(editor’s note – Muddy Waters was the scheduled opener, but canceled the day of the show)
(editor’s note – This date was originally scheduled to be Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, and Billy Swan but Kristofferson was forced to cancel due to filmmaking commitments.)
Rock Band Cuts Concert Short, Angry SPAC Crowd Hurls Cans
by Donald Wilcock, The Times Record, July 14, 1975
Several young people were arrested Sunday night following a wild disturbance at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center that included the hurtling of hundreds of full beer cans and several chairs at the stage.
The disturbance, set off by an unusually short performance by the rock band J. Geils, began as waves of angry youngsters, in the crowd of over 12,000, stormed through the orchestra pit and up onto the stage to wreck the group’s equipment.
Muddy Waters, a veteran blues singer, had been scheduled to open the concert, but cancelled his appearance late Sunday for no reported reason, according to SPAC officials.
Following a short fill-in set by Eros, a Schenectady rock band, J. Geils took the stage at 7:15 p.m. reportedly with a
10:15 p.m. plane to catch at Albany County Airport.
The band, which has performed in this area on several occasions, has built a reputation for lengthy, energized concerts lasting up to two hours. Last night they left the stage in less than 45 minutes, despite a promise by lead singer Peter Wolf earlier that “We are getting ready to blow your faces.”
The group completed a set of six hard rock numbers that had the excited audience jumping in their seats, then the group scurried off stage amidst the screams of disbelieving fans. As the group came out again for its first encore, Wolf looked over the crowd at the foot of the stage and announced, “We got some head choppers here. We’re having too much fun to get crazy.”
A surprise birthday cake for drummer Stephen Joe Bladd brought a round of firecrackers and an off-the-cuff “Shoot ’em up baby!” from Wolf as the band launched into “You Gotta Give It To Me,” another hard rock piece. Then, off the band went again.
The house lights went on, and the SPAC tape system played a soothing song, but to no avail. The crowd, angrier now, screamed for more music. Again, the group came on, did one fast, rousing number and left.
When it became obvious that this was the end as the stage crew began to dismantle equipment, the first beer can landed on stage. Soon, beer cans were raining in from all over the amphitheater, some falling short and hitting the crowd… then an umbrella, a chair, more chairs…
Then groups of six or eight youths began storming the stage in waves. The organ and orchestra piano were overturned. The drums were pulled apart. An amplifier was pushed into the pit, narrowly missing several spectators.
Stage lights, connected to a power cord running to the sound control board in the middle of the theater, began to teeter, as about 75 youngsters tugged on the cord.
The violence lasted about a half hour. Gradually the crowd filtered out from the littered stage and into the parking lots where car windows were smashed with bottles.
An hour later at the Park Police Station, several young people in handcuffs huddled in corners as Sgt. James Bowen took one of several angry calls.
A friend and I, there to report our broken car windshield, overheard one caller claim that swearing young people had driven past his car on both sides, nearly running him off Route 9.
SPAC Public Relations Director Charles Croce reported that only the band’s equipment was damaged. The only problem in the theater was one broken chair. Fast work by the SPAC stage crew had prevented more damage.
Croce said as of this time no scheduled rock concerts have been cancelled.
Poughkeepsie Journal, June 12, 1975
Recent Comments