Man, I cannot believe that I have gone this long without posting something. I blame it one real life. Christmas lights have to be put up. Chores have to be done. The semester is coming to an end.
Today was the last day of classes. Of course, final exams are on the horizon, but the daily grind has come to a close. For me, it is a good feeling because I have completed the task of educating students. However, it is also sad because that particular collection of people will never be together again. Taking part in a class, whether as a teach or student, is almost a communal experience. Once that community breaks apart, it will never return.
This semester, my favorite class was History of American Music. In other terms, it was the School of Rock. As the class came to a close, I realized that a lot of my personal experiences were shared. Whenever I talked about a band or played a song, there was a concert story that went along with it.
I am a concert fiend. My parents took means my brother to my first concert. It was Elvis Presley. They also made me go to the second one, Kenny Rogers. My first concert as an “independent” teen was Whitesnake and Great White with my friend Robert. There have been a bunch since then. Some are memorable, and some have slipped to the back of my mind. After class, I started wondering about the artists who are on my iPod. How many of them have I seen perform live?
To jog my memory, I decided to go through the list and figure it out. These are the people in my iPod who I have seen in concert.
AC/DC
Aerosmith
Air Supply
Al Green
Alice Cooper
The B-52’s
B.B. King
B.J. Thomas
Black Sabbath
Blue Man Group
Bo Diddley
Bob Dylan
Bob Seger
Boz Scaggs
BR5-49
The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Bruce Springsteen
Buddy Guy
Charlie Daniels
Cher
Chicago
Crosby, Stills and Nash
Dave Brubeck
David Allan Coe
Del Shannon
The Dillards
Dionne Warwick
Dokken
Don Henley
Don Williams
Drive-By Truckers
Duran Duran
The Eagles
Earth, Wind and Fire
Elton John
Elvis Presley
Eric Clapton
The Everly Brothers
The Fairfield Four
Fleetwood Mac
George Carlin
George Jones
George Clinton
George Strait
Gipsy Kings
Glen Campbell
Godsmack
Gordon Lightfoot
Guns N’ Roses
Hank Williams, Jr.
James Taylor
Jimmy Buffett
Joe Jackson
Joe Walsh
John Fogerty
John Mellencamp
Judas Priest
Kate Campbell
Kenny Chesney
Kenny Rogers
KISS
Kris Kristofferson
Leonard Cohen
Little River Band
Little Jimmy Dickens
Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Marshall Tucker Band
Meat Loaf
Merle Haggard
Metallica
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Neil Diamond
Ozzy Osbourne
Pat Green
Pink Floyd
Porter Wagoner
Prince
Ray Price
Rob Zombie
Roberta Flack
Rod Stewart
The Rolling Stones
Ron White
Simon and Garfunkel
Skid Row
Stacey Mitchhart
Stevie Nicks
Ted Nugent
Tim McGraw
Tom Petty
U2
Vintage Trouble
Whitesnake
The Who
Will Hoge
Willie Nelson
ZZ Top
Wow, I think I am addicted. If so, then I am a lucky addict.
SBI: A Thinning Crowd 
There are lots worse addictions. Lots. Most. Stay addicted. We are all music lovers disguised as other professionals 🙂
I can’t stop the addiction. As long as they continue having concerts, I will buy a ticket and listen to the music.
I’ve always loved Earth, Wind, and Fire and would love to see them in concert! Great piece, Rick. I bet your class is both interesting and fun.
Thank you. They put on a great show. The weird part was they opened up for Chicago.
That’s good addiction, Rick. Stick with it.
I think I will.
Wow ! that’s a lot of concerts.
i don’t have that addiction – I’ve gone to a only a few over the years. For me, I don’t really enjoy the atmosphere of most concerts and often the music doesn’t measure up to the recorded versions. There can be other discomforts as well – not to mention the cost. I’m very satisfied with my music collection though and I’m hard put to find music from TODAY that I like. However, it was our great fortune to live in a Renaissance era and much of what we have today seems to pale. I know there’s good stuff being done, but I have a hard time finding it.
I like listening to the recorded versions, too. However, there is something about a concert that I like. It’s almost like a sporting event. There is an excitement in the crowd. There is the anticipation. Of course, there is the music.
I’m with you. I love live concerts. My first was The Who in 1982. I’ve got a good resume since then but not as extensive as yours. Despite the length of of your list I’ve only got 4 in common with you.
The amazing thing is that I have been disappointed only a few times. Even when someone makes a mistake onstage, there is something about hearing the real thing.
Thanks for commenting.
I can think of a few you missed.
I realize the list is nowhere near exhaustive, but my iPod has a limited amount of space. Can’t put everyone I have seen on there.