U R I A H H E E P T I C K E T S P A G E 1973

The openers for both of these shows were 1 - ZZ TOP and 2. Earth Wind and Fire. I remember thinking that the ZZ Top set was very heavy and every song seemed very fast and heavy. They were new at the time - no beards and 'hits' yet - but I do recall thinking they were good and wanting to get some of their stuff from those shows. EWF were not my cuppa, as I was getting more and more interested in prog - Yes Genesis Tull Crimson - this was my first year in school, and the artsy fans were my 'gang'. But EWF got the crowd going with some funky stuff. The Salem show was reserved seat, and we were 13 rows from the stage near center - but the place was a huge square building and the sound was pretty echo-y. At one point right after Heep came on, we moved closer and more to the side of the stage and could hear better. I remember the rumble of the keyboards and bass - as this was one of the first prog type shows I had seen. From the near side of the stage Byron kept coming over to the sides of the stage to play to the side seats. The place was pretty near a sell out and they did a good job of getting to the folks on the side and futher back. We were very into all the images from the Demons and Magician albums, but Look at Yourself was my favorite and I remember being so glad that July Morning seemed to be a featured song - with Ken leaning way back on his stool with his long hair almost reaching the floor. They were all dressed in the exotic looking clothes, high boots, and it seems like Mick had a short cape on for one of these shows.

I know as we were leaving we were really up for the next show on the 18th, because it was general admission, and we decided to get there really early and get right up front. And we did - it was mid-week and we only had about a 60 mile drive to get to Nashville, so we blew off afternoon classes - got there about 4 in the afternoon. Got into the arena a bit after 6, and right up against the stage. Same openers, but ZZ went over really well here, and seemed to play longer. EWF got the crowd going again, but when Heep came out the Nashville crowd really went wild. I think Sunrise was the opener - and we always compared this one to an Alice Cooper song - but that was a great way to start the show.

Best I can recall same set list, and Byron was dressed in all white at this show, I think. Because of the general admission seating it seems like there was a closer, more interaction with the crowd than the Salem show. {this was in the days before the security barriers, so the fans were actually leaning on the stage} I think the set was longer for Heep too - as the show did start earlier, gave the bands more time, too. The Nashville show also had better sound - or at least where we were standing, and again the rumble from the bass and keyboard low end jarred our bones. Again July Morning was a highlight and the rock and roll medley seemed to go on longer, too. Sadly, cameras and photography was much more of a luxury then, as well as inconvienent - buy film, take shot, develop film, etc - it is so easy and cheap now!! So I do not have photos from these shows - and i coulda had some great shots. I am just glad I got to see the truly classic Heep lineup a couple of times. And I wish I could remember more details, but, after all it was 1973........