The master list Top 15 shows Next best 15 Best of the rest All the rest The venues Dorseyland

I used to go to a lot of concerts back in the '70s and '80s and was lucky enough to catch many great ones, some of which I actually remember. Thank God I wrote everything down.

All the venues are/were in Toronto, Canada, unless stated otherwise.



ALL OF THE CONCERTS (in chronological order)

Click on the ticket stub to see it large.

Pre-1972
ARTIST / EVENT DATE VENUE PRICE STUB,
COMMENTS
James Cotton Blues Band ? Canadian National Exhibition free  
Lighthouse, Keith McKie, Subway Elvis ? Humber College free  
Bruce Cockburn, Keith McKie ? Georgetown High School, Ontario $2  
Beach Boys, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Joe Tex June 1969 Free Trade Hall, Manchester, UK $2  
Led Zeppelin, Blodwyn Pig, Liverpool Scene June 15, 1969 Free Trade Hall, Manchester, UK $2 Read a little about this show HERE.
1972
The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder July 15 Maple Leaf Gardens $5  
Mariposa Folk Festival: Neil Young, Bruce Cockburn, John Prine, Bukka White July 16 Centre Island free  
Perth County Conspiracy Sept ? York University free  
Elton John, Family Sept 2 Maple Leaf Gardens $5.50
1973
Pink Floyd Mar 11 Maple Leaf Gardens $5.50

FEBRUARY 2009, STEVE FROM TORONTO says: Reading this list brought back a lot of memories. I was at many of the same shows.

One of the earliest one's that I can remember was New Year's Eve 1971, Winter Pop at Maple Leaf Gardens. Alice Cooper hung himself.

But Pink Floyd in '73 was a highlight for me, I remember the first song was a epic version of "Echoes". Standing waist deep in green fog, it was awesome. And when they played a new song, "Money", with that quadraphonic sound, well it just blew me away. It's on my top 10 list, for sure.

There is one show that I have been looking for info about: it was at Maple Leaf Gardens in '73 or '74, Humble Pie was the headline, opening act was the Groundhogs. Anyone with anything relating to that show, please share.


NOVEMBER 2010, Steve Jepson, formerly of Toronto, now of Thailand, comments: "I was not a 'Dark Side of the Moon' fan. It was a big disappointment for me as I was a huge Pink Floyd fan. 'Saucerful', 'Atom Heart Mother' an 'Ummagumma' I adored. I remember the quad sound, laser lighting and the big 'ball'. But I absolutely do not remember any movie or slide show. I saw them perform 'Dark Side' three times and only remember being wowed by the visuals at the Hamilton show.

"At MLG I was absolutely blown away by the end of 'Echoes' (we had brought something called Colombian), and I would have been happy with only that, well not really. I remember 'Eugene', 'Saucerful' etc, and I remember the sax solo and the back-up singers in 'Dark Side'. The airplane I'm not sure about, but I know I saw it at least once, at either the Buffalo or Toronto show. I also recall some kind of large metallic figure off to the side at the Buffalo show which was not at MLG. I think the plane at the Hamilton show was considerably larger."

AUGUST 2011, Steve Jepson posted his Floyd memories on Marsden Global, the website of the great Toronto DJ DAVE MARSDEN, who ended up emceeing the Floyd concert and explains how it happened here: "There was no plane crash at the first Toronto Floyd 'Dark Side' performance as near as I can remember.
"Promoters Michael Cohl and David Wolinsky of Cymba Productions (which later became CPI) were NOT going to bring the Pink Floyd Tour to Toronto -- they didn't think anyone wanted to see them. Imagine! 'Dark Side' had not yet been released. It came out just ahead of this concert.
"I was at CHUM-FM at the time and started a petition drive to get Cohl and Wolinsky to change their minds. The reaction was huge. I remember taking many boxes of personal letters (remember them?) and some 200,000 signatures on petitions to the Cymba offices, pouring them onto Michael Cohl's desk. He was impressed. A few days later I was able to announce the concert date.
"Still, Michael Cohl told me he didn't expect a sell-out. But on the Saturday morning the tickets went on sale, my home phone rang around 10:30. It was Michael Cohl. The show had sold out in about 15 minutes! Together we accomplish cool things."

Rory Gallagher, Mainline, King Biscuit Boy Mar 20 Colonial Tavern $2.50  
The Kinks, Michaeljon April 5 Massey Hall $6  
It's a Beautiful Day, Bloodrock, Sylvester & His Hot Band April 13 Massey Hall $5.50  
Johnny Winter, Slade Apr 25 Maple Leaf Gardens $6

APRIL 2010, DAN IN KINGSTON comments: Johnny Winter @ the Gardens. We just had him here in Kingston last year in a bar downtown. He was great but people had trouble believing me that I saw him headline Maple Leaf Gardens in the '70s. My gawd -- Zappa and the Mothers, Edgar Winter with ELO, Van Morrison in the MLG Concert Bowl, Foot in Coldwater @ Ontario Place, Paul McCartney and Wings, the Stones, Elton John ... the shows go on and on that I attended.
I can't find Neil Young's Maple Leaf Gardens show Jan 15, 1973. I had just turned 15 and it was my first big concert. At the time it was the tour to support Harvest but later became known as the Time Fades Away Tour.

Steve Miller Band, Rick Roberts May 3 Massey Hall $6  
Frank Zappa and the Mothers, Mahavishnu Orchestra, the Good Brothers May 4 Maple Leaf Gardens $6
Downchild Blues Band, Horn, Murray McLauchlan May 13 High Park free  
Commander Cody & the Lost Planet Airmen, Freddie King, Cold Blood May 13 O'Keefe Centre $6  
King Crimson, the Strawbs May 18 Massey Hall $6  
Jethro Tull, Brewer & Shipley May 30 Maple Leaf Gardens $6  
Savoy Brown, Manfred Mann June 20 Massey Hall $3  
Pink Floyd June 27 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium $?  
Foot in Coldwater, Fast Eddy July 5 Ontario Place Forum free  
Humble Pie, Leslie West's Wild West, Fludd July 12 Varsity Stadium $6
Summer Fest: The Allman Brothers, the Grateful Dead, the Band July 28 Watkins Glen, New York $10
Leon Russell, Mary McCreary Aug 9 Varsity Stadium $6
John McLaughlin, Santana Aug 29 Maple Leaf Gardens $6.60
Guess Who, the Greaseball Boogie Band Sept 22 University of Waterloo, Ontario $4.50  
The Grateful Dead, the Doug Sahm Band Sept 26 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, NY $6  
John Mayall, If Oct 7 Convocation Hall $5.50  
Mott the Hoople, Blue Oyster Cult, Aerosmith Oct 14 Massey Hall $6  
Joe Walsh & Barnstorm, REO Speedwagon Oct 20 Massey Hall $5  
The New York Dolls, Rush Oct 27 Victory Burlesque $4.90  
The Edgar Winter Group, Electric Light Orchestra, the James Montgomery Band Nov 5 Maple Leaf Gardens $6.60  
Genesis Nov 8 Massey Hall $4  

NOVEMBER 2010, Steve Jepson, formerly of Toronto, now of Thailand, comments: "They had no visuals for the show! Gabriel apologized because the equipment truck had broken down coming from Quebec. I think they used mostly house lighting. 'Selling England by the Pound' changed my life!"

The Doobie Brothers, Bill Joel Nov 13 Massey Hall $6  
Todd Rundgren, Lazarus Nov 14 Massey Hall $4  
Climax Blues Band, the James Hartley Band, Joe Mendelson Dec 9 Victory Burlesque $5  
Breathless Dec 12 Abbey Road tavern free  
Alice Cooper, ZZ Top Dec 14 Maple Leaf Gardens $7  

OCTOBER 2009: James B, "previously of Toronto, now in sunny Florida", says his oldest brother attended this Alice concert as well as the October 27 New York Dolls show at the Victory.
"I recall him mentioning that half the stage didn't arrive for the Cooper show, and that there were other musicians playing behind the stage while the Coop was on. I had told him that Glen Buxton wasn't up to playing at that time and the musicians were there to fill in for him, as he wasn't even plugged in most of the tour.
"They also mentioned some guy fell into the orchestra pit and the commotion it created. I did hear the bootleg of the Cooper show, from a show cancelled due to audience violence. You could hear Alice introduce the band and ask the audience to calm down for the night. He also asked them again before the encore.
"As for the Dolls, both my brothers were at that show, all they could recall was the loud shrill scream coming from the back-up band's singer. Little did they know who that band eventually was! The same Brother also saw the Dolls at Massey Hall when a little-known band called Kiss backed them up. Fun times, thanks for the info, I am fascinated by that musical era."

McKenna-Mendelson Mainline Dec 31 Victory Burlesque $5  
1974
Downchild Blues Band Jan 10 El Mocambo free  
Iggy & the Stooges, Curtis Lee & Abraham Jan 25 Victory Burlesque $4.40
Spirit, Rose Feb 9 Victory Burlesque $4.95  
Bachman Turner Overdrive, the Michael Quatro Jam Band Feb 13 University of Waterloo, Ontario free  
Yes, John Martyn Feb 22 Maple Leaf Gardens $6.60
Scrubbaloe Cane Mar 7 Abbey Road tavern $1  
Soft Machine, the Michael Quatro Jam Band Mar 9 Victory Burlesque $5  
The Pointer Sisters, Tony Kosinec Mar 10 Massey Hall $6  
Roy Buchanan, Rick Roberts Mar 15 Victory Burlesque $5  
Peter Frampton, Lorence Hud Mar 23 Victory Burlesque $5  
Electric Light Orchestra, Al Stewart Mar 30 Massey Hall $7.50  
The Strawbs, McLean & McLean Mar 31 Massey Hall $6.60  


NOVEMBER 2010, Steve Jepson, formerly of Toronto, now of Thailand,
who took the photo above, recalls that this is the show Dave Cousins said was the best gig the Strawbs ever played!

Shawn Phillips, Valdy Apr 4 Massey Hall $6.60  
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band, Audiomaster Apr 7 Convocation Hall $4.50  
Hawkwind, Man Apr 9 Massey Hall $3.30  
Genesis May 2 Massey Hall $6.60  

NOVEMBER 2010, Steve Jepson, formerly of Toronto, now of Thailand, is pretty sure there was no Genesis show in Toronto on this date, and that my records must be referring to the one in November 1973: "That 'unknown' Genesis concert a few months later I don't think happened. I would have broken both legs to be at another Genesis show so soon."

Savoy Brown, Silverhead May 11 Victory Burlesque $5  
Mott the Hoople, Kansas Mar 11 Massey Hall $4.50  
David Bowie June 16 O'Keefe Centre $8.80  
The Mahavishnu Orchestra June 28 Massey Hall $6.60  
Nazareth, Rush July 1 Seneca College $6  
Eric Clapton with Freddie King, the Band, Ross July 6 Orchard Park Stadium, NY $8

MAY 2008, SUZETTE IN NIAGARA FALLS, NY, COMMENTS: That's a great website you have there. Trust me, in years to come you will be glad you wrote it all down. I have been trying to remember the Summerfest concerts at Rich Stadium in the '70s. My husband was at the Yes, and Eric Clapton ones. But it's hard to remember all of the bands that played during those years. He remembers Chicago playing on the same day that Yes played -- do you remember that? I went to an Eagles, Seals & Crofts concert there in '75. Thanks for the great memories!!!


SEPT 2008, SEAN CONDON, FORMERLY OF UPSTATE NEW YORK, COMMENTS: The Summer Fest concerts at Rich Stadium have an important place in my heart since they were my first concerts. Eric Clapton with Freddie King, the Band, Ross was the first concert I ever attended. I had no idea the date or year. I remember the ticket stub like it was yesterday. I remember Clapton had trouble standing.


FEB 2010, MARK GULLO OF CALIFORNIA, FORMERLY OF BUFFALO, comments: This was my first big stadium show -- I was 14 at the time. I remember waiting all day to see Clapton, only to watch him throw up on stage. This was after they stalled forever for him to try and sober up. I was pissed. I think he still owes me a show! Oh, and I still have my ticket stub and it looks like it was torn the same way as yours. Still remember there was a clown or something thay brought out too. Really bizarre.

Roy Buchanan, John Lee Hooker, the Sunnyland Slim Blues Band, Ellen McIlwaine, Diamondback, Michael Hasek July 13 Centre Island $7  
JANUARY 2010, TOM PATERSON IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, COMMENTS: I played bass for Sunnyland Slim at Centre Island that day. I think we played in the early afternoon. The ferryboat ride was interesting.

I don't know how the '71 Fender Jazz bass I played that day, that I still have BTW, got out there and back. Suffice that it did, along with the humans who made the voyage back and forth.

Sunnyland was, with Big Bill Broonzy, a Boss of the Blues in that he and Big Bill "ran the scene" on the South Side of Chicago, forming and booking bands into the many small black clubs that proliferated in Chicago immediately post-WWII. Meaning, he was a great force in the forming of the Chicago Blues sound. "Me and Bill were the first two black men to have new Cadillacs in Chicago after the war." Talkin' some stuff, there.

There have been several "authoritative" works on the Chicago Blues scene that completely omit Sunnyland Slim (born Albert Luandrew). Suffice to say, upon his passing, the City of Chicago held an official Sunnyland Slim Day.

He was a great piano player with a rock-steady left hand that never missed, until later in his career, after he was injured in an auto accident, and a great singer who could show anyone how it is done on a good night, even well into his 60s, when I played for him.

Sunnyland, I know he was no angel but he was a good guy. Probably my favorite memory, if I had to choose, would be walking in the door of the Cafe Campus in Montreal, where we entered at the rear of the audience area, and walked up a middle aisle between a full house of people who were there early to see Sunnyland. I happened to be walking alongside the man, carrying my Fender bass.

About the time we got a third of the way up to the stage, people in the back had started clapping, heads were turning around, and by two-thirds of the way up to the stage, we (Sunnyland and me too, just for being in the band) had the whole crowd stood up and clapping.

Wow, a standing ovation for just walking in the joint!

Emmerson Lake & Palmer, the James Gang, Lynrd Skynrd July 26 Orchard Park Stadium, Buffalo, NY $7.50  
Todd Rundgren, Rory Gallagher, Dr Hook & the Medicine Show, Status Quo, Foot in Coldwater, Diamondback, Abraham's Children Aug 11 Centre Island $9  

JULY 2010: Jonathan at BNOrecordingUSA tells me that Abraham's Children actually played the island gig under the name Captain Midnite but soon after, due to a IegaI tussIe with the comic book of that name, switched to Abraham's Children. They were originally called Just Us. Check out their website.

Martin Mull Aug 30 The Chimney tavern $2.50  
Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Jesse Colin Young Sept 2 Varsity Stadium $9

SEPTEMBER 2010, GERARD FROM ST JOHN'S, NFLD says: I was at that show. Fantastic!! You missed the second band on the bill - The Band, who were in their prime back then. It started to rain before they were done, and we sat in cold rain waiting for CSN&Y. It was well worth the wait. One of my all-time favourite concerts.

Jesse Winchester Sept 6 The Chimney tavern $2.50  
Herbie Mann Sept 14 Massey Hall $7  
Wayne Cochrane & the CC Riders Sept 20 El Mocambo $5  
John Mills-Cockell Sept 20 The Gasworks $1  
Roy Wood's Wizzard, Michael Hasek Sept 25 Ryerson Theatre $5.50  
Diamondback Sept 27 The Gasworks $1  
Rick Wakeman Oct 7 Maple Leaf Gardens $8
Lou Reed, Hall & Oates Oct 19 Massey Hall $6.50  
Van Morrison, the Persuasions Oct 21 Maple Leaf Gardens Concert Bowl $6.50  
Bill King Nov 2 The Chimney tavern $2  
Perth County Conspiracy Nov 8 Massey Hall $3  
Jim Eaves Nov 15 Egerton's tavern $2.50  
Elton John, the Kiki Dee Band Nov 18 Maple Leaf Gardens $8
John Lee Hooker Nov 22 Oakville, Ontario, bar $4  
Manfred Mann, Rush Dec 12 Convocation Hall $5.50  
Genesis Dec 16 Maple Leaf Gardens Concert Bowl $7
Moxy Dec 27 The Gasworks $1  
1975
The J Geils Band, Foot in Coldwater Jan 27 Maple Leaf Gardens $7  
Roxy Music, Small Wonder Feb 10 Massey Hall $7  
Sparks, Brutus Apr 6 Massey Hall $6  
Luke Gibson Apr 18 Egerton's tavern free  
The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jeff Beck Apr 24 Century Theatre, Buffalo, NY $5  
Lou Reed, String Driven Thing Apr 28 Massey Hall $6.60  
Alice Cooper, Suzi Quatro May 2 Maple Leaf Gardens $7
Lou Reed, String Driven Thing May 9 Century Theatre, Buffalo, NY $7
Rolling Stones, the Crusaders June 17 Maple Leaf Gardens $10
Pink Floyd June 28 Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton, Ontario $8.50
Yes, the J Geils Band, Johnny Winter, Ace July 12 Orchard Park Stadium $10  

SEPT 2008, SEAN CONDON, FORMERLY OF UPSTATE NEW YORK, COMMENTS: My memory isn't great, but wasn't the James Gang on the Yes bill too?

Maybe, Sean! Sometimes I didn't write down the other bands on the bill if I didn't make it on time to see them ... or was otherwise indisposed!

Jeff Beck, Small Wonder July 23 O'Keefe Centre $6.60  
Dr Hook Aug 2 El Mocambo $4  
Proctor & Bergman Aug 4 El Mocambo $4  
Todd Rundgren & Utopia Aug 9 Maple Leaf Gardens Concert Bowl $6.60
The Beach Boys Aug 30 CNE Stadium $5.50  
Jefferson Starship, the J Geils Band, Gentle Giant Sept 1 Maple Leaf Gardens $9
Savoy Brown Sept 6 El Mocambo $4  
Jethro Tull, Gary Wright Oct 7 Maple Leaf Gardens $7.70
The Tubes Oct 18 Massey Hall $7.50  
Rod Stewart & the Faces, Heart Oct 27 Maple Leaf Gardens $7.70
Dr John Nov 12 El Mocambo $4  
Roxy Music, Rough Trade Nov 20 Massey Hall $7  
Rolling Thunder Revue: Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Roger McGuinn, Mick Ronson, Gordon Lightfoot, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Ronnee Blakely, Rob Neuwirth Dec 1 Maple Leaf Gardens $8.80
The Who, Toots & the Maytals Dec 11 Maple Leaf Gardens $10

WAYNE COMMENTS: Thanks for the review and helping me remember some of the night, you have done a great job. I too saw the Who Dec 11 1975, Red Seats Sec 54 row A SEAT 8. WHAT A SHOW.

As well I was at the CNE show and remember during the Who looking back from the front, yes, front, getting crushed and trampled while this wall of SOUND lifted me out of me shoes. I took a GLASS mickey bottle to the side of my face which kind of slid off. Thank god for the curved design of the bottle, not sure what brand, but it should have been imprinted in my face. Awesome show and they played "The Real Me". Well, I could go and on, like the time Bruce blew me away at the Concert Bowl at MLG after I turned down the Seneca show. Anyways keep up the good work and I will continue to browse. Hold on to that spirit.

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Dec 21 Seneca College $7.50
1976
ZZ Top, Downchild Jan 9 Maple Leaf Gardens Concert Bowl $7  
David Bowie Feb 26 Maple Leaf Gardens $8.50  

SEPTEMBER 2010, GERARD FROM ST JOHN'S, NFLD says: The day before the concert, which I was really looking forward to, I went to lunch with a co-worker who was meeting his friend at The Pilot in Yorkville. He was there with another friend who was back in town for a few days. The friend’s name was Stacey Heydon. He said he was a professional musician and was back in town to do a show. I said, “So where are you playing?” I almost fell off my chair when he said the Gardens. "I’m playing lead guitar with David Bowie.” And, sure enough, the concert opened the next night with my new acquaintance standing in the spotlight at center stage, his back to the audience and playing an opening riff on his guitar, while David Bowie’s voice introduced the "hometown boy".

Genesis Apr 1 Maple Leaf Gardens Concert Bowl $6.60  
Patti Smith, Joe Mendelson Apr 15 Massey Hall $7  
The Tubes Apr 28 International Centre, Malton, Ontario $7.70  
Bob Marley & the Wailers, the Blues Busters May 5 Convocation Hall $7.70

DECEMBER 2008, DAVE BROWN says: I attended my first concert at Maple Leaf Gardens 2 Nov '79 when me and my bother attended the Bob Marley concert. I was 17 and took my camera along and took not great but a few okay shots of Marley. Also saw Peter Tosh July 1980 at the Ontario Place Forum, Reggae Sunsplash on Tour 1985 at Massey Hall with J Reid, the Mighty Diamonds, Black Uhuru and others, and over the years plenty more reggae shows.

The Tosh concert was recorded live and aired in the winter on TV Ontario and two years later on Global TV, and then released in France years after, and this is the best concert I've seen with Tosh.

Paul McCartney & Wings May 9 Maple Leaf Gardens $9.50
Nektar with Larry Fast May 26 Massey Hall $7  
Todd Rundgren June 25 Massey Hall $7  
Aerosmith, Derringer, Henry Gross, Rory Gallagher July 24 CNE Stadium $10.25
Toots & the Maytals, Pan-Demonium July 31 Moss Park Arena $7  
Burning Spear Aug 21 El Mocambo $3.50  
The Ramones, Johnny Lovsin Sept 25 New Yorker Theatre $5.50
Rough Trade Oct 1 The Gasworks $2  
Ellen McIlwaine Oct 14 Midwich Cuckoo tavern $1  
The Who, Mother's Finest Oct 21 Maple Leaf Gardens $11
Lou Reed Oct 25 Massey Hall $7.70  
Robin Trower, Boston Nov 30 Maple Leaf Gardens $7
Patti Smith, Sparks, James Ackroyd Dec 19 Seneca College $7.50
1977
Ellen McIlwaine Jan 31 Midwich Cuckoo tavern $3  
Queen, Thin Lizzy Feb 1 Maple Leaf Gardens $7.70
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Feb 13 Maple Leaf Gardens Concert Bowl $7.50
John Cale, the Hummer Sisters Feb 19 New Yorker Theatre $7
Genesis Mar 6 Maple Leaf Gardens $10
Iggy Pop with David Bowie, Blondie Mar 14 Seneca College $7
Peter Gabriel (with Steve Hunter, Robert Fripp, Larry Fast, Teny Levin), Brutus Mar 22 Maple Leaf Gardens Concert Bowl $7.70
The Eagles, Jimmy Buffett Mar 30 Maple Leaf Gardens $10  
Tom Waits, Ginni Grant Apr 12 New Yorker Theatre $7
Journey, Starcastle, the Steve Gibbons Band Apr 17 Massey Hall $7.70  
John Miles Apr 21 El Mocambo $3.50  
The Kinks, Elliott Murphy Apr 29 Maple Leaf Gardens Concert Bowl $10
The Viletones, the Curse June 1 Crash'n'Burn club $2  
The Ramones, the Dead Boys June 18 New Yorker Theatre $7  
Bryan Ferry (with Chris Spedding, Phil Manzanera), Rough Diamond June 20 Massey Hall $7.70  
Blue Oyster Cult, Todd Rundgren & Utopia June 21 Maple Leaf Gardens $7.70
Mink De Ville June 29 El Mocambo $3  
Emerson Lake & Palmer, Journey, Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes July 24 CNE Stadium $11
Elliott Murphy Sept 1 El Mocambo $3  
"Outrage": The Viletones, Teenage Head, Simply Saucer, the Concordes, Battered Wives Sept 2 Masonic Temple $6  
Iggy Pop, the Ramones Oct 9 Masonic Temple $7
The Dead Boys, the Viletones, the Poles Oct 14 New Yorker Theatre $7  
Tom Waits, Gary David Oct 20 New Yorker Theatre $8  
Be Bop Deluxe, City Boy Oct 22 Seneca College $6
Eddie & the Hot Rods, Teenage Head Oct 30 Masonic Temple $6  
Queen Nov 21 Maple Leaf Gardens $10  
1978
Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band, the Good Brothers Mar 17 Maple Leaf Gardens $8
The Jam, Battered Wives Mar ? Colonial Tavern $4  
Leroy Sibbles & Chalawa Apr 1 Horseshoe Tavern $4  
The Tubes, Zon, Carol Pope Apr 12 Maple Leaf Gardens $9

JULY 2008 from JK LEAMAN: I was at Heatwave and the Tubes (1978) and both are near the top of my list. The Tubes were awesome. I still tell people about the show. Not sure if you remember, but there was a brief intermission, during which they were showing a video of women's self-defence that was crazy. That led into the "urban guerrilla" segement. I remember (not sure how) that it started with a PA announcement that the building was under attack or something. Next thing the guerrillas are jumping off the stage grabbing folks and putting them in a cage on the stage then throwing grenades at them. I was actually fooled for a bit about the announcement. I was a smalltown boy in the big city.

For Heatwave I travelled from Nova Scotia. I think I was the original punk-new waver from down east. Three of us in total, all huge fans of Elvis Costello, Talking Heads, the Pretenders and the B-52s. When we left on the trip we were under the impression that the Clash were playing, so that was a huge let-down. But being big Teenage Head fans, we were all very happy with the opening announcement from the stage "Heatwave promised you some surprises ... Teenage Head!"

The Stranglers, Drastic Measures, Earth Roots & Water Apr 14 Horseshoe Tavern $5  
Long John Baldry Apr 22 bar in Guelph, Ontario $2.50  
Lou Reed, Ian Dury & the Blockheads Apr 24 Massey Hall $8.80  
Elvis Costello & the Attractions, Mink De Ville Apr 29 Massey Hall $8.80  
The Rolling Stones, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Journey, April Wine July 4 Rich Stadium, Buffalo, NY $15
Blondie, the B-Girls Aug 3 El Mocambo $6.50
The Eagles, the Little River Band Aug 6 CNE Stadium $12  
Linda Ronstadt, Livingston Taylor Aug 19 Maple Leaf Gardens $10
Teenage Head Aug 19 Horseshoe Tavern $4  
Toots & the Maytals, Leroy Sibbles & Ishan Aug 22 Horseshoe Tavern $4  
"The Last Pogo": The Viletones, the Mods, the Curse Dec 1 Horseshoe Tavern $3  
Neil Young, McLean & McLean Oct 1 Maple Leaf Gardens $9

FEBRUARY 2008, STEVE FROM TORONTO says: Rust Never Sleeps!! This concert was another one of the best from the old days. I remember just rockin' all night long. He put on such a great show, and the stage was ... well, you know. That was my first time seeing him solo (I was at Varsity in '74) and it was one of three killer shows I saw within about a month. Jethro Tull and Frank Zappa were the other two. I saw Neil Young & Crazy Horse again, the first night at Massey Hall 11-26-07, and it was confirmed once and for all — the king is not dead!!

Bob Dylan Oct 12 Maple Leaf Gardens $10
David Johansen Oct 21 El Mocambo $4.50
Devo, Nash the Slash Oct 25 El Mocambo $4
Van Morrison, Dave Edmunds' Rockpile (with Nick Lowe) Oct 26 O'Keefe Centre $10
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Nov 16 Maple Leaf Gardens $12
Jimmy Cliff, Ernie Smith & Roots Revival Nov 17 Queen Elizabeth Building, CNE $10  
1979
Goddo, Battered Wives Jan 28 Way-Jay Club, Norval, Ontario free  
The Clash Feb 20 The Rex (New Music Hall) $7
Valdy Feb 27 Way-Jay Club, Norval, Ontario free  
Peter Tosh, Exuma Mar 4 Convocation Hall $5
John Cale Mar 21 The Edge $5  
Teenage Head, Next Mar23 Larry's Hideaway tavern $2  
Second City Revue Mar 29 Way-Jay Club, Norval, Ontario free  
999, the Demics Mar 29 The Edge $?  
The B-Girls Apr 7 The Edge free  
The Jam Apr 10 New Music Hall $10
Yes Apr 20 Maple Leaf Gardens $10  
Chris De Burgh, Kevin Head Apr 25 Massey Hall free  
Chris De Burgh, Kevin Head Apr 29 Hamilton Place, Hamilton, Ontario free  
Robert Gordon, the B-Girls May 19 New Music Hall $7.70  
Lou Reed May 26 El Mocambo $10  
The Mods July ? Larry's Hideaway tavern $3  
Truths & Rights July ? The Edge $7  
The Buzzcocks, the Viletones, the Gang of Four Sept 7 New Music Hall $8
Secrets Sept 14 Larry's Hideaway tavern free  
Ian Hunter with Mick Ronson, Rob Segarini Sept 19 Ryerson Theatre $?
Crazy Cavan & the Rhythm Rockers Oct 5 The Edge $4
Levi & the Rockats Oct ? The Edge $?  
Tom Waits Oct 19 New Music Hall $7.70
The Police, the News (formerly the Mods), Leroy Sibbles Nov 16 New Music Hall $7.70
1980
The Necessaries with Chris Spedding Feb 20 The Edge $?  
The Specials, the News Feb 25 Palais Royale $?
999, the Dickies Apr 6 Club Kingsway $9  
The Selecter, Leroy Sibbles May 14 Palais Royale $8
Jerry Jeff Walker May ? Ontario Place Forum $3  
Third World, Inner Flame June 11 Massey Hall $11
The Who, Heart July 16 CNE Stadium $15
"Heatwave": Elvis Costello, Talking Heads, the B-52s, the Pretenders, Rockpile, Holly & the Italians, the Kings Aug 23 Mosport Raceway, Barrie, Ontario $20

SEPTEMBER 2011, dougR in Ontario, Canada, writes: I can't say I've been to as many concerts as you have, but like you, I did pretty well, especially during the '70s and '80s, totalling to date just over 80 concerts. Heatwave WAS a blast. Talking Heads stole the show, all of it was great really. But you don't give the B-52's their due [in this review]. They came on in late afternoon, early evening just as everyone was losing their energy from too much "partaking". What the B-52's did was got everyone up and dancing -- a lively set to say the least. I see that you got the colourful ticket stub, I wasn't so lucky, but did score a Heatwave poster about a month after the concert in downtown Toronto. I was able to peel one off a construction site fence and have it framed in my basement to this day.
Jimmy Cliff, Third World Nov 27 Massey Hall $11.50
1981
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Jan 20 Maple Leaf Gardens $12
The Plasmatics May 10 Concert Hall $10
The Jam, Blue Peter May 23 Concert Hall $10
The Gang of Four July 1 Concert Hall free  
Reggae Sunsplash: Rod Taylor, Ronnie Davis & the Itals, Tony Tuff, Errol Scorcher, Steel Pulse, Marcia Griffiths, Jimmy Riler, the Tamlins, Black Uhuru, Prince Edwards, Culture, Light of Saba, Light of Love, the Lone Ranger, Freddie McGregor, Judy Mowatt, Gregory Isaacs, the Mighty Diamonds, Lloyd Parkes, Sheila Hilton, Michigan & Smiley, I-Maw, Tapper Zuki, Leroy Sibbles & the Soul Defenders, Mike Smith, Third World, Stevie Wonder, Rita Marley Aug 5-7 Montego Bay, Jamaica $35  
Icehouse Sept 5 El Mocambo free  
Gary US Bonds, the Danny Marks Trio Sept 10 Concert Hall free  
The Kinks, Red Rider Sept 25 Maple Leaf Gardens $13
Duran Duran Sept 26 El Mocambo free  
Bow Wow Wow, the Shakin' Pyramids Oct 2 Concert Hall free  
Ian Hunter Oct 4 O'Keefe Centre free
The English Beat, the Off Oct 16 Concert Hall free  

SEPT 2008, SEAN CONDON, FORMERLY OF UPSTATE NEW YORK, COMMENTS: We showed up late for the English Beat show because we were drinking across the street. The nice cute girl taking tickets scolded us for being late. I loved every second of the show. All I remember is the whole place dancing, the most fun I had at a show to that point in my life. We checked into the Delta Chelsea because of the drinking we did before the show.

David Lindley & El Rayo-X Oct 18 Stars nightclub, Brampton, Ontario $4
King Crimson Oct 22 El Mocambo free
Bob Dylan Oct 29 Maple Leaf Gardens $13
1982
The Mighty Diamonds Mar 20 Holiday Inn, downtown Toronto $?  
Red Rider July ? NOW magazine anniversary party, Palais Royale $8  
"Police Picnic": The Police, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Talking Heads, the English Beat Aug 13 CNE Stadium $22
Steel Pulse Aug 19 Concert Hall $10  
1983
"Police Picnic 3": The Police, Peter Tosh, James Brown Aug 5 CNE Stadium $20  
1984
Simple Minds June 5 Massey Hall $13  

SEPT 2008, SEAN CONDON, FORMERLY OF UPSTATE NEW YORK, COMMENTS: The Simple Minds pre-"Don't you forget about me". I walked out of this show with my jaw on the ground. Three of us went to Toronto for this show, only two of us got in. My buddy who missed the show couldn't get us to talk about the show afterwards because we were speechless. Unfortunately I have seen Simple Minds a handful of times since and in my opinion had lost something after "The Breakfast Club".

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band July 23 CNE Stadium $19.75
"Acton Rock Festival": Bo Diddley, Long John Baldry, Rompin' Ronnie Hawkins, the Paul James Band, Pattie Janetta, the Grotty Beats, the Backbeats, Pearl City Aug 4 Prospect Park, Acton, Ontario free  
Neil Young & the International Harvesters Sept 1 CNE Grandstand $16.50
1985
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Aug 26 CNE Stadium $25.25  
Simple Minds Nov 8 Maple Leaf Gardens $18.50
1986
The Mission, Balaam & the Angel Apr 16 RPM club $15  
Jackson Browne July 8 Kingswood Theatre, Maple, Ontario $15  
Lou Reed Aug 2 Kingswood Theatre, Maple, Ontario $17  
The Pretenders, Iggy Pop Nov 22 Maple Leaf Gardens $20  
1987
Billy Bragg July 30 Concert Hall $17  
Rita Marley & the Wailers, Chalice, Messenjah Aug 2 Varsity Arena $27  
Siouxsie & the Banshees, Julian Cope Aug 12 Kingswood Theatre, Maple, Ontario $16  
David Bowie, Duran Duran Aug 25 CNE Stadium $27.50  
The Pursuit of Happiness, Blue Rodeo, Rang Tango Sept 3 NOW Magazine 7th anniversary party, RPM club free  
Tom Waits Oct 18 Massey Hall $25.50  
1988
Gene Loves Jezebel, Flesh for Lulu Feb 3 Concert Hall $19  
The Church, 13 Engines Mar 16 Diamond club $11.50  

SOME QUESTION about this date: A visitor to the site has pointed out that this Church fan site has them playing in Toronto on June 15, 1988 at the Copa club ... but I think I'm right on this one (for a change).

Tweedle Street Blues Band Mar 1 Night Crossing, Georgetown, Ontario free  
Love & Rockets, the Mighty Lemon Drops Apr 21 Concert Hall $21.50  
Peter Murphy, Passion Fodder Apr 28 RPM club $15  
Pink Floyd May 13 CNE Stadium $26.75  
Jane Siberry May 26 Ontario Place Forum $3  
Iggy Pop, the Soup Dragons Aug 16 RPM club $20  
The Native Spirit Band, the Crash Vegas Mar 1 NOW magazine 7th anniversary party, RPM club free  
1989
Toronto Symphony Orchestra Feb 5 Roy Thomson Hall free  
Mariposa Festival: Jackson Browne, David Lindley & El Rayo-X June 25 Molson Park, Barrie, Ontario $17.50  
Violent Femmes, the Pogues July 14 Kingswood Theatre, Maple, Ontario $16.50  
Kevin Head Aug 11-12 Aunt Lucy's restaurant/tavern, Kingston, Ontario free  
Lou Reed, Dion Aug 16 Kingswood Theatre, Maple, Ontario $10  
Ringo Starr & the All-Stars (Joe Walsh, Dr John, Billy Preston, Nils Lofgren, Clarence Clemons, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Jim Keltner Aug 19 CNE Grandstand $31.75
The Call, the Peregrines Aug 23 Wonderland International Showplace, Maple,Ontario $11  
The Cure, Love & Rockets, the Pixies Aug 28 CNE Grandstand $29.25
Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers Sept 10 Superstars club, Mississauga, Ontario $25.30  
Michie Mee, Adrian Miller, the Touchtones Sept 14 NOW magazine's 8th anniversary party Diamond club free  
The Waterboys Oct 12 Concert Hall $22.75  
1990
Bob Dylan, Sue Medley June 6 O'Keefe Centre $37.50  
Roger McGuinn June 28 Ontario Place $13.50  
2004
Bryan Ferry, the Pretenders Feb 23 BEC-Tero Hall, Bangkok media pass  
Kitaro Sept 14 BEC-Tero Hall, Bangkok media pass  
The Eagles Oct 15 Impact Arena, Bangkok media pass  
2009
Rod Stewart Mar 4 Impact Arena, Bangkok media pass  
2011
Eric Clapton Feb 16 Impact Arena, Bangkok media pass MY REVIEW HERE.
The Eagles Feb 20 Impact Arena, Bangkok media pass MY REVIEW HERE.
Santana Mar 1 Impact Arena, Bangkok media pass MY REVIEW HERE.

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