On September 11, 1981 two iconic acts performed together at the Dr. Pepper Concert Series at Pier 84 on the west side of Manhattan where the great guitarist of Mountain, Leslie West, opened with Corky Laing for the legendary Ian Hunter of Mott the Hoople. Ian Hunter is an extraordinary singer, songwriter, musician and front man who I would go to see at City Winery in New York City every time he played there, which was quite regularly. I was supposed to finally go see Mott the Hoople at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester a couple of years ago on the same Monday night that Tom Brady and the Patriots were to play the Jets at MetLife Stadium but unfortunately the concert was canceled due to Mr. Hunter suffering from tinnitus at the time. Ian Hunter should have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a long time ago, and the fact that he has not been yet is s disgraceful oversight on their part. While I am at it, where are Peter Wolf and Jethro Tull for that matter? Little Steven? Hello? Let’s straighten this out please! This night at Pier 84 was a great double bill of rock and roll music; if only I had any recollection……..

Bastard

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GQ

Adam & the Ants returned to New York City and performed for the Dr. Pepper Concert Series at Pier 84 on the west side of. Manhattan in September of 1981. Mr. Ant was never particularly my cup of tea but he was good for a New Wave night out under the stars. I had last seen the band play at The Ritz but Antmusic had graduated to the larger outdoor venue this time around.

Jolly Roger

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GQ

One night after seeing The Specials at The Ritz, it was back to the blues with Johnny Winter and the Danny Shea Band at Roslyn’s My Father’s Place. While The Ritz was a New York City club that was primarily a general admission venue with some seating up top, My Father’s Place was all about the table seating and the Long Island neighborhood vibe. I had the good fortune to see performances by Gregg Allman during the Allman Brothers Band hiatus, Joe Perry Project during the Aerosmith hiatus, Iggy Pop and other notable acts at My Father’s Place while it was in business. It was an interesting time for rock and roll as there was pretty much something for everyone and a venue suitable for just about every musical taste. I have not yet gone to the “new” My Father’s Place in Roslyn but hope to check it out once live music returns post-pandemic hopefully sometime soon.

Captured Live

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GQ

A night at New York City’s The Ritz was always a great club night out on the town to see up and coming acts or to check out new bands and music that was not necessarily mainstream. The Specials were one of those acts that were part of the burgeoning New Wave scene in the early 1980’s that was decidedly anti-Styx. I saw The Pretenders, with the original lineup, Adam & the Ants, and U2 touring with the “ October” album on Saint Patrick Day at The Ritz so it became an important venue where special performances could be experienced and where spontaneity and surprise guests were possible on stage and in the crowd.

A Message to You, Rudy

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GQ

Styx was never one of my favorite bands but in 1981 they played Madison Square Garden while dominating the classic rock airwaves with huge hits and catchy pop tunes making them arena rock headliners for many years. Dennis DeYoung left the band at some point, touring solo playing Styx songs, and Tommy Shaw did a stint with Ted Nugent and Damn Yankees before he hit the road again with a revamped Styx lineup performing everywhere and anywhere including Citifield after a Mets game and the NYCB Theatre at Westbury as a regular stop.

The Best of Times

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GQ

In August of 1981, blues legends Johnny Winter and opener The Fabulous Thunderbirds performed at the Dr. Pepper Concert Series at Pier 84 on the West Side of Manhattan. While no longer held in the beautiful setting where it once was at Central Park, it was a blessing that the summer series under the New York City stars had found a new home where live rock and roll music could be enjoyed at a reasonable price.

Wrap It Up

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GQ

One of several Judas Priest concerts I have attended through the years, one week after playing the Palladium in downtown Manhattan, Priest returned to New York City to perform at the Dr. Pepper Concert Series which had been relocated from scenic Central Park to the West Side where the heavy metal thunder would not disturb the neighbors.

Breaking the Law

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My wife loves Al Pacino so when he starred in the play American Buffalo I bought a pair of tickets and we enjoyed a night Off-Broadway in Manhattan. I have always preferred dramatic plays as opposed to Broadway musicals, although the musical can be entertaining and you can party like a tourist in your own hometown.

Great White Buffalo

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GQ

I wish that I had a better memory of this John Cale concert at My Father’s Place in Roslyn than vaguely recalling him at a piano (on the left side of the stage?). John Cale is an iconic musical figure most famously known as a member of the Velvet Underground. John Cale’s music is eclectic, and not for everyone, but I am all about musical experimentation and sonic exploration. The Dead Boys opened for Cale at the intimate My Father’s Place venue with table seating much like the Bottom Line in New York City.

Songs for Drella

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GQ

Squeeze had a couple of great poppy new wave albums my favorite of which is “East Side Story”.

The band played with opener Fleshtones for the Dr. Pepper Concert Series at Pier 84 near the water on the west side of Manhattan in the summer of 1981.

Cool for Cats

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GQ