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:



ALL OF THE CONCERTS (in chronological order)

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 1969 Free Trade Hall, Manchester, UK $2  
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
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  
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
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  
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
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
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
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  
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  
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  
Tweedle Street Blues Band Mar 1 Night Crossing, Georgetown, Ontario free