Ever been front row at a concert?

[G.I.Jim]

I should say that you actually BOUGHT tickets for? Just wondering, and if so, who did you see? A few years ago, I went on Ebay and bought 2 front row center tickets for Journey, REO, and STYX. It was expensive, but I tell you what... that was one of THE greatest nights of my LIFE!!! The only downfall was that REO's guitarist was SOOOOO freaking load, that I couldn't hear shit for 2 days. No joke! I had a constant ringing in my ears, and thought I had permanent hearing damage.

We were 5 feet from all of the lead singers, shook almost all of their hands and I had 3 or 4 guitar picks when we left. 1 from Cain, one from REO, and I can't remember about the other ones. Maybe just more of REO's. To top the night off, my wife and I, and another couple stayed in a beautiful hotel suite up there (can't remember the hotel), and when we checked out, we told them our shower ran out of hot water almost immediately. Also told them the air was hardly working and that it was hot. We just them that so they'd fix it. They told us they had a 100% guarantee and since we weren't 100% happy, it was free! That suite was like $385!!! Needless to say, we stopped by an outlet mall on our way home and had a nice shopping excursion.

Let's hear your front row stories...

[rsimpson]

Kansas DVD shoot for There's Know Place Like Home. Awesome show.

[Rick]

Kansas DVD shoot for There's Know Place Like Home. Awesome show.

It sure is. I have the DVD. One of the best shows I've seen. To be there live had to be an incredible experience. Especially since it was filmed in Topeka.

[conversationpc]

I'm not sure I'd want to be that close to the members of bands that I like...I'm afraid most of them are old enough now that one of them would lose their dentures right into my lap or crap their Depends right next to me.

[conversationpc]

Kansas DVD shoot for There's Know Place Like Home. Awesome show.

It sure is. I have the DVD. One of the best shows I've seen. To be there live had to be an incredible experience. Especially since it was filmed in Topeka.

I'm a huge Kansas fan and haven't even heard of it. When was this filmed? I was at their show that was filmed for the "Device Voice Drum" show.

[G.I.Jim]

Kansas DVD shoot for There's Know Place Like Home. Awesome show.

That WOULD have been awesome! I played at a huge club that used to be here in S.C. soon after Kansas and Night Ranger played there. I was in an 80's band at the time. Kansas is a great band, and I saw their show there, and it was an amazing show. I don't know how they'd sound now, as that was back in '96 (I believe).

[Triple S]

Alice Cooper - Dirty Diamonds tour 2006. That man may be old but he sure looked fit and trim up close in that spandex! (It was an awesome show, first time I'd seen him live) Got a guitar pick and a bunch of fake diamonds, being that close.

[G.I.Jim]

I'm not sure I'd want to be that close to the members of bands that I like...I'm afraid most of them are old enough now that one of them would lose their dentures right into my lap or crap their Depends right next to me.

Funny story... we saw Peter Frampton onstage, and his damn dentures fell out right in the middle of the song! He actually stopped, picked them up, laughed like hell, then kept playing the song. My wife and I were laughing so hard I thought my side was going to split!!!

[G.I.Jim]

Alice Cooper - Dirty Diamonds tour 2005. That man may be old but he sure looked fit and trim up close in that spandex! (It was an awesome show, first time I'd seen him live) Got a guitar pick and a bunch of fake diamonds, being that close.

That's cool! I have to say that other than a couple of songs, I've never been a fan of his. I'm sure he puts on a hell of a show though.

[DrFU]

What, are you new here? Some of us do ONLY front row ... legitimate tickets; bribing people with beer chits; elbows, hips, whatever it takes ...

[Everett]

Yup. Last year for styx. Right infront of tommy bleepin shaw. Best show ever.

I won't tell you how i got up front though

[Triple S]

Alice Cooper - Dirty Diamonds tour 2006. That man may be old but he sure looked fit and trim up close in that spandex! (It was an awesome show, first time I'd seen him live) Got a guitar pick and a bunch of fake diamonds, being that close.

That's cool! I have to say that other than a couple of songs, I've never been a fan of his. I'm sure he puts on a hell of a show though.

Can't say I'm a huge fan either, but the show was definitely worth it. We were very lucky to see him in our small town - only stopped here because he golfs out this way regularly. We had a much younger couple with us who had pretty much never heard his music, and they were blown away - said it was much more than a 'concert'.

[timstar78]

Just last month, I was in the front row/center to see Heart in Las Vegas. It was an amazing experience, being that close and watching the band while enjoying the music. To top it off, during "Straight On" I felt it was a good idea to point at Nancy while singing the line, "I'm coming straight on for you." Right then Nancy looked my way, smiled at me and pointed back. Then during "These Dreams" our eyes locked once more, and she smiled again. I was in heaven.

I had no idea that I was going to be in the front row. I've always told myself that if I get front-row seats for Heart, I would bring Nancy a bouquet of roses. So hopefully there will be a next time...

[Rick]

Kansas DVD shoot for There's Know Place Like Home. Awesome show.

It sure is. I have the DVD. One of the best shows I've seen. To be there live had to be an incredible experience. Especially since it was filmed in Topeka.

I'm a huge Kansas fan and haven't even heard of it. When was this filmed? I was at their show that was filmed for the "Device Voice Drum" show.

February of last year. Livgren & Morse even sat in with them.


Here's a bit of info on it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There%27s_ ... _Like_Home

[kgdjpubs]

three times for the big shows....never paid more than face value for the tickets either.

Journey Arrival tour in Charlotte....fan club pre-sale
Bon Jovi in 2002 (?) in Raleigh....blew the roof off
Journey's last show with Augeri in 2006 in Raleigh...Roof imploded.

...and a bunch more for smaller shows. General admission is great, even though personal space is at a premium!

[kgdjpubs]

The only downfall was that REO's guitarist was SOOOOO freaking load, that I couldn't hear shit for 2 days. No joke! I had a constant ringing in my ears, and thought I had permanent hearing damage.

That happened to me at the September 2001 benefit show in Atlanta. I had decent seats, but had a friend who had about 2nd row dead center with open seats around. Great stuff, but 8 bands is a lot, and Lynyrd Skynyrd was last and about double the volume of anyone else. Anything over a whisper was painful for several days.

Since then, I have brought earplugs to concerts. benefit 1 is that even though it is very loud, my ears don't hurt afterwards. benefit 2 is that the sound mix is usually better (especially vocals) as they filter out some of the overbearing bass. Already had 2 ruptured eardrums as a child...don't want to repeat that.

[artist4perry]

Front row..........Los Lobos and Joe Walsh. I got his autograph. The show was great, but I was smashed into the wall in front of the stage! Front row for Hardline with Neal Schon. I stood right in front of Neal with no barriers and only a 6 and a half inch stage off the ground. Putting me at eye level of his guitar, and close enough to touch him. But I had talked to him before and after the show, he felt comfortable enough with me that he had no problem worrying that I was going to grab him or anything. Great show! Johnny Gionnelli (I don't remember how to spell his name) the lead singer, got in my face and sang right to me a few times. He was dripping sweat on me. Blech! LOL!

[mikemarrs]

i actually had the second row to david lee roth back in 2003.i never got to go due to a freak 100 mile an hour storm hit memphis that summer leaving most of the city without power for weeks and the most damage ever by a storm.i luckily had a lot of money saved and spent half the summer in a motel while the people in my apartments were without power for weeks.really bizarre summer.we were stuck there the first two days because everyone in the city was trying to get somewhere like a motel that had power.my dog almost died due to the insane heat.love ya diamond dave but mother nature had other plans.

[G.I.Jim]

Yup. Last year for styx. Right infront of tommy bleepin shaw. Best show ever.

I won't tell you how i got up front though

Did you get friendly with a security guard?

[No Surprize]

Front and center for Kiss, Bob Seger & the SBB, Cheap Trick & REO. The most memorable to me though was the first time I took my son to see Def Leppard. He was 10 at the time, front row primetime. The last one I was front row center was Megadeth. I did a meet & greet for my son (cause he thinks Mustaine & Broderick are literally Gods) for his birthday at the Hard Rock in Orlando. I have seen some others like Steely Dan, Aerosmith, Bryan Adams very close but not front row.

[StevePerryHair]

Yep.. front row and center, in front of the lead mic... for JSS lead Journey and Def Lep! Bought the tickets through ILAA, and apparently was the the first to get through with my order! I figure it was my one and only time to have such luck! So much fun! Wish I could have done that in the 80's!!!

[bluejeangirl76]

I should say that you actually BOUGHT tickets for?

Once, for about 1/2 a show...lol.... Journey in 2006 (the now legendary MR / Cleveland meetup). I bought tickets, yes, but not front row... I don't remember all the negotiating and shuffling leading up to it.... but we managed to weasel our way into the front row with the rest of the MR peeps. That was friggin' fun!

[G.I.Jim]

Front and center for Kiss, Bob Seger & the SBB, Cheap Trick & REO. The most memorable to me though was the first time I took my son to see Def Leppard. He was 10 at the time, front row primetime. The last one I was front row center was Megadeth. I did a meet & greet for my son (cause he thinks Mustaine & Broderick are literally Gods) for his birthday at the Hard Rock in Orlando. I have seen some others like Steely Dan, Aerosmith, Bryan Adams very close but not front row.

Damn, you've seen some great shows! I've had tickets to see Kiss twice, and given them away both times. Once was because my Brother-In-Law wanted tickets for his birthday, but couldn't get them in time. I had waited for 3 hours to get those babies, then felt bad and just gave them to him. The second time, I couldn't get out of work in time to go, so I gave them to a friend. I would have LOVED to see Kiss in the late 80's. Bruce was the best musician that band's ever had, and I loved a lot of the 80's albums.

[Everett]

Yup. Last year for styx. Right infront of tommy bleepin shaw. Best show ever.

I won't tell you how i got up front though

Did you get friendly with a security guard?

Nah . I had 3rd row center (in front of JY) and as soon as the lights went down i "ran" as fast as i could up front. I'm pretty sure i might have "ran" some people over and pissed off a few more but hey that happens

[Starrider]

Kansas DVD shoot for There's Know Place Like Home. Awesome show.

It sure is. I have the DVD. One of the best shows I've seen. To be there live had to be an incredible experience. Especially since it was filmed in Topeka.

I'm a huge Kansas fan and haven't even heard of it. When was this filmed? I was at their show that was filmed for the "Device Voice Drum" show.

February of last year. Livgren & Morse even sat in with them.


Here's a bit of info on it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There%27s_ ... _Like_Home

I have There's Know Place Like Home on DVD & CD. If you're a big Kansas fan, it's worth getting the UK CD release, as it has a few tracks on it that are not on the US release. Would have given a lot to have seen the show live. Must have been great being there with Kerry Livgren and Steve Morse there. This show puts Device Voice Drum to shame.

[steveo777]

Yes, 1995. Steve Perry spit on me!

[brywool]

Yup- Journey's last time through with Arnel (Thanks DAN!)
Styx- Paradise Theatre & Pieces of 8
Boston- Don't look Back
Aerosmith- Get a Grip

I once sat in another county. Wings 1976, Kingdome, 300 level. Holy crap, that was far away!

[Ehwmatt]

In 03, I was front row for the Journey/REO/Styx tour as well at Blossom in Cuyahoga Falls... same tour as you Jim. My dad and I actually waited until the day of the concert to buy tickets and two front row tickets DEAD CENTER were released last minute . They must have been holding them for one of the bands or something. Anyway, it was great.

I think that's the only time I've been literally front row... but I've been very close a few other times too at Bachman/Cummings, Asia, Dennis DeYoung with Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, and Todd Rundgren's A Wizard a True Star Tour.

It's definitely a fun experience that every true music fan needs to splurge for once in his life.

[Rockindeano]

Just last month, I was in the front row/center to see Heart in Las Vegas. It was an amazing experience, being that close and watching the band while enjoying the music. To top it off, during "Straight On" I felt it was a good idea to point at Nancy while singing the line, "I'm coming straight on for you." Right then Nancy looked my way, smiled at me and pointed back. Then during "These Dreams" our eyes locked once more, and she smiled again. I was in heaven.

I had no idea that I was going to be in the front row. I've always told myself that if I get front-row seats for Heart, I would bring Nancy a bouquet of roses. So hopefully there will be a next time...

Dude, you're fuckin creepy.

[yulog]

Just last month, I was in the front row/center to see Heart in Las Vegas. It was an amazing experience, being that close and watching the band while enjoying the music. To top it off, during "Straight On" I felt it was a good idea to point at Nancy while singing the line, "I'm coming straight on for you." Right then Nancy looked my way, smiled at me and pointed back. Then during "These Dreams" our eyes locked once more, and she smiled again. I was in heaven.

I had no idea that I was going to be in the front row. I've always told myself that if I get front-row seats for Heart, I would bring Nancy a bouquet of roses. So hopefully there will be a next time...

Dude, you're fuckin creepy.

I was thinking the same thing