Discovering the Dr. Pepper Concerts at Central Park was a revelation. In 1978, the music business was exploding and I could not get enough live rock and roll. It was not just the music, although that is what brought us all together, but it was the teenage tribal ritual of gearing up, anticipating, getting to the venue, hanging out with friends, meeting like minded rockers, partying and experiencing the event in person. It was also a time before the internet, YouTube or even VHS players at home were readily available. If you wanted to see your favorite bands perform you had to either attend a concert or go to a midnight showing of a rock documentary film. Information about your favorite bands came from music magazines but mostly from album covers and liner notes. When the lights came on and the band hit the stage for your first time it was definitely a rush. The Dr.Pepper Concerts took place outdoors in midtown Manhattan all summer long , several times a week, and the tickets were cheap- $4.50 for the floor and $2.50 for a mezzanine in the rear. If the show was sold out or you just did not want to spend money on a ticket, you could hang out on the boulders beyond the rear fencing and hear the show just fine. We went to a lot of Central Park concerts and it did not matter much who was playing as it was only a 7 train ride and a short walk to spend the evening in the vicinity of some great music. I do not recall this particular Patti Smith Group concert, and I am not even sure if we got in, but I have seen the band many times through the years and they never fail to kick ass.

So You Want to be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star

Rock on!

GQ