London, 1975. The streets are bleak, the economyโs in the gutter, and the mainstream rock scene is bloated beyond belief. Itโs a scene set for something big, something ugly to rip through the overpolished landscape of British music. Enter: four scrappy kids and a fateful November 6 gig at Saint Martinโs College of Art, an…
It was November 4, 1963, and Londonโs Prince of Wales Theatre was buzzing. The Royal Variety Performance, that stately British showcase, was in full swing. Londonโs cultural pulse was racing, charged by a new phenomenon: Beatlemania. But inside, the atmosphere felt more upper-crust than countercultureโa space typically reserved for polite applause and tasteful applause for…
In the autumn of 1964, America was a cauldron bubbling over with change. The civil rights movement was in full swing, the Vietnam War was escalating, and the Beatles had already ignited a British Invasion that left teenagers screaming and parents scratching their heads. But on October 25th, a new kind of British export hit…
On a hot August morning in 1958, something extraordinary happened on a Harlem street. Fifty-seven jazz legends gathered on the stoop of 17 East 126th Street, not for a performance, but for a photograph that would become one of the most iconic images in American music history: A Great Day in Harlem. Captured by Art…
All photos by David Meerman Scott On September 23, 1980, Bob Marley, already a global icon and a beacon for reggae music, took the stage at the Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgh for what would be his last live performance. The air was thick with anticipation as 3,500 fans packed the sold-out venue, but few knew…
Watkins Glen, New YorkโJuly 28, 1973. This date marks an unparalleled event in rock history. The Summer Jam at Watkins Glen wasnโt just a concert; it was a colossal phenomenon that shattered records and set new standards for music festivals. Promoted by Shelly Finkel and Jim Koplik, the festival attracted an estimated 600,000 to 800,000…
In January 1983, a now-iconic photograph was taken backstage at the Ritz in New York City. It featured Tina Turner, David Bowie, and Keith Richards, capturing a moment of musical camaraderie and mutual respect that symbolized a pivotal period in Turnerโs career. The early 1980s were a challenging time for Tina Turner. After breaking free…
Before the Berlin Wall fell, it wasnโt just a physical barrier; it was a scar running through the heart of a divided city. For nearly three decades, it symbolized the ideological conflict between East and West, splitting families and friends, and casting a shadow over Berlin. Potsdamer Platz, the concertโs location, held heavy symbolism from…
On July 15, 1989, the historic and picturesque Venice Lagoon in Italy became the stage for one of the most iconic concerts in rock history. Pink Floyd, the legendary British rock band, performed a free concert that drew an estimated 200,000 people, with countless more tuning in to the live broadcast. This event is etched…