| 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. COMMENTS are welcome, even complaints and corrections:
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Collectors! Click on the ticket stub to see it large and name your price. | ||||
| 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. | ||||
| 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 |  |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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!!!
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| Roy Buchanan, John Lee Hooker, the Sunnyland Slim Blues Band, Ellen McIlwaine, Diamondback, Michael Hasek | July 13 | Centre Island | $7 | |
| 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 | |
| Martin Mull | Aug 30 | The Chimney tavern | $2.50 | |
| Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Jesse Colin Young | Sept 2 | Varsity Stadium | $9 |  |
| 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 | |
| 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 |  |
| 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 | |
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