Tuesday October 29, 1963. I remember it well.Through the late '50s and early '60s I loved the Everly Brothers' music and could sing along with all their songs.... in fact I still do. I loved their harmonies. And they were so darn handsome!! So when I heard that Don and Phil were coming in person to the local Gaumont Theatre in Southampton, I desperately wanted tickets. This was going to be my very first live concert seeing performers that I would normally hear when I was lying in bed at midnight listening to Radio Luxembourg on my mother's old radio, keeping the volume down so I didn't wake my dad up.
I managed to persuade my boyfriend John to take me to the concert. There were two concerts at 7:00pm and 9:30pm, I think we went to the early concert. It was mostly teenage girls in the audience, and typical of the 1960s, they were all screaming as soon as any of the performers came on stage. Well, I was a teenage girl too, so I felt right at home.
Don and Phil sang their classic songs "Bye Bye Love", "Be Bop A Lula", "Dream", Cathy's Clown" but they could hardly be heard over the screaming! I loved it.Also on the bill was Little Richard... oh yes, he was awesome. He took his shirt off, jumped onto the piano and played it with his feet! I was screaming at that point, boyfriend John was not amused. Little Richard launched into wild rocking versions of "Lucille", "Good Golly Miss Molly", "Long Tall Sally", "The Girl Can't Help It", competing successfully with the screaming. By now I had a sore throat.
Bo Diddley was there too, but somehow I can't remember him on the stage, perhaps he wasn't very well known back then in England. Sorry, Bo.
But one of the opening acts drew more screams than ever.... it was a virtually unknown band who had been playing in the London pubs and clubs and were just starting out on their first concert tour. They were starting their climb up the Hit Parade, and had just signed a recording contract with Decca. The name of the band was The Rolling Stones. And over fifty years later they are still performing and making music. If you're a Stones fan, you can read about their first concert tour here. And I was there!
(illustrations borrowed from the magical internet)
Thanks for a fascinating post! Those were the days and while I wasn't as involved or enchanted as you were and a bit older, I do remember these groups and bands.
ReplyDeleteSuch a nice trip down memory lane to great music. Love this post!
ReplyDeleteWow. Oh, the memories...
ReplyDeleteIt’s always fun when we are able to attend live concerts featuring the musicians and music we most enjoy. Glad you could see some of yours.
ReplyDeleteI mostly remember the Everly Brothers because a few of their songs were played at my elementary school graduations dance. Dream for sure, and probably Bye Bye Love since I recognize it so well.
ReplyDeleteThere was a band called the Flintstones?
ReplyDeleteOh - that must have been really something! Lucky you. The ealy Stones were awesome. My brother saw some outfit called The Who in a tiny club in Portsmouth and, when working as a barman on South Parade Pier, watched the Bee Gees (pre Jive Talk) rehearse. My memories are a little later :-) What would we do without music...!?
ReplyDeleteThe early Stones were pretty good too...
ReplyDeleteI remember all those bands and musicians and hearing them on my transistor radio. I liked the early Stones too. Music memories are great and take you back in time.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend.
I saw the Everly Brothers at their reunion tour at the Royal Albert Hall, London and they were amazing. I've also seen both Little Richard and Bo Diddley, who were also brilliant. I'm glad to say I've never seen the Rolling Stones and would never want to, I can't stand their music.
ReplyDeleteWhat a concert! They usually don't put that many names on the same bill. We had gang showers in college and used to go in there to sing Everly Brothers tunes as the reverb made us sound better. We actually showered in there on occasion as well.
ReplyDeleteLovely, musical memories!
ReplyDelete...the Everly Brothers, life doesn't get much better!
ReplyDeleteLoved the Everly Bros. too.
ReplyDeleteHow awesome you could see them and the other Greats in person.
I remember seeing Rickey Nelson in person at the local Fair. Couldn't hear a word he sang for all the screaming...Oh, was that me?? (:0)