At first blush, Lynyrd Skynyrd co-headlining with Ted Nugent would seem to be an odd match but the two acts together could do what neither could do alone at the time- sell out arenas, and both artists were breaking big in 1977.
Ted Nugent first achieved success with the Amboy Dukes with “Journey to the Center of the Mind” but with “Stranglehold” and the great “Free for All” album he was now wildly popular with our hard rock neighborhood community.
Lynyrd Skynyrd was more successfully the time but broke out big nationwide with the double live album “One More From the Road”.
“Sweet Home Alabama”, the band’s response to Neil Young’s “Alabama” on his mega-hit “Harvest” album, was a huge radio hit and”Freebird” was one of the great dual guitar rock anthems of all time.
Although Nassau County was right next door to Queens, it may have been a thousand miles away. Once you crossed the county line for us it seemed that you had entered a different world but irregardless we endeavored to travel to Nassau Coliseum to see the solid double bill.
We sat up to the left of the stage and a large white piano dominated the scene during Lynyrd Skynyrd’s set.
It would be the only time I would see the original line up with the great Ronnie Van Zant leading the southern rock legends.
Sometime later on, Lynyrd Skynyrd was supposed to headline Madison Square Garden with Ted Nugent but tragically Skynyrd’s plane crashed killing members of the band, including Ronnie, and Ted Nugent played the MSG show himself headlining The World’s Most Famous Arena” and propelling his career to greater heights.
On a side note, during a separate expedition driving through the side streets of Nassau County one night coming from who knows where, long before GPS was even dreamed of, we found ourselves lost somewhere in Valley Stream. While trying to get our bearings and figure out how to get back home to Queens, I looked up to see white sign with black lettering on a silver pole. Nugent Street! We stopped the car, I stood on the hood and unscrewed the top of the sign just as a resident began yelling at us from up the block. We scrambled back into the car with street sign in tow and raced away with our prize. I still have the Nugent St. sigb in my attic to this day- a testament to and reminder of our Long Island adventure.
Just What the Doctor Ordered
Rock on!
GQ
I remember it being Nugent, Skynyrd, and Molly Hatchet
I was at that Skynyrd concert at the Nassau Coliseum after driving over from New Jersey. What I do remember about Rough Diamond was the lead singer came out in a shiny blue one piece jumpsuit, reminiscent of David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust years earlier. Anyway he came out and said ‘we’re Rough Diamond and we’re from England!’ As expected the chorus of boos followed as was the case for any unknown opening band.
I was a diehard Skynyrd fan but having Ted Nugent on the double bill was fantastic! And he did not disappoint! Very loud! I did see near the end of his set during a song he climbed up on a speaker. As he was thrashing a guitar solo he jumped off at the same time a number of flash pots at the front of the stage filled the place with flame. I could see between the flash pots and noticed when Ted landed his jump, he turned his ankle. It had to hurt but he kept playing loud and strong.
Then Skynyrd came on. The place ERUPTED!!! Two things I remember most. Someone threw on stage a, let’s say a cigarette with a certain substance rolled up inside, and Artimus came out from his drum kit, took a drag, then threw it back to the audience. Then Skynyrd played Free Bird and Ronnie announced ‘play it pretty for…., which is a point of contention between my friends who were there with me as to whether he said ‘…New York’ or ‘…Long Island’. To tell the truth neither sounded as smooth as ‘play it pretty for Atlanta’ off the live album. That concert is etched in my memory. But after the Skynyrd 3 guitar attack and Ted playing at the bottom of the guitar neck, I could not hear for the next two days. (Sorry but Rough Diamond did not contribute to my temporary deafness). I just graduated high school weeks before and was still working part time at a convenience store at the register and back to work the day after the concert. Customers were coming in saying can I get a pack of Marlboros’ and I was like ‘WHAT?!?! I can’t hear you’. It was worth it. GWK.
I was there too…Steve Gaines did a great solo, and the place shook with Freebird….Uncle Ted was awesome as always, Rough Diamond was ok, David Byron did an Irish Jig, which he did well…
I was there as well. It was a mid week show. I lived only a few miles from the Coliseum and saw lots of great shows through the 70s and 80s but this one was raw! I also recall lots of fireworks. Not by the band but by the audience. It got crazy inside. Firecrackers, bottle rockets…I remember dodging them! Crazy!
I was there, arrived a few minutes late. Hitch-hiked from CT with my best friend. That was a memorable show and evening!! The energy that night and the whole mood was something out of time. Ended up sleeping in Grand Central Station because we missed the train back.
i was at the great show i thought it was ted nugent wasnt sure who opened was there for lynyrd skynyrd but i remember for the people who missed out that had madison square garden tickets later in the tour that the band blackfoot was put on the bill and you had a choice to go or get a refund