We drove up the night before and camped in the woods near the stadium, and went in as soon as the gates opened. I will never forget where I was, who I was with, or what I did. Construction began on September 23, 1970 and was completed in just under a year for the start of the 1971 NFL season. I was 16 years old and got tickets for me and 4 other friends. 19 ans, en 1974, Thomas Nkono trne dj dans les buts du Canon Yaound, tout rcent champion d'Afrique 1971.Il enlve son premier titre national un an plus tard. the tour included two legs (United Kingdom and North America) and a total of 62 shows. (thank you, good people from 40 years ago, foxboro, july 4th, bicentennialmaybe you see this ). Age 17. Back then there wasnt any MTV where you could see the artists all the time.All you had was maybe a picture in a rock magazine.He was truly a living legend. Inexpensive tickets, which started at $1 in 1967 and rose to only $3 by 1976, further contributed to the event's popularity. The 70s were the best times and every year around this time I think back at that fantastic bicentenial show of 1976. Lot: 1149 - 1989 Starting Line up Figures,1991 Topps Stadium Upper Deck Play Makers All boxes in good condition with dates in photos Lot: 1150 . We ended up close to the stage. Tour: Thank you 92 PRO-FM, Gary Berkowitz, Schaefer Stadium (for hosting the concert), my buddy Mike, and of course, Sir Elton Hercules John! By which I mean sitting in the car for what felt like six hours while we all tried to navigate out of the dirt parking lot. Well , three years later I finally got my chance to see him. Eltons a billionaire because of the likes of me. Location Schaefer Stadium Foxborough, Wayland US Date July 4, 1976 Pictures Add a picture. New England Patriots Julius Adams receives oxygen on the field during a hot preseason game at Schaefer Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. [21] From 1983 through 1987, BC used Schaefer/Sullivan Stadium as an alternate home venue to host crowds larger than could be accommodated on campus at Alumni Stadium. He said to me What took you so long ! Three Dog Night. = Team's stadium under construction or refurbishment at time 1 = A team used the stadium when their permanent stadium was unable to be used as a result of damage. Genesis brought the We Can't Dance Tour to the stadium on May 28, 1992. Cmon, were going, he said and grabbed my hand. During heavy rains, the numerous unpaved spots in the parking lot turned to mud. Wow, John, you definitely have me beat with your number of Elton concerts! Six of us jumped in a car in Portland Maine and headed out, getting there while Dave Mason was playing his set. My heart was pounding like i stole something but I got in!! How wonderful hearing from so many people who went to that concert. Elton Johns Statue of Liberty costume Hard Rock Cafe. July 4, 1976, Elton John performs at Schaefer Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts. So not having money for a cab I walked home. When we got there, the gates were already open, so no yelling. Also went to November 1974 at the Garden. louder than the concorde but not quite as pretty, Laura Benanti and other Coronavirus stars, I bought the last Purell: Virus threat brings out our worst behavior. ", The tour concluded in mid-August with a record-breaking seven sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden. Got there around 11 AM and arrived back in Pittsfield around 4 AM the next day. Mar 15, . Just before the Schaefer Music Festival kicked off in the summer of 1968 a free concert was given in Central Park featuring the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, three of the top acts at that time. A group of 16 years old girls who sat near me agreed to give me a lift and they took me home. [1] The team was known as the Boston Patriots for its first eleven seasons 196070,[5] and had played in various stadiums in the Boston area. Now the anticipation was really growing because Elton was next.It really didnt matter that right before he came on it started raining and never stooped. Rick Derringer, Dave Mason were great too. Elton John Jul 4, 1976 1 encores, 19 songs. Back then he liked to throw piano benches. So much fun that we did it again a few weeks later when The Eagles played there, Your email address will not be published. Published by on 30 junio, 2022 Did anybody see the girl who was climbing the tower that held the lights that light up the field and or did anyone see the guy jump off the mens room and fell 20 feet and ripped his leg open on the barbed wire fence? At some point during his set he had this water bag type thing that he started to squirt out into the fans up front, swinging it around then letting it go flying into the crowd. New England Patriots Julius Adams during pre-season practice at Schaefer Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., July 18, 1976. What I remember most was the frenzy in the stadium waiting for his arrival and when he came out in a Statue of Liberty costume, the crowd went wild, then the music just kept it all going all night long. Wow, this thread took a wonderful turn not long ago! All the news that's fit to print, debate, and chew on. To those who love music . For these shows, Elton and the band shared the stage with the New York Community Choir and performed encores with Kiki Dee, Alice Cooper and the drag queen, Divine. Then Elton arrived. The Schaefer Music Festival in Central Park was a recurring music festival held in the summer between 1967 and 1976 at Wollman Rink in New York City's Central Park. Mark stood behind me, held me, swaying. I first saw Elton on Nov. 20 1974 at Boston Garden and had been listening to him from the beginning in 1970. Eagles at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, MA, USA, Boz Scaggs at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, MA, USA, Fleetwood Mac at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, MA, USA, Dave Mason at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, MA, USA, Elton John at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, MA, USA, Louder Than Concorde But Not Quite As Pretty, John Miles at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, MA, USA, The Allman Brothers Band at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, MA, USA, Chicago at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, MA, USA, The Beach Boys at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, MA, USA, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. Over the years a Who's Who of superstars of the popular music scene performed there. His manager didnt see him as a big name anymore and was booking him into small venues. Welcome aboard David! Pink Floyd played a two-night stand in May 1988 (on one of the nights their inflatable pig was torn to shreds). $10 ticket to see one of the most memorable concerts of a lifetime. But then on the horizon a helicopter circled the stadium 3 times. I was never so happy to be drenched. I went to this concert too summer right before my senior year. Thanks for bringing back the memories. I was there too, and shared your experience to my Music and Record Sharing with Ron Oliveri page on facebookI posted my 74 program alsoI was from Brocktonso glad to share your article on my page! Elton hit most of my favorites that night Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, Benny and the Jets. Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding As a result, the stadium was not demolished until late January 2002, after the conclusion of the 2001 postseason. Boz Scaggs. American football stadium in Foxborough, MA, US demolished in 2002, For the present stadium in Foxborough, see, An aerial view of Foxboro Stadium in 2002. I couldnt see when Elton took the stage and everyone stood up, so I ended up walking up to the stands by myself so I could see. You're not alone in this town. [citation needed], The original name in 1971 was Schaefer Stadium for the brewery of that name in an early example of the sale of naming rights. He came out , and his piano was unveiled, sparkly red,white and blue , Ive never seen anything like it, black puffy leather seat in front, and Elton wearing red,white and blue lensed glasses, matching shorts and tank top. I was there too! Also felt it was a cant miss date. Pittsburgh Jazz Festival Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles B.B. Yes, it was one of the best! Stadium Concert. It was our nation's Bicentennial celebration. Paulas dad waited for us outside the whole time. It was our nation's Bicentennial celebration. U2 played on The Joshua Tree Tour on September 22, 1987, and later performed three nights of their Zoo TV Tour on August 20, 22, and 23, 1992. We got something special. We, as a people must unite to save the children !! Was 18 and living in Stow and just graduated from NRHS. After John Miles was done out came the next act. No ride home and had to walk all the way home to No Attleboro. Though the concert tickets and television might both cost $100, Ben personally values the concert tickets at $200 and Carly at $50; the values they each place on the television might be swapped. So much fun Anna! It was part of the Louder than the Concorde But Not Quite As Pretty Tour. I was 39. I graduated from high school in 1976 and went to the concert with one of our teachers!! I was 19, had my sister Diane 18, her friend 18, who had her sisters 17& 16. Whenever Elton made his grand entrance flying in and coming out like the Statue of Liberty everyone went wild!! This predated the cell phone era. Like you, this event was the thrill of a lifetime for me as well. I was there and its still my favorite concert. Attending a concert along with parents with small kids is pretty unexpected, but cool nonetheless. The facility was built in a low-cost "bare bones" manner with unexceptional architectural elements, and had very few modern amenities. 5,6,7,8 open up the f**ing gate. I was 14 years old and my best friends dad took a troupe of us teenage girls (brave man). http://www.bignoisenow.com. Its seating capacity was inadequateonly about 40,000 for footballand many seats had obstructed views. The football venue originally known as Schaefer Stadium broke ground in September 1970 and opened for its primary tenant, the NFL's New England Patriots, on August 15, 1971. Elton John has just one concert at Schaefer Stadium on 4 July 1976. His music is timeless. Best concert of my life. After off-loading the band, we parked outside the stadium and shut down to await the end of the concert. We also had a friend across the street 17. It was originally named Schaefer Stadium after the Schaefer Brewing Company. 4 days Left Los Lobos "Kiko Setlist" Signed By Original Band $400. Here it was our nation's 200th birthday and on the most important day of the year, my hero was going to be right in my backyard, to be specific just 20 miles from my hometown of West Bridgewater, Mass. Like yourself I have been an Elton fan since first seeing him perform in 1974, I was 14. Now you can Crocodile Rock forever! Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is. We arrived well after 2AM in town & Pati lived on campus. [citation needed], In 1977, Dr. Pepper assumed sponsorship of the Central Park concert series, renamed the Dr. Pepper Central Park Music Festival. While the 1976 tour was his best that Ive seen I think his 1982 tour had his best song set. The Rolling Stones played three nights on September 27 and 29 and October 1, 1989, then two more nights on September 4 and 5, 1994 and lastly October 20 and 21, 1997. I cant recall the name of the flight attendant, but she played a key role in how the story unfolds. Elton doesnt do a plain black piano. I went to both shows at that time. I have some cool photos from that day too that Ill have to find and post sometime. It was a low point for him. On that day, along with 60,000 other fans, I got to see Elton John perform in concert at Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Elton John has just one concert at Schaefer Stadium on 4 July 1976. I was there! There are some things well just never forget. blicherweise sind jedoch schon lange vor Beginn der Saison alle Tickets ausverkauft, weshalb viele Karten bei Ebay oder auf dem Schwarzmarkt verkauft werden. [6] Like most baseball stadiums, Fenway was poorly suited as a football venue. Animals, Travel, Casinos, Sports, Gift Ideas, Mental Health and So Much More! . L'ancien gardien de but yougoslave et nouvel entraneur des Lions est ce qui peut arriver de mieux au jeune Thomas. That sure was one special concert back n 1976. 1975 June 18: Bob Marley & The Wailers June 20: Journey June 21: Montrose; Leslie West; Thee Image June 25: Mirabai; Jim Dawson; Robert Klein June 28 Earl Scruggs Revue; Emmylou Harris and Hot Band July 2: Dave Mason; Pousette-Dart Band July 5: Blood, Sweat & Tears July 9: Bee Gees w/ Revelation July 14: The Marshall Tucker Band July 16: Three Dog Night July 21: Brownsville Station; Slade July . I can remember every second of that night, it was meant to happen for me and all those Lucky enough to have been there. I was there also! I bought everything of his that I could get. By crossing over with Broadway scores such as The Lion King, the younger generation loves Elton too. I saw the sign light up all sparkles to outline Eltons face at his keyboard just behind stage. Which Elton song comes to mind today folks ? No one seemed to mind us snaking through the crowd. Not awesome, but I still remember it vividly and have seen him 105 times since, so I am not complaining! When Elton John arrived, my cousin grabbed my hand & started running. James Newton-Howard Keyboards You want to get closer? he said. I remember that the ticket cost 10 dollars, and that when the concert ended not so late, at about 11 pm, i had to find a way to get back to Newton where my family lived (I was a tourist from Israel). Thanks for the link to your site Rich! Originally it was supposed to be Dave Mason that opened the show but it ended up being John Miles that came on about 12 noon. My boyfriend is now my husband. The Spirit of '76. As a result, when Kiam himself was crippled by financial troubles, he sold the Patriots to James Orthwein in 1992. This was a serious life-changing moment and weekend. As this week was winding down, Elton notified the band that he was taking a break from touring and the group soon disbanded. My uncle surprised us with tickets for the boys to go to the Sox game and 2 tickets for me and his daughter to see Elton John. (The Redskins left after the 1936 season, in which they hosted the NFL Championship Game, not in Boston but at the Polo Grounds in New York City. 7/13/1973. So glad to share this with you and others who were there! When that stage rolled out and the Statue of Liberty stood on the piano we all just looked at each otherthen Elton jumped off and Grow Some Funk of Your Own cranked! In the opening week of the 1975 season, Boston College hosted Notre Dame at Schaefer Stadium in their first ever meeting. Sullivan Stadium hosted The Who 's 25th anniversary tour on July 12 and 14, 1989. Learn. Presale tickets will be available on Feb. 28 to Legacy Fan Club members at 9 a.m. and General Fan Club members at 11 a.m. Those presales end a Watch Now: Related Video Love those outfits! Ive only met one other person that went to that concert I didnt realize that Id ever see anything about it again. I bought the tickets for my boyfriend for his 18 th birthday. We had alot of fun on the way and were excited not knowing what we were about to see.This was the first concert of my life and to see my idol in person was unbelievable. The stage was placed in the "U" shaped part of the stadium and faced an area comprising 14,000 seats of the 30,000 plus seat structure. Yes, I have treasured that piece of paper with Elton Johns autograph ever since I received it in 1976! If you are interested please contact me at pgay@wiltonbulletin.com. Will we ever have anything like this again? . When Kiam and Sullivan tried to sell the team to interests in Jacksonville, Kraft effectively stymied the deal by refusing to let the team out of their lease, which contained an ironclad commitment to play in the stadium until 2001. When they finally opened the gates to let us in it was like a stampede with everyone running to the football field to try to get up close. M8s blowing up all around us was a little scary, but Ill never forget that show. Pinball Wizard. However, the concert was canceled after stadium officials refused to allow seating on the field to prevent damage to the new turf and Aerosmith would not play without fans on the field. However, as in 1992, Kraft refused to let the Patriots out of their lease. We couldn't celebrate YES or Prog Rock without flashing back to one of the largest concerts in Philadelphia history, the 1976 BiCentential Concert at JFK Stadium featuring YES, Peter Frampton & Gary Wright. Incredible show!!! I got to shake his hand when he finished which was pretty cool, even for this old guy. Forsix seasons, 196368, the Patriots played in Fenway Park, home of baseball's Boston Red Sox. I went to Belmont High School at the time of the 1976 concert. The festival name was changed to Dr. Pepper Music Festival after the move away from Central Park in 1981. Foxboro, Mass. Billie Jean King sang backing vocals and Elton slipped Holiday Inn in to the 20-song set list, a unique event on this tour. However, the stadium would instead play host to the first season of the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era, with the team making a run to get into the playoffs and going on to win their first Super Bowl. Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, United States. [8] Even allowing for this modest cost overrun, it was still a bargain price for a major sports stadium even by 1970s standards. God love the schedulers who brought Elton to Foxboro, Massachusetts on July 4, 1976!!! Schaefer Stadium hosted Elton John on July 4, 1976, as well as Boz Scaggs, The Eagles, and Fleetwood Mac on July 25, 1976. The stadium's former site became parking lots for its successor, Gillette Stadium, before being developed into the open-air shopping center Patriot Place. I think that was one of those concerts none of us will ever forget. We got good seats stage left about 3 rows back from the access path on the lower stadium level. It was also almost completely exposed to the elements, meaning that there was almost no protection for the fans in storms (outside of beneath the stands) or in extreme cold. Davey Johnstone Electric guitars, banjo, mandolin, rhythm guitar, background vocals, slide guitar. In a car next to us was a person who caught one of the stuffed fruit adornments that Elton wore and then threw into the crowd. I was there too! [2] Contents 1 History 1.1 Seating Capacity 2 Playing surface 1 er Tour KSV Hessen Kassel: 2-2 ap: 3-0 Bayern Munich: 1/8 FC Kaiserslautern: 1-1 ap: 5-0 Bayern Munich: 1/4 Bayern Munich: 4-0 MSV Duisbourg: 1/2 Fortuna Dsseldorf: 0-1 Bayern Munich: Finale Bayern Munich: 2-1 ap: FC Cologne Matchs officiels de la saison. I am not sure I have ever been more jealous of someone, before or since. John. He was a saint and I never really thanked him properly. [6][7] Art Garfunkel and George Harrison also appear as non-performers. Your Song I drove my best buddy and 2 brothers to the show in a 66 Chevy Impala which was on its last legs. We waited in the parking lot for a few hours talking with people, waiting for traffic to thin. On 4 July 1976, Elton played Schaefer Stadium near Boston. I was just a skinny little guy and got myself 5 feet from the stage, it was horrible to be sandwiched there alone, but it was where i needed to be. I have the souvenir program from that night. Ive seen some amazing concerts over the years and got some everlasting memories. Mar 30, 2023 Group of 4 rock concert posters. I had just turned 20 4 days before and had stopped by a friends house to catch up. Billie Jean King sang backing vocals and Elton slipped Holiday Inn in to the 20-song set list, a unique event on this tour. you were AWESOME tonight ! Yes. Stadion . Knowing that the revenue from the Patriots would not be nearly enough to service the debt, the Sullivans quietly put the team and the stadium on the market. In this day and age, we all need a little Elton to raise our spirits! So thank you Mr. LeMasa, you are a great dad! "[3], Club owner and musician Hilly Kristal co-founded the series with producer and concert promoter Ron Delsener. After 31 NFL seasons, Foxboro Stadium was scheduled to be demolished on December 23, 2001, the day after the Patriots' final home game. Super cool Linda! Dont Let the Sun Go Down on Me The $2, [Commissioner of Parks August Heckscher] said, would have been 'too expensive for a lot of New Yorkers. Ive lost count but would say I have seen EJ about 25 times over the years, including an acoustic show he did with Ray Cooper at the Boston Music Hall in the late 70s. Two words rapt amazement. The field was PACKED. On July 4, 1976, my cousins came to my house in Quincy. Stadium Concert. But a few decades ago, the majority of the devastation occurred off the field. '"[2], In the 1960s, before the rise of corporate concert organizers and ticket agents, top rated bands would often play for free (especially in San Francisco) or for amounts that resulted in reasonable concert ticket prices. My favorite Elton John program, from the 1974 tour featuring brilliant art by Jacques Benoit. Started the Garden show with Funeral for a Friend, remember the neon lights on either side of the stage lit up spelling out Elton John? Hell yes I want those tickets! So happy to have found this blog. In 1989 Reebok took over sponsorship of the concert series at Pier 84, renamed Reebok Riverstage, which lasted through 1990. Built from 1993 to 1996 at a cost equivalent to 140 million, it is the largest stadium in the country. With this in mind, Kraft swooped in and bought the team himself. Russell began learning piano at the young age of three, quickly displaying talent from an early age. Mona Lisa and the mad hatters, This is the time of Revelation , today people, not later on. I wish I could remember that portrait of Elton in the fireworks, but unfortunately, I dont. ALLAH AKBAR !!! I may have even tried to rate the songs, using a star system, but after a while, it became pretty apparent that they were ALL getting five stars. The show was scheduled to start at 9PM and after the stage was cleared prior nothing seemed to be happening for set up. I was there too, 40 years ago today. Harry Sinden of the Bruins walked across the ice and got a great ovation. Paul McCartney brought the Flowers In the Dirt Tour to the stadium on July 24 and 26, 1990. Bennie and the Jets Your story was so similar to my own. We both replied nah! She looked at me and said dont you have a daughter? Required fields are marked *. On that day, along with 60,000 other fans, I got to see Elton John perform in concert at Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. I brag to this day about this concertIt was my first one. I was so exciting driving down to Foxboro sipping a few Michelobs hahahaha. If you are interested, please contact me at pgay@wiltonbulletin.com. Glad everyone who has responded to this blog post remembers it so well too! If you know your music history, the two have only ever played together once, on July 25, 1976, at Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro, MA. Its a bit tattered but Ive held onto it for almost 40 years along with the program from his 1974 tour. Dave Mason Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, MA - Jul 4, 1976 Jul 04 1976 Following concerts Dave Mason Frost Amphitheater, Stanford, CA - Jul 18, 1976 Jul 18 1976 Dave Mason Concord Pavilion, Concord, CA - Jul 19, 1976 Jul 19 1976 Last updated: 6 Feb 2023, 01:24 Etc/UTC 6 people were there I was there too Dmassguy GayeMarvin kevinaitch pjc1 suze_ct Someone Saved My Life Tonight Buckingham left in 1987. followed by Nicks in 1991 and Christine McVie in 1995. ), Grow Some Funk of Your Own Thanks for sharing your story Peter! Kenny Passarelli Bass document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. We were ready to leave then & call it a night. With a capacity of just over 60,000 (only 10,000 above the NFL's minimum seating capacity), it was one of the smallest stadiums in the NFL. Were same age with similar taste in music I feel. Amazing show and memories are still so vivid. Statue of Liberty garb Ill never forget! After that summer I went off to college, Mark went back to high school and we never saw each other again. LOL She had a brand new 76 Monte Carlo. Leaving the field & on the bus back to Boston my ears were ringing attempting to replay what we just saw. What an incredible experience and memory to have forever! We were all squished in my Ford Maverick. ? lol, http://floridatheatre.com/event/dave-masons-traffic-jam/?utm_source=Dave+Mason+Winner+02%2F23%2F14&utm_campaign=Dave+Mason+Winners+02%2F23%2F14&utm_medium=email.