Awesome Rush Concert Experience
A Farewell To Kings
It was the spring of 1977 and Rush was touring in support of their new album A Farewell To Kings. As with all previous Rush shows supporting new album releases I was not going to miss this one. Where I lived the San Diego Sports Arena was the venue that hosted all the big concerts going through the area. Wanting to know when tickets would be on sale so I could be at the front of the line I started calling the box office every morning. After a few days of calling a nice lady answered the phone and when I inquired about the show she said “We just booked Rush and UFO this morning” Wow! two of my favorite bands on the same bill.
Rock and Roll science fiction.
Alex, Neil and Geddy of Rush
Now this is the best part. Imagine this, when I asked about purchasing tickets the woman on the phone told me to send in my money ($12.50 per ticket) and request the best seats available, front and center and they would send me the tickets before they went on sale. I know this sounds like science fiction in this day and age of computers, Ticket Monster and Stub Hub but it is true and a few weeks later I received two (2) 3rd row seats just off center, I couldn’t believe it.
As the concert date approached news was circulating that UFO’s phenomenal guitarist Michael Schenker had left the band and could not be found, bummer. Word was out that UFO was actually in the market for his replacement. But as the day of the show grew nearer Michael returned to the band and the tour continued.
Let the show begin.
Pete Way and Michael Schenker of UFO
September 30, 1977 Showtime! My date and I (that’s right I took a girl to a Rush concert) arrived at the Sports arena. When inside, the usher showed us to our seats, and I was blown away. I had never be that close to the stage for any show, 3rd row, awesome!
The lights went down and UFO kicked off the show. It seemed like Schenker, wearing his black leather outfit was right in top of us. He would lay back in the shadows during the song against his Marshall stacks and when it came time for his lead he would step forward, undo the strap at the bottom of his white Gibson Flying V, put his right knee between the V on his guitar and as the spotlight came up he would tear into one of his incredible tasty leads. Pete Way in one of his classic outfits was all over the stage. Phil Moog lead the band through a number of rockin’ UFO songs (aren’t they all) Andy Parker behind his white Ludwig drum kit was solid and Paul Raymond on Keyboards and rhythm guitar brought it all together, it was a great set. What a show.
Something every rock fan needs to experience.
Geddy Lee of Rush
When Rush came on Geddy Lee was on our side. Having him look right at you as he is laying down one of his complex bass riff’s while singing Neil’s Peart’s thought provoking lyrics was unreal. I could gesture to him with a fist pump or head nod and he would respond back to me. It gets better. As the crowd started to rush (no pun intended) the stage I was so close that for a brief second I forgot to join them but we quickly jumped up and were now against the stage at Geddy’s feet. The date I was with brought a bouquet of flowers to the show that she tossed up to Geddy, as they landed at his feet he proceeded to pick one up, place it in his mouth and without missing a beat started to dance the tango, holy shit is this really happening?
The show was amazing, I didn’t want it to end but the arena lights eventually came on and it was back to reality. Seeing both Rush and UFO like that was something that I will never forget.
Have a great rock concert experience you would like to share? Let’s hear it.
Rush Set list:
Rush Live
Bastille Day
Lakeside Park
By-Tor And The Snow Dog
Xanadu
A Farewell To Kings
Something For Nothing
Cygnus X-1
Anthem
Closer To The Heart
2112
Working Man
Fly By Night
In The Mood
Drum Solo
Encore: Cinderella Man
UFO Set List:
UFO Live
Getting Ready
On With the Action
Doctor, Doctor
Love to Love
Too Hot to Handle
This Kids
Shoot, Shoot
Rock Bottom
C’mon Everybody
Boogie for George
Lights Out
Try Me
Just Another Suicide
10 Responses to “Awesome Rush Concert Experience”
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1979 clips off radio “you never know where song begins or ends with Rush.” 1980 I was 15 first concert ever. 38 special & Rush Los Angeles Forumn. Permanent Waves 2112 Cygnus X1 Bk1, and HEMISPHERES Cygnus X1 BkII Wow. Vague memories. Now I have the entire show on CD. I’m playing it as I relive that period. Hemispheres tour I heard stories of a Space Ship Cygnus X1 no doubt, Alex caught in tractor beam.6-14 81 Long Beach Arena ,CA. FM & R U SH. phenomenal night. Frodo
Are you sure UFO played ‘Just Another Suicide’? I thought that was only ever sound-checked at a concert in the UK and never made it into the set-list proper. It would be a rarity to say the least.
First off I want to say that Schenker UFO era is my Favorite guitar of all time!!!!
I saw Rush on this tour and Pat Travers opened up for them,I saw Rush a few times after that-My all time fav time seeing Rush was Hemispheres tour in Chicago(I think the Starz opened). after Hemispheres album Geddy’s voice changed and Rush changed. Permanent Waves and Moving pictures were good but not like old Rush.
Hey Bill,
Thank you for the comment. Are you still attending concerts? I recently saw Michael Schenker at a small club in San Diego with Carmine Appice on drums. Schenker was celebrating the 30th anniversary of the release of his solo debut record, they played it in it’s entirety with original singer Gary Barden. They ROCKED! I also just saw the latest RUSH tour this past summer celebrating the 30th anniversary of the release of Moving Pictures (man are we getting old) which they also played in it’s entirety. The show was amazing.
I was fortunate as a fan of both bands to have caught this tour when they played at The Palladium in New York in November ‘77. Amazing that you remember the set lists!
Schenker was present…I saw UFO a few months earlier at The Showplace in Dover, NJ and was surprised to see his eventual replacement Paul Chapman, playing guitar.
There are funny stories about UFO sneaking out during Rush’s set while dry ice fog was engulfing the stage and nailing fuzzy pink slippers to the floor!
Likewise,I was in attendance on the eve of the U F O/Rush spectacle. It was a rare opportunity and a definite phenomenon to put it mildly. U F O raged in classic Hard-Rock fashion whilst Rush sent out cerebrally inspired Operatic Rock of the highest order. A moment in time(to be certain). Joyfully ~ James V. p.s. MSG(Schenker)lined up for August 15,Dokken lined up for July 30th and Halford this Thursday in San Francisco. Time marches and the spirit of melodic hard rock burns bright in the Soul. O<O shimmering@hotmail.com
Thanks for sharing the story of your Rush/UFO concert experience. What an amazing combination that must have been, especially from the 3rd row. My first Rush show was on the “Hemispheres” tour a year later. By then Schenker had bolted UFO. Have you seen the new Rush documentary, “Beyond the Lighted Stage,” which includes a photo of Rush and UFO together backstage?
That sounds like an amazing setlist! Especially seeing as Cygnus X1 is on there. Haha Geddy Lee doing the tango, what a hero.
Hey Bytor,
Thanks so much for the comment, I am really passionate about this music and these bands we love so much. I have another RUSH concert story called, ‘My First Concert’ you should check it out, it was an incredible night. Hope to hear from you again. Any concert stories you want want to share would be appreciated.
SpaceTrucker
SpaceTrucker, I enjoyed your review of this show and I see that you have not received any feedback. I hope you will get this. Rush is my favorite band for many many years. I enjoyed reading about this 77 show and the set list also. My 1st rush show was in 1984 so I missed the 70s, was too young, am 42 now and have not missed a tour since 1996. Cheers and have a great day!
Bytor (Will)