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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => HistoryOfConcertSound.org => Topic started by: Ivan Beaver on August 23, 2016, 12:48:43 PM

Title: A dark day in rock history
Post by: Ivan Beaver on August 23, 2016, 12:48:43 PM
Here is the story of one of the dark days in rock history.

There are some photos of the gear-just to keep it on subject

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3735249/Inside-one-Rock-n-Roll-s-darkest-days-Altamont-concert-featured-Rolling-Stones-Grateful-Dead-saw-overdoses-Hells-Angels-brutality-murder-happened-Mick-Jagger-s-greed-new-book-claims.html#i-431938bd595d6932
Title: Re: A dark day in rock history
Post by: John L Nobile on August 23, 2016, 01:16:35 PM
Very interesting read and lots of good pics.

Thanks for posting that Ivan
Title: Re: A dark day in rock history
Post by: Jeff Bankston on August 23, 2016, 04:54:11 PM
A friend gave me his DVD of that. What disaster !
Title: Re: A dark day in rock history
Post by: Keith Broughton on August 23, 2016, 06:19:35 PM
Here is the story of one of the dark days in rock history.

There are some photos of the gear-just to keep it on subject

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3735249/Inside-one-Rock-n-Roll-s-darkest-days-Altamont-concert-featured-Rolling-Stones-Grateful-Dead-saw-overdoses-Hells-Angels-brutality-murder-happened-Mick-Jagger-s-greed-new-book-claims.html#i-431938bd595d6932
I was aware of the general problem with that gig but the article provided more details.
Thanks Ivan.
Title: Re: A dark day in rock history
Post by: Stephen Kirby on August 23, 2016, 06:59:52 PM
I had older friends who where there.  Two of them were linemen for the HS football team and were pretty much left alone as they tried to get away.  At the time they said that it was basically because a rival biker gang, the Roman Wheels, took the concentration of Hells Angels as an excuse to crash the party and get into it, and who cares about the hippies.  The Angels lost their minds and both gangs went after anyone in striking distance.
Title: Re: A dark day in rock history
Post by: frank kayser on August 24, 2016, 07:06:32 PM
I was a sophomore in high school when that happened.  I remember reading, over and over, the multi-page, blow by blow writeup in one of the rock rags - Rolling Stone I think.  It still haunts me.  :'(
Title: Re: A dark day in rock history
Post by: Woody Nuss on September 13, 2016, 07:22:57 PM
The text is terrible but I do love the pics. Check out the mic stand bases and the poor little Sun boxes used as stage monitors. (and the "security" guy blocking it)
Title: Re: A dark day in rock history
Post by: Ivan Beaver on September 13, 2016, 08:51:43 PM
The text is terrible but I do love the pics. Check out the mic stand bases and the poor little Sun boxes used as stage monitors. (and the "security" guy blocking it)
I would love to be able to go back in time and listen to some of these "classic" concerts.

I have a feeling I would be disappointed.  But it was all they/we had at the time.

I would also like to visit some of my old shows and give a listen.

OK maybe not.  SURE I WOULD :)
Title: Re: A dark day in rock history
Post by: Keith Broughton on September 14, 2016, 06:26:33 AM
I would love to be able to go back in time and listen to some of these "classic" concerts.

I have a feeling I would be disappointed.  But it was all they/we had at the time.

I would also like to visit some of my old shows and give a listen.

OK maybe not.  SURE I WOULD :)
I remember seeing Uriah Heep in an indoor venue in Buffalo years ago.
It was my first "big" show and I left because the sound was so terrible.
ELP in a stadium wasn't too bad, as far as I remember,  ;) but certainly not as loud as todays shows.
Title: Re: A dark day in rock history
Post by: Ivan Beaver on September 14, 2016, 08:57:31 AM
I remember seeing Uriah Heep in an indoor venue in Buffalo years ago.

Uriah Heep was going to be the first "name band" I provided for.

It got cancelled due to a large snow storm.

So Molly Hatchet ended up being my first "name band" I provided full production for.

WOW- did I learn A LOT from that day.

I had never worked on that level-SO much to learn.
Title: Re: A dark day in rock history
Post by: Hyam Sosnow on September 14, 2016, 08:13:43 PM
I remember seeing Uriah Heep in an indoor venue in Buffalo years ago.
It was my first "big" show and I left because the sound was so terrible.
ELP in a stadium wasn't too bad, as far as I remember,  ;) but certainly not as loud as todays shows.

The first "real" rock show I saw was Cream in March of 1968. I was standing about 15 feet from the stage between Bruce and Baker (the venue had no chairs, only Astro-turf on the floor). The sound system was one gray Altec A4 on each side of the stage (I'm guessing run by Altec amps or DC300s); Clapton and Bruce each used two full 100-watt Marshall stacks. When Clapton came on stage he ran his hand along the tops of all the knobs on both amps, turning every control on each amp all the way up. (My friend and I looked at each other and said in unison, "Oh shit!") When they hit the first chord of "Tales of Brave Ulysses" the sound was so loud it seemed to be physically tangible. It changed my life forever.
Title: Re: A dark day in rock history
Post by: John L Nobile on September 14, 2016, 09:45:10 PM
I remember seeing Uriah Heep in an indoor venue in Buffalo years ago.
It was my first "big" show and I left because the sound was so terrible.
ELP in a stadium wasn't too bad, as far as I remember,  ;) but certainly not as loud as todays shows.

I saw ELP once and I remember it as the best concert I've ever seen. I didn't have the critical taste that I do now but I remember it as sounding incredible. But when I think back, it's amazing how with all the hi tech gear they were using that everything worked flawlessly. And how they had such a full sound with only 3 guys and no trax. Great arrangements. I miss you Keith.

Some of these modern bands could use that kind of musicianship in their act.
Title: Re: A dark day in rock history
Post by: Hyam Sosnow on September 15, 2016, 05:50:56 PM
I saw ELP once and I remember it as the best concert I've ever seen. I didn't have the critical taste that I do now but I remember it as sounding incredible. But when I think back, it's amazing how with all the hi tech gear they were using that everything worked flawlessly. And how they had such a full sound with only 3 guys and no trax. Great arrangements. I miss you Keith.

Some of these modern bands could use that kind of musicianship in their act.

Amen to that. The third time I saw ELP they were using a Clair S4 system (something like 36 boxes in each hang). It was by far, the best sound I'd ever heard at a rock concert up till then (mid-1977).