Back in the 1970's, when days were psychedelic, I hung out with friends, listened to music, did homework and slept in THE ORANGE ROOM. It was my bedroom but more importantly my sanctuary. During those years, my favorite pastime was going to concerts. I didn't always have a lot of money or a quality car to go to the big cities, but back then, many great bands came to Pekin and Springfield Il. In later years, I was able to see some bigger shows including, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, The first Farm Aid, including BB King, Johnny Cash, George Jones,Bob Dylan with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Lou Reed, Foreigner, Don Henley, Eddie Van Halen and Sammy Hagar.
Other concerts included Queen, Kiss, Rush, Uriah Heep, Jethro Tull, Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, The Who, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and many more!!!! I never got to see Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin. I actually had a ticket to see Led Zeppelin but the tour was cancelled due to the death of Robert Plants son. Then there was BLUE OYSTER CULT!!!!
Blue Oyster Cult was a New York band that had a large fan base in Central Illinois and they often played in accessible arenas that even I could attend without much trouble. I had already seen them in Pekin Il along with ANGEL and POINT BLANK in 1976 and it was an EPIC concert!!! So when some friends and I heard that they would be coming to the Springfield Armory in January of 1978, we jumpted at the chance. All the rock magazines at the time like CREEM and CIRCUS were writing about BOC's new LASER LIGHT SHOW and how it was a show stopper. Other acts had been using laser's prior to BOC including Led Zepplin and Paul McCartney. The Who would later use them as well, but as was promised in the music rags, the new LASER LIGHTS in BOC's show was supposed to be spectacular.... even a little dangerous. Some believed that direct contact could damage ones eyes...but it was never proven to my knowledge.
January 7th 1978 was a Saturday and that meant no school the next day so the partying could begin early and continue late, I was going to ICC at the time so no school the next day was a benefit. I got dressed in MY ORANGE ROOM early that afternoon. I blow dried my long black hair then put on my coolest jeans and tee shirt. Next, I most likely accessorized with a black suit jacket and assorted pins, scarf and other concert apparel. I told my parents that I'd be staying with my Cousin and his friends in San Jose Illinois. I was 19 and ready to rock!!!! I alway had to take a large blanket and or Parka coat with me in the winter since my car, a 1960 Ford Falcon, had no heat! I'd wear the coat or blanket in the car ONLY. I'd NEVER wear anything that would mess up my look.
The trip to San Jose was about 45 minutes taking the back roads out of Pekin. It was freezing cold and I'd have to use an ice scraper on the inside of my windshield to be able to see. Once at my destination, I warmed up with my friends by jamming on the drums for an hour or two in their kitchen. We drank a few beers and then was surprised to find out that there was to be an added attraction to tonights rock show....some Strawberry Mesculine. The lasers were gonna look extra special tonight!!!!
We left for Springfield in one of the other guy's car (with heat).... and began our Journey. We found our seats on the floor, about half way back, but still good. The SM was starting to enhance the concert vibe. Back then, there was still some of that 1960's attitude at concerts...peoople would throw frisbees, bring balloons and pass bottles of wine There was much less security then. Joints would also be passed around as if we were all one big community. I loved that feeling. You'd start up conversations with strangers and most everyone was happy. Peace, Love and Rock n Roll man!!!! I actually got to feel the love at this particular show.
I recently read that the opening band, The Rockets, cancelled that night. It also said that BOC's wardrobe had not arrived or had been stolen so the band played in their street clothes. The announcer told the audience that the opening act cancelled so instead we were going to have a longer eveing with only Blue Oyster Cult. Now I don't recall this but since I can't remember an opening act, I beileve this to be true. It kind of rings a bell.
My next memory is that everyone was standing on their wooden folding chairs during most of the show which seemed kind of ridiculous since since everyone was the same hight they would have been had they just stood on the floor. Oh well, it added a little bit of challenge to the show, trying not to fall off your chair.
After playing my favorite tune, The Last Days Of May, I noticed this girl standing on her chair next to me. Long black hair, lot's of sparkly make up and big brown eyes. She was turned a facing me and looking with this longing stare.....I was feeling the attraction too....the SM was really amplifying the emotions. Soon, she leaned over, (while both standing on our folded chairs) put her arms around me and we began to KISS. Wow!!! As this was going on, the LASER LIGHTS began!!!
GODZILLA was playing and the LASERS were flying around the arena....yet this girl and I were locked at the lips running our hands up and down each others backs. After a minute, she pulled away, and gave me this lost, strange look as if she was confused. She must have been high on something and got caught up in the moment. She pulled away and we both started to concentrate on the show again. The music was being panned around the room and the laser show was absolutely incredible.
I was still processing what had just happed while standing on those chairs. Did she have a boyfriend? Did she think I was someone else? What was she taking that night? Then as quickly as it began earlier, she gave me that long stare and look AGAIN...then before I knew it, we were kissing madly... legs intertwined on these folding chairs. A love dance in the middle of ten thousand people....it seemed like it was only her and I in the arena while multi colored laser lights were shooting beams in all directions over our heads while GODZILLA played loudly!!!! After what seemed like minutes, our legs wrapped around each other, we LOST OUR BALANCE and fell off the folding chairs and they crashed on top of us!!!!!! From this vantage point, I could see people on their chairs above us, elongated
with what looked like fireworks exploding above the their heads. My LASER GIRL was below me and we continued to make out on the concert floor. THEN, as before, she SNAPPED OUT of her trance and pushed me away and climbed back on her chair. She seemed embarrassed and I was totally mind fucked!!!! That was incredible. The most intense non sex I'd ever had!!!! An out of body experience for sure.
After the concert we drove back to San Jose and played some more music in the kitchen, but I couldn't get LASER GIRL out of my mind. I can still picture being on the concert floor with chairs on top of us and her below me....while above us were ten thousand people...in another world while the music played in quadrophonic sound and lasers danced above our heads.
Back when days were psychedelic.
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