concert experience. That would have been Van Halen in April, 1984 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, which turned out to be the last tour with the original lineup. That show was indulgent arena rock at its best and it hooked me on concerts. Fast forward 25 or so years, and I now have a stack of concert ticket stubs a mile high and a case of tininitis (wear earplugs, kids!) that serves as sort of medical souvenir of the whole journey.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Meatwad555...
My first concert was Gigantour. Awesome lineup. I can't remember if it was 06 or 07. I've been to at least 15 other concerts since then....
I hope we get a Concert Review section added to the forums soon HMX!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Guitarmancer...
My first concert wasn't that long ago; it was during the summer of 2008, and the brand new Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival was rolling through Fresno.
What mostly grabbed my attention was that DragonForce was going to perform, and I LOVE DRAGONFORCE. WITH A VENGEANCE. And the fact that Slipknot was also there had some influence, too.
After telling my friend and his dad about it, we bought tickets and his dad drove us all down to the festival. We spent a good deal of the time looking for my friend's dad's pack, though, which turned out to be in the car, so we missed a few performances from the Hot Topic and Jagermeister stages.
I almost got the autographs from DragonForce... but I didn't.
However, I never felt so alive when they played. It was... amazing.
Disturbed, I liked, but not too much, cause I'm not THAT big a fan.
And what better way to end than with Slipknot? They even played an encore. Had no idea what it was.
I never knew a concert could be so loud. And awesome.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Zomba...
I was dragged to a KC and the Sunshine Band concert when I was 8. i thought it was hilarious. These old men were on the stage playing guitars while the crowd of 50 year old mothers were dancing.
Like Karmeleaux, the first concert I chose to go to was Green Day and Jimmy Eat World at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. It was great. Best concert I ever saw was U2 though.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Karmeleaux...
Unhealthy note: I can hear Dan Schmidt in my mind saying every word of that except 'Lame!' I think I need like a mp3 file of it or something. Otherwise his voice is my head is just somewhat creepy rather than really creepy.
When I was at a young age, my dad took the entire family to an Elton John concert. I fell asleep during it. The first concert I went by my own choice was Green Day and Jimmy Eat World. Jimmy Eat World had their volume at what I considered at the time 'too loud.' At this point in life, I've realized volume can never be loud enough.
Most recent: Reel Big Fish and Streetlight Manifesto. Ska-punk bands sure kick butt live. It sure would be nice to see some of that in a music rhythm game.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Zephiel...
Sad to say that I have yet to go to a concert. Although I plan to go to Musikfest this year. That counts, right?
Wednesday, February 4, 2009