By this time I was a self proclaimed, long haired, heavy metal head banger! If the music I was listening to would make someone shudder with fear and horror, it was that much more appealing to me. Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Judas Priest, The Runaways, etcetera! The more controversey there was with a band, the louder the volume went!
Here I am in one of my many rock band t-shirts of the era. This one was light blue, and the image is from the first Aerosmith album. These photo booth pictures look like mug-shots.
KISS! ALIVE and in concert! What a privilege to see them back in 1977 for the "Love Gun" tour! Sure, the seats were in the "nose-bleed" section of the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. I can still recall the feeling the waves of heat every time the flames and explosions went off.
It was a hot, humid July night. Someone in authority had the brilliant idea that if they hosed down the auditorium, it would cool it down. Such was not the case. With the crowds, the heat and humidy and KISS's usual pyrotechnics, the "Aud" became one big sauna bath. Still, it's one of my favourite concert recollections.
Cheap Trick had just released "In Colour [and in Black and White]" album and were still rather unknown. There were a couple of girls in the seats in front of us that only came to see Cheap Trick. I could not comprehend that. I couldn't even comprehend Cheap Trick at the time. It was too bad I didn't appreciate them then. "Elo Kiddies" is my favourite Cheap Trick track. It has a raw edge the band I thought that they lost after the Budokan concert.
Here I am at the same photo booth. This was back in the day when one could still smoke cigarettes in public places. Although I didn't get in to the Ramones until quite a bit later, I think I bore somewhat of a resemblance to Joey Ramone.
It was cold. People were lined up outside the Guelph Memorial Auditorium. It sounded like the band had started and everyone rushed the door, and it collapsed. It was amazing there weren't more injuries. Since the Guelph Auditorium was a small venue, everyone was pretty close to the band.
As per usual for the time, Max Webster would be the opening band for Rush. For those that never experienced Max Webster "back in the day", thanks to yet another YouTube search, here's Max Webster doing "Hangover", from their debut album, in the UK in 1977.
I was even lucky enough to see Max Webster on New Year's Eve 1980, and Geddy Lee made a special appearance for Battle Scar! The crowd went crazy!
